Barton Jail inmates go on hunger strike as COVID-19 outbreak grows
- Michael Kras
- 11 Mar 2021
Inmates at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre on Barton Street are currently on a coordinated hunger strike as they demand safer conditions amid the jail’s growing COVID-19 outbreak.
Around 50 to 60 prisoners in the 4B range agreed to the protest, refusing meals in an attempt to force the Barton Jail’s administration to improve overall conditions for inmates within the facility.
Since the coivd outbreak the living conditions in Barton Jail have deteriorated extremely quickly. The virus is inside the jail & it is effecting the folks locked up in an appalling way, see our fb: https://t.co/0ikBOfCXOX@SamCraggsCBC @DanTaekema @TeviahMoro @TheSpec pic.twitter.com/4aD3m1AG2c
— Barton Prisoner Solidarity Project (@ProjectBarton) February 22, 2021
Their demands include access to clean bedding after over a month with no changed sheets, access to cleaning supplies, regular yard time, restoration of visits, restoration of calls with lawyers, and restoration of programs including access to library materials.
An Instagram page called Barton Prisoner Solidarity shares more of the story in a recent post.
“The 4B prisoners specified that they have not received clean bedding, been outside, or accessed reading materials in over a month,” reads the post on Instagram.
“These demands are incredibly reasonable and are not things prisoners should have to be fighting for.”
In solidarity with the prisoners, the organizers of Barton Prisoner Solidarity are setting up an information picket from 5 pm to 7 pm daily beginning on March 10th until the jail’s administration agrees to negotiate the demands with the prisoners.
The strike also comes in the midst of a sizeable COVID-19 outbreak within the institution amongst inmates and staff members, which has grown to a total of 72 confirmed cases including 51 inmates since it was first declared on February 15th.
Hamilton residents who want to support the hunger strikes can visit the information picket in front of the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre from 5 pm to 7 pm on March 11th and 12th, or call the jail at 905-523-8800 to express support for the strikers.
Read more here.
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