March 26 – April 22, 2019: Nine prisoners at two Wisconsin prisons began a hunger strike demanding an end to indefinite solitary confinement. Their demands cited the recently elected governor’s campaign promises to reform solitary confinement practices. The hunger strike was timed to start on Madison Action Day, an annual prison reform lobby day. Outside supporters also organized a call-in campaign.
2019
2018
15
Jan
Operation Push: Florida Work Stoppage
January 15, 2018: Prisoners across the Florida prison system organized a work stoppage beginning on Martin Luther King Jr. day. The strikers issued demands and engaged in boycotts of commissary.
2016
09
Sep
2016 National Prison Strike: Deer Ridge Correctional Institution, Oregon
September 9, 2016: Several strike organizers inside Deer Ridge CI are preemptively transferred to avoid a kitchen work stoppage. Outside supporters organize a related phone zap and hold a rowdy demo in downtown Portland.
09
Sep
2016 National Prison Strike: Texas
September 9, 2016: Prisoners across seven facilities in Texas go on strike to protest their conditions of confinement, including unpaid prison labor, toxic water, mold, and excessive heat. With multiple prisons on lockdown and restrictions on both incoming and outgoing prisoner mail, guards deny that prisoners are participating in the strike. Prisoners eventually confirm participation at seven prisons. Austin ABC helps amplify the struggle of a trans woman who went on hunger strike and won gender affirming clothing.
09
Sep
2016 National Prison Strike
September 9, 2016: The strike called for and supported by multiple prisoner and support organizations kicks off on the 45th anniversary of the Attica Uprising. Dozens of facilities experience some kind of disturbance or lockdown. Accurate numbers are difficult to gather because of uncooperative prison staff, but between 20,000 and 60,000 prisoners participate or are effected.
04
Apr
Rolling Work Strikes in Prisons Throughout Texas
April 4-20, 2016: Prisoners call for a strike across Texas, spreading the word to the outside primarily through Incarcerated Worker’s Organizing Committee (IWOC) networks. At least 4 prisons participate in the rolling work strikes. The announcement of the nationally coordinated September 9th strike goes public three days before this strike, and spreads with its coverage.
2014
18
Apr
Free Alabama Movement Second Strike Attempt
April 18-20, 2014: Following the January action, FAM spokespeople attempt to announce statewide strike through media outreach. Pre-emptive transfers and isolation of strike leaders stunts participation.
