[Ppnews] Day 3 of Historic GA Prison Strike - Guards Committing Violence

[Political Prisoner News]

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Posted: December 12, 2010 by Davey D in 2010 Daily News, Political articles

On Thursday morning, December 9, 2010, thousands 
of Georgia prisoners refused to work, stopped all 
other activities and locked down in their cells 
in a peaceful protest for their human rights. The 
December 9 Strike became the biggest prisoner 
protest in the history of the United States. 
Thousands of men, from Augusta, Baldwin, Hancock, 
Hays, Macon, Smith and Telfair State Prisons, 
among others, initiated this strike to press the 
Georgia Department of Corrections (“DOC”) to stop 
treating them like animals and slaves and 
institute programs that address their basic human 
rights.  They set forth the following demands:


• · A LIVING WAGE FOR WORK
• · EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
• · DECENT HEALTH CARE
• · AN END TO CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS
• · DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS
• · NUTRITIONAL MEALS
• · VOCATIONAL AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
• · ACCESS TO FAMILIES
• · JUST PAROLE DECISIONS

Despite that the prisoners’ protest remained 
non-violent, the DOC violently attempted to force 
the men back to work—claiming it was “lawful” to 
order prisoners to work without pay, in defiance 
of the 13th Amendment’s abolition of slavery.  In 
Augusta State Prison, six or seven inmates were 
brutally ripped from their cells by CERT Team 
guards and beaten, resulting in broken ribs for 
several men, one man beaten beyond 
recognition.  This brutality continues there.  At 
Telfair, the Tactical Squad trashed all the 
property in inmate cells.  At Macon State, the 
Tactical Squad has menaced the men for two days, 
removing some to the “hole,” and the warden 
ordered the heat and hot water turned 
off.  Still, today, men at Macon, Smith, Augusta, 
Hays and Telfair State Prisons say they are 
committed to continuing the strike.  Inmate 
leaders, representing blacks, Hispanics, whites, 
Muslims, Rastafarians, Christians, have stated 
the men will stay down until their demands are 
addressed, one issuing this statement:


“
Brothers, we have accomplished a major step in 
our struggle
We must continue what we have 
started
The only way to achieve our goals is to 
continue with our peaceful sit-down
I ask each 
and every one of my Brothers in this struggle to 
continue the fight.  ON MONDAY MORNING, WHEN THE 
DOORS OPEN, CLOSE THEM.  DO NOT GO TO WORK.  They 
cannot do anything to us that they haven’t 
already done at one time or another.  Brothers, 
DON’T GIVE UP NOW.  Make them come to the 
table.  Be strong.  DO NOT MAKE MONEY FOR THE 
STATE THAT THEY IN TURN USE TO KEEP US AS SLAVES
.”


When the strike began, prisoner leaders issued 
the following call: “No more slavery.  Injustice 
in one place is injustice to all. Inform your 
family to support our cause.  Lock down for liberty!”



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