Attica Prison Uprising, September 9, 1971
On April 15 at Lee correctional facility in South Carolina, seven incarcerated people lost their lives in the deadliest prison uprising of the last 25 years. In response, a nationwide strike has been called for August 21 to September 9. August 21 commemorates the state assassination of revolutionary freedom fighter George Jackson and September 9 marks the anniversary of the historic rebellion at Attica prison that occurred less than three weeks later. The following list of demands has been issued by Jailhouse Lawyers Speak, a national collective of incarcerated people fighting for human rights in US prisons:
1. Immediate improvements to the conditions of prisons and prison policies that recognize the humanity of imprisoned men and women.
2. An immediate end to prison slavery. All persons imprisoned in any place of detention under United States jurisdiction must be paid the prevailing wage in their state or territory for their labor.
3. The Prison Litigation Reform Act must be rescinded, allowing imprisoned humans a proper channel to address grievances and violations of their rights.
4. The Truth in Sentencing Act and the Sentencing Reform Act must be rescinded so that imprisoned humans have a possibility of rehabilitation and parole. No human shall be sentenced to Death by Incarceration or serve any sentence without the possibility of parole.
5. An immediate end to the racial overcharging, over-sentencing, and parole denials of Black and brown humans. Black humans shall no longer be denied parole because the victim of the crime was white, which is a particular problem in southern states.
6. An immediate end to racist gang enhancement laws targeting Black and brown humans. No imprisoned human shall be denied access to rehabilitation programs at their place of detention because of their label as a violent offender.
7. State prisons must be funded specifically to offer more rehabilitation services.
8. Pell grants must be reinstated in all US states and territories.
9. The voting rights of all confined citizens serving prison sentences, pretrial detainees, and so-called “ex-felons” must be counted. Representation is demanded. All voices count.