Summary
Incarcerated individuals at Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison have reportedly burned themselves in protest of alleged inhumane conditions, including racial abuse, excessive solitary confinement, and neglect.
The Virginia Department of Corrections confirmed six incidents but denied reports of self-immolation, while others claim 12 men were injured.
Protesters and advocacy groups, including the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, demand an independent investigation, citing reports of maggot-infested food, physical abuse, and poor medical care.
Incarcerated journalist Kevin “Rashid” Johnson, who exposed the protests, was placed in solitary confinement, allegedly as retaliation.
In late October the national news was very busy reporting on the major election which was just a few weeks away.
and the interplay of race and our carceral system of torture were absolutely things to be voting on and about. de-emphasizing the importance of these things is a form of conservative propaganda, one that our media outlets engage with constantly. while i think this poster sucks for some other reasons, i do think they’ve found at least part of a truffle here. our media outlets don’t say enough that our prison system is horrible, that our legal system is more effective at hurting black people than it is at helping anyone, and that everything is both political and propaganda. figuring out why is easy. it’s profitable for them