Concerns about conditions for prison inmates have taken many forms, but 35 years ago today, the largest peaceful protest in the state’s history took place at the Georgia State Prison near Reidsville.
More than 1,000 inmates staged a work stoppage to demand better medical care and pay for their work.
The prison administration responded by imposing a general lockdown at the main building, confining all involved inmates to their cells.
Prison officials said the trouble began that Monday on a small scale when a handful of prisoners refused to join their work detail. By Tuesday, all but a few prisoners were taking part in the protest.
Of the 2,000 men housed at the facility, only about 100 regular inmates who worked in prison manufacturing and about 300 trusties continued their regular activity that Wednesday. About 1,250 were protesting while others were either in administrative segregation, disciplinary isolation or in the medical ward with no work assignments.
One factor that stood out was the “civility” of the situation.
“There have been no acts of violence,” a spokeswoman told the Atlanta Constitution at the time. “It’s been a very peaceful sit-down situation.”
No disciplinary action had been taken. The lockdown was considered a security measure, not a means of punishment.
The protest was initially sparked when officials cut off free tobacco supplies to save about $55,000 annually. Traditionally, inmates in the Georgia penal system were given a pack of loose tobacco a week.
Although the inmates were given two months’ notice, returning the tobacco was the first demand. Prisoners’ wants quickly escalated to demanding pay.
At the time, inmates in some other states received up to 25 cents an hour for their labor. The state said paying inmates would be too costly.
The strike lasted two days, then about 800 inmates went back to work Friday. There was no retaliation, according to prison officials. Prisoners who joined work details by Friday were allowed the regular privileges of hot meals, telephone calls, television and other recreation time.
Eventually, the warden increased quality control on sack lunches for road-crew workers, had the ventilation system checked and ordered new laundry bags for all inmates.
To date, Georgia prison inmates aren’t paid for work detail.
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