What's this I hear about September 9 and prisons?

Nationwide, American prisoners are preparing to strike, beginning on September 9. The date is no coincidence: it is the anniversary of the 1971 Attica Prison Uprising, a historic protest for the rights of prisoners still remembered as being one of the most significant prison riots in US history.

Why would prisoners be going on strike?

The strike is proposed as an action to end slavery in America. Yes, you read that right, slavery. The brutal reality of prison labor is not just that it resembles slavery (and it deeply, uncannily does) but that it is, according to the 13th Amendment, legal to use literal slavery as punishment for crime, making it 100% legal for prisons and industrial corporations to profit from it.

This handy loophole has clear racial implications: people of color are more likely to be incarcerated and for harsher sentences, and because of the stigma surrounding "high-crime" neighborhoods, many Americans are unlikely to question the internal ethics of prisons, or how severe punishment for crimes should be. However, all-or-nothing abolition means no loopholes allowing slavery to exist under any circumstances, and that is why prisoners are preparing to strike in protest.

How can I support the effort if I'm not a prisoner?

If you know someone in prison, juvenile detention, or any correctional facility who might be affected by slavery, this website has resources for spreading the word about the strike, and how to connect with organizations with the goal of ending prison slavery. There are also a number of localsolidarityactions around the country that you can attend in support. The IWW Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee is also a valuable resource for getting involved.