Rally at Lee Correctional Institution - Solidarity with Striking Prisoners!

12pm Saturday, August 25
Outside Lee Correctional Institution
990 Wisacky Hwy, Bishopville, SC 29010

Join us at the Lee Correctional Institution to support the National Prison Strike! Amplify the demands of the striking prisoners, and put pressure on the system to make sure that they are met!

From August 21 until September 9, prisoners will take part in hunger strikes, work stoppages and sit ins in order to halt the prison machinery from running. They are demanding an end to prison slavery and for the recognition of their humanity.

This comes after the most deadly incident inside a U.S. prison in 25 years took place at Lee Correctional institution. On April 15 at the prison 7 inmates were killed and dozens suffered injuries after a riot, provoked by the substandard and inhumane conditions, turned into a massacre.

We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters behind bars. We on the outside will fight so that the system of racist mass incarceration in the U.S. can be totally dismantled. In its place we need a system that prioritizes human rights, rehabilitation and recovery for everyone. People currently in prison should be humanely treated, with a right to real rehabilitation, education, in-person visitation, and to a decent wage for their work so that they can save for a future and help their families.

Rally endorsed by: Party for Socialism and Liberation, Students for Justice in Palestine at University of South Carolina, #IAmWe and Millions for Prisoners March.

We support the national demands of the strike:

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 The Prison Litigation Reform Act must be rescinded, allowing imprisoned humans a proper channel to address grievances and violations of their rights.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 The Truth in Sentencing Act and the Sentencing Reform Act must be rescinded to that imprisoned humans have a a possibility of rehabilitation and parole. No humans 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.

7. No imprisoned human shall be denied access to rehabilitation programs at their place of detention because of their label as a violent offender.

8. State prisons must be funded specifically to offer more rehabilitation services.

9. Pell grants must be reinstated in all US states and territories.

10. 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!