The Georgia Department of Corrections announced Friday that it was suspending seven prison guards with pay pending an investigation into allegations of inmate abuse at the Macon State Prison.

The suspensions stem from accusations that corrections officers beat prisoners on Dec. 16 as retaliation for a six-day work stoppage. Prisoners had been protesting conditions and the lack of pay for the jobs they perform around the institutions and for local governments.

Inmates at

Soon after, relatives and advocates said officers retaliated with violence against prisoners who participated in the protests, particularly at the Macon and Smith prisons.

Earlier this month, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said it would open an investigation into allegations.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have made roughly 3.6 times more arrests in Georgia in the first six months of President Donald Trump's term as they did during thelast six months of Joe Biden's presidency. (Phil Robibero/AJC)

Credit: Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC | Source: Getty, Open Street Map