For weeks, incarcerated people at prisons across the U.S. have gone on strike. The nationwide movement was sparked by a recent deadly prison riot in South Carolina and is set to last until Sept. 9, the anniversary of the 1971 Attica Prison uprising in New York.
The protest is focused on 10 demands, like better living conditions, a fair wage for prison jobs, ways to address grievances and reducing the number of incarcerated people overall. But since the strike began on August 21, prison lockdowns and difficulty communicating with the outside world has made it tough to get the word out.
"Phone lines are shut down, visiting access is restricted, and we often have to wait until snail mail comes through to really know what happens," said Janos Marton, a campaign manager with the ACLU's Campaign for Smart Justice.
Inmates in at least three New York prisons - Five Points, Sullivan and Eastern New York - are reportedly participating in the strike.
For more of Marton's conversation with WNYC host Shumita Basu, click the link above.