The power of a prison work strike

I am a California convict. I tell you this so you'll know that I have well over 20 years in. I've often asked myself, am I the only one who sees the torture tactics that the guards use on us. Very effective, not only physically and mentally, but emotionally as well.

These prison guards are the most violent gang in the CDC system. I would really like to get into everything these guards do, but I don't have years to write this (actually I do, but I know space is limited.)

Look at it like this, they have learned from our government. Think about the TV in your cell. Day after day more bullshit, until we are so on overload that we become numb.

Well my brother, look at your world, how much has been taken from you? How many times has a cop talked crazy to you or your partner? How many times have you been locked down for a fake kite? How many times have the cops strip searched you? How many times has a cop come into your cell, taken your shit and then laughed about it? Everything you have lost and all the disrespect you have accepted, is nothing compared to what’s coming. This is a fact that we all see coming. Yet when the doors open and your told to go to work, you do it.

I ask myself, with all the budget problems here in the state of California, if no one in the state prison system went to work for 6 months, how much would it cost CDC? No industry, all the jobs we do, the cops will have to do. Over time it would cost them. Having to hire people to come in and do our jobs. Clerks alone would break them. The power of doing nothing.

Just think, if we gave CDC a list of 6 demands. To be met at the end of a 6 month period of no work. If all 6 demands are not met, then see you in 1 year. We would not only win, but they would know from this point on they are not running nothing. Let's see what our 6 demands could be:

1. Family visiting be given back to all.
2. Weight pile returned in full.
3. Smoking be given back.
4. Open program to all, there's not enough jobs to go around. We are all equal. Open program for all who are willing to work.
5. Restitution be taken from prison pay. Not from money our family works hard for and sends as gifts.
6. Allow our families to shop for our quarterly packages as it was before. Stop extorting our family by only allowing us packages from CDC approved vendors.

My brothers, just think about watching CDC fold to us. They would too, or the feds would come in and take over, and get it right. Either way we win.

- a California prisoner, August 2005