Two dozen protestors demonstrated at the Madison Correctional Institution in London, Ohio on November 24. Some banners at the protest read “Stop the Prison Industrial Complex” and “No More Prisons.” The demonstration was sponsored by the Prisoner’s Advocacy Network-Ohio (PAN-Ohio), CURE-Ohio, the Community Organizing Center, Students for Sensible Drug Policies and the Ohio Prison Reform Unity Project. Dan Cahill, spokesperson for PAN-Ohio and former inmate, stressed the daily brutality against prisoners. He also outlined the corruption and dereliction of duty engaged in by prison staff and guards. Cahill says that the exploitation of prison labor for private profit amounts to “slave labor.” Among Cahill’s specific demands for reform are the improvement of medial treatment for inmates and the creation of an adequate grievance procedure.

Cahill emphasized that by demonstrating in London, his organization was taking its message directly to a small rural town that has long benefited from the exploitation of prisoner’s labor. There will be a “Strength in Unity – Stop the Prison Industrial Complex” rally at a different prison every last Sunday of the month. Contact PAN-Ohio at panohio3@aol.com or Baillady51@aol.com for more information.