Sunday, September 11, 2016

Prisoners at Kinross C.F. Riot Against MDOC

Over 400 prisoners protested at Kinross Correctional Facility near Kincheloe, Michigan, on Saturday, following a prison workers strike there on Friday, the 45th anniversary of the Attica Prison rebellion in New York. The nationwide prisoners general strike was called to protest prison slavery and low wages, as well as the inhumanity of U.S. prisons.

The Detroit Free Press reported that 150 of the protesters were transferred to other facilities, where they will no doubt spread the word. The union representing prison guards said that the incident was more serious than MDOC claimed, with multiple fires set and two housing units left unlivable. The Free Press reported, "No prison staff or inmates were injured, Gautz said, but non-custodial staff was evacuated Saturday afternoon and emergency response teams and other extra officers from nearby prisons were on the scene helping to restore order."

MDOC spokesman Chris Gautz told the Free Press it was "Not a riot at all."

However, a commenter wrote online:
Mr. and Ms. Media, the M.D.O.C. is lying to you as usual. At least two units were set on fire and two barricaded. The officers were pulled out for a while and the institution is a total loss. The reason the prisoners are giving for the RIOT is the garbage that Trinity, the new privatized food service company is feeding them. This is a full blown riot, not a protest.
Read more at the Detroit Free Press and ABC 10.