2018 National Prison Strike: Lea County Correctional Facility, New Mexico
Lea County Correctional Facility, Hobbs, New Mexico
August 8, 2018
Four housing units at the private GEO Group prison refused orders to return to their cells and went on strike in response to harassment and abuse. Prisoners cited the prison administration cutting visitation and guards harassing prisoners family members, including strip searching elderly people, as motivation for the protest. They referenced the national prison strike, saying “the strike took place early” because of tensions reaching a tipping point. Guards at the prison deploy tear gas to force the inmates back to their cells.
Weeks later, on August 20th, New Mexico DOC locked down all prisons in the state stating the lockdown was for the purposes of a “standard security sweep.”
Outside supporters with Millions 4 Prisoners NM organized a protest at Roosevelt Park in Albuquerque.
