On April 15, seven inmates at the Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina were killed in what the prison termed “inmate on inmate gang violence.” The tragedy was the deadliest in a quarter of a century in the United States and shined a light on the inhumane conditions within prisons that breed such violence.
In response to this incident, incarcerated organizers across the country declared a nationwide prison strike. Jailhouse Lawyers Speak - a group of incarcerated prison-rights advocates - have called for work stoppages, sit-ins, and boycotts within facilities.
This strike, which started Aug. 21 and is set to run until Sept. 9, serves to bring attention to the dehumanizing conditions within prisons across the country. Demands of the strike include an end to prison slavery, rehabilitation services, sentencing reform, and improved conditions that recognize the humanity of imprisoned people.
As it is well known, the U.S. holds the world's largest prison population. The Sentencing Project, an organization that advocates for prison reform, reported in 2017 that 2.2 million people are in prison or jail in the U.S. and incarceration has risen more than 500 percent over the past 40 years.
An open letter to Bernie Sanders: On March 31, you tweeted: “The killing of Palestinian demonstrators by Israeli forces in Gaza is tragic. It is the right of all people to protest for a better future without a violent response.” The situation in Gaza is of the utmost urgency...
It was brought to my attention recently that the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) is hosting an event on May 22 called “Pink Pint Night.” I love BMAC and am an ardent supporter of independent artists and the excellent events that are held at our local museum. The...