Ian Schlakman Calls on Maryland Officials to Respond Publicly to Demands of Striking Incarcerated People

Schlackman Calls For End of Underpaid Labor in Maryland Prisons

Ian Schlakman – Green Party nominee for Governor of Maryland – calls on Maryland officials to respond publicly to the demands of incarcerated people across the country participating in a hunger strike.

Schlakman / Chambers for Governor
https://www.schlakman.com

For Immediate Release
August 27, 2018

Contact:
[email protected], 410-996-4848

"People incarcerated in prisons across the country have issued a set of demands and are refusing work assignments and food until their demands are heard," said Schlakman. "I am calling on Maryland Division of Correction officials to respond publicly to these demands."

"Incarcerated people are asking for basic human rights," said Schlakman, "and their demands deserve to be addressed. They are asking for improvements to their living conditions, an end to slavery and payment of prevailing wages for prison labor, an immediate end to the profiling and over-sentencing of black and brown people, universal access to prison rehabilitation programs, educational funding for incarcerated people, and voting rights for all confined persons."

According to the Division of Correction website, Maryland Correctional Enterprises is the prison industry arm of the state's correction system and is one of the largest prison industries in the nation. According to data compiled by the Prison Policy Initiative, workers in Maryland prisons are entitled to pay of between ninety cents and $5.10 a day.

"Paying incarcerated people as little as ninety cents a day is outrageous," said Schlakman. "It is imperative that every Marylander know that this is how their fellow Marylanders are being treated. We are a national leader in prison industry, so our policies can help set best practices nationwide. We have to be a leader in fair pay for prison labor. It is unconscionable to continue to treat people as nearly worthless labor."

Incarcerated men and women nationwide have called for a strike lasting until September 9th, 2018.

"In a letter posted on behalf of strike participants, organizers suggest assisting the effort by making the nation look at the demands of incarcerated people. I am responding to their request and I challenge all candidates for office to so the same. I am calling on my supporters to share my statement to increase the visibility of the strike participants' demands, and I call on Maryland officials to respond publicly and officially to the demands. As Governor I will require the Maryland Division of Correction to respond thoroughly."