Catherwood LibraryILR School

Inmates have started to strike inside five Alabama State Prisons this week as part of the “Free Alabama Movement”. The prisoners are hoping to bring attention to the poor living conditions they currently suffer from, the violent environment that is encouraged, and the exploitation they receive while working-- usually for less than $1 an hour. Two of the prisons where demonstrations are taking place were forced into lockdown, as corrections officers were unable to completely fill in for important jobs such as food preparation. Social media and cell phones are credited with the growth of coordinated prison strikes, as they enable inmates to record videos that their families then can post to Facebook.