B Y H E N RY H O U S TO N
NATIONAL
PRISONERS
STRIKE ENDS
No strike activity noted in
Oregon’s penitentiaries
regon Department of Corrections officials say
incarcerated people throughout Oregon’s 14
prisons did not participate in the National Prison
Strike that officially ended Sept. 9.
Throughout the U.S. and in Canada, people
incarcerated in prisons have been holding hunger strikes,
withholding their labor and boycotting commissaries. Ac-
cording to the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Commit-
tee, the strike arose in response to a riot at a maximum-se-
curity prison in South Carolina where seven prisoners died.
The National Prison Strike was held to raise public
awareness of a list of 10 demands, which were designed
by prisoners. These demands included reinstating the right
to vote, ending prison slavery and establishing immediate
improvements to the conditions of prisons in the U.S.
Jennifer Black, communications manager for the Or-
egon Department of Corrections, says state prisons had
normal operations throughout the two-week strike, which
began Aug. 21. Black says she did not hear of any major
occurrences in prisons, such as labor strikes or protesting.
She adds that prisons are spread throughout Oregon, but
the system is run centrally. If any prison experienced a big
change, such as participation in the national strike, she says
she would be aware of it.
Organizers for the strike said in their Aug. 22 telephone
O
• The City Club of Eugene and
League of Women Voters of Lane Coun-
ty are hosting candidate forums in ad-
vance of the Nov. 6 election, “intended
to give voters the opportunity to meet
and hear directly from the candidates
to help them cast an informed ballot.”
The forums will be at the Baker Center,
975 High Street. They are: Marty Wilde
and Mark Herbert, State House District
11, Sept. 28; Julie Fahey and Rich Cun-
ningham, State House District 14, Oct.
5; and Peter DeFazio, Art Robinson and
Michael Bielstein, U.S. Congress, District
4, Oct. 19. The congressional debate
is also sponsored by the AARP and all
forums begin at noon. The forums are
open to the public and free for City
Club members. Nonmembers pay $5 to
attend the program. Lunch is $15 for
members, $17 for nonmembers. Coffee
and cookie only are $5 for members, $7
for non-members.
• Under the Bridge: Criminalization
of Homelessness is a documentary
DETAIL FROM A 'SUPPORT THE NATIONAL PRISON STRIKE' PROTEST POSTER
press conference they weren’t aware of anyone in Oregon
participating in the strike, though they are skeptical of any
official statement from government agencies.
The National Prison Strike did have activity on the West
Coast. A California state prison in Lancaster has a group
hunger strike, and New Folsom Prison experienced a hun-
ger strike started by Heriberto Garcia, described by orga-
nizers as a political prisoner.
In Washington state more than 200 immigrant detain-
ees in an ICE facility have declared a hunger strike. Due
to fears of retaliation, the hunger strike has decreased to
seven inmates.
When asked if Oregon Department of Corrections
had any comment on the list of demands, Black did not
comment. ▪
More information at incarceratedworkers.org.
UNDER THE BRIDGE:
CRIMINALIZATION OF
HOMELESSNESS
about a homeless camp in Indianapolis
swept away by the city to make room
for luxury condos, leaving its organized
community of residents nowhere to go.
The film will be shown by the Eugene Hu-
man Rights Commission Homelessness
Work Group at 6:30 pm, Friday Sept. 14
at the Sheldon Community Center, 2445
Willakenzie Road and at noon Tuesday,
Sept. 18, in the Campbell Center, 155
High Street. Showings are followed by
discussion. Free event open to all.
• What if Nature had Rights? A panel
discussion is 6 pm Thursday, Sept 20,
at the Many Nations Longhouse, at the
University of Oregon,1630 Columbia
Street. Panelists include Cameron
LaFollette, independent researcher
and author; Craig Kauffman, associ-
ate professor of political science and
environmental studies; and Chris Maser:
ecologist, author, international lecturer
and consultant.
• Rotary District 5110 is seeking
team members for its 2019 Group Study
Exchange program. This vocational
and cultural exchange is for young
professionals between 23 and 40
who will spend three weeks in Israel in
May 2019. Through vocational visits,
cultural experiences, fellowship and
Rotary involvement, team members will
develop personal and professional skills
that they can then implement in their
work environment. Cost of the program
is $700. Current Rotary membership
not required. For further info, contact
Rae LaMarche at 5110gse@gmail.com.
Application deadline is Sept. 30.
eugeneweekly.com • September 13, 2018
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