28 Days of Black Liberation 2025 series
Different forms of prisoner resistance and repression continue as long as the prison system stands.
The biggest recent instance of prisoner unrest/repression in Michigan was at Kinross CF in the Upper Peninsula, Sept 9-10, 2016. The uprising was part of the nationwide Prison Strike, which was scheduled to align with the 45th anniversary of the Attica uprising.
On the first day, prisoners working in the kitchens went on strike, the prison lacked the labor-power to prepare hot meals, & prisoners were given small sandwiches instead. The second day began with hundreds of prisoners protesting in the yard, then some prisoners met with the warden for hours to discuss demands around prison conditions. After the meeting with the warden, an (ERT) of over 100 armed police and corrections officers from around the state stormed the prison. Prisoners fought back by building barricades, setting fires,& destroying prison property. By the evening the ERT was able to retake control of the prison.
Hundreds of prisoners were handcuffed in the yard & left there for hours during a rainstorm. In the following days Kinross was on lockdown and 200+ prisoners accused of leading the riots were transferred to other facilities around the state & kept in solitary confinement for months.
Within the New York State prison system this month, there have been two documented prisoner uprisings where prisoners took control of multiple dorms. These revolts come amid ongoing labor disputes between the guard union and the state.
The first uprising took place at Collins Correctional Facility on the morning of Feb 12, at least 3 COs were injured & prisoners took control of 3 dormitories. The 2nd happened soon after midnight on Feb 20 at Riverview Correctional Facility. Prisoners took control of multiple dorms and damaged prison property as guards withdrew from their posts. With assistance from corrections emergency response teams, state police and national guard, the guards regained control of the prison by 8am. (Since events are so recent, information about both uprisings is limited based on reporting in mainstream news, as time goes on we hope for a more complete picture)
The legacy of Attica lives on!