Speaking out for prisoners
By
ACTIVISTS from a variety of organizations and communities gathered outside the King County Jail in Seattle on July 8 to send the message that prisoners rights are human rights.
The demonstration coincided with the re-launching of a hunger strike at Pelican Bay State Prison in California, where inmates are organizing for better conditions and against abuses by guards and officials. There was also a hunger and work strike the same day at Green Hill juvenile detention facility in Chehalis, Wash., with demands for longer phone calls and phones that actually work, along with others.
About 75 people came to the protest, representing a variety of groups, including the Seattle Solidarity Network, the No New Jim Crow in Seattle Coalition and International Socialist Organization, among others, as well as activists from the Occupy and and other movements.
At around 1 p.m., prisoners inside the county jail saw the protesters, who responded with spirited chanting. Prisoners waved to show their support of the demonstration.
