Support and defend striking prisoners in MD and VA

Prisoners nationally have gone out on a work stoppage on Friday, Sep 9. Prisoners in MD at Jessup state prison and Cumberland Federal prison, and in VA at the Red Onion, Buckingham, and Fluvanna state prisons and are participating in the work stoppage. They need your help to prevent retaliation against them by prison officials. People are being asked to call several of the prisons so the staff will understand that trouble on the inside will have consequences on the outside.The demand of the strike is simple: end slavery in US prisons!

A variety of solidarity actions took place around DC and Baltimore on Sep 9th and 10 targetting corporations like Mcdonalds, Starbucks, and Verizon that profit from prison labor plusa protest by the IWW outside the MD correctional facility in Baltimore

Here is a sample script for the phone calls to prisons:

Hello, I’m calling to speak with (Warden Buttface),

My name is (your name, or a made-up name). I am calling on behalf of the people going on strike in prisons across the country today. I want to make it clear to (Warden Buttface) that any reprisals, retaliation, or lock-downs will not be tolerated. This strike is national, and is garnering international press -as such you must treat any striking workers with dignity, or the world will see. We have been preparing support structures on the outside, and will not allow you to hurt the workers standing up for their rights without consequence.

Finally, I want to echo the demands from the striking incarcerated workers: end prison slavery, now. All labor should benefit fully from the work they do, regardless of who the worker is. All labor deserves safe work conditions. This strike will continue and grow, unless your current system of prison slavery is put to an end.

Did you get all that? Would would you like me to repeat anything?

Thank you for your time//Thank you for passing this message along.

Phone Numbers

Rodney W. Younce, (434) 983-4400, Buckingham Correctional Center, Dillwyn, VA

Tammy Brown, (434) 984-3700, Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, Troy, VA

Earl Barksdale, (276) 796-7510, Red Onion State Prison, Pound, VA

Frank Bishop, (301) 729-7400, North Branch Correctional Institution, Cumberland, MD