Montgomery, Alaa.. The Alabama prison system has transferred three known activist inmates who supported 2022 Prison strike It was shown in Oscar-nominated documentary around Troubled system Family members and lawyers said they took refuge in isolated cells with little contact with others.
Family members of the three men said they fear for the safety of their loved ones and worry that moving to solitary confinement is a form of retaliation for being open about problems within the prison system. Robert Earl Council, Melvin Ray and Raul Paul were transferred two weeks ago from their current prisons to solitary confinement at Kilby Correctional Facility outside Montgomery, Alabama, their lawyers said. The transfers come at a time when some groups have encouraged the construction of a new prison Labor strike this year.
“This is direct retaliation,” said Julie Slade, who is close to Paul and spoke to The Associated Press about his situation. “All three have been heavily involved in advocating for the rights of incarcerated citizens.”
Council, Ray and Paul appeared in “The Alabama Solution,” a documentary about the state’s prison system that relies heavily on cell phone footage from inmates. It was the movie It was nominated for an Academy Award In the documentary category.
Slade said she had been able to speak to Paul once since her transfer and he told her the men were being held in separate cells on an isolated, high-security floor.
“Since their arrival, the men have been cut off from their families and are being held in isolation with no contact with other inmates or prison staff except for a small group of guards and supervisors,” the lawyers representing the three men said in a statement.
The prison system did not provide a reason for the move, attorneys said, and said the restrictions “far exceed standard administrative segregation protocols.”
“Given ADOC’s documented decade-long history of using excessive force against inmates and its pattern of retaliation against these specific individuals — including Pre-2021 incident “As four guards nearly killed Robert Counsel — their lawyers fear for the safety and well-being of the activists,” the lawyers wrote.
The Alabama Department of Corrections cited security concerns as the reason for transferring the men, but did not provide details.
“The transfer of prisoners is based on intelligence that they are engaged in activity that harms the safety and security of the facilities and the public,” prison officials said in an emailed statement by prison spokeswoman Kelly Bates.
The statement added that “all inmates are safe, receive regular meals and other services as needed,” and that they have access to legal visits and telephone service.
Ernestine Counsel said Wednesday she had little information about her son and was unable to talk to him. Anne Brooks, Ray’s mother, said she was unable to reach her son, although he was able to make one call to his brother.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen or what could happen,” Brooks said.
These moves come at a time when some have pushed for the establishment of a new prison Labor strike This year is similar to 2022, which has drawn national attention. Thousands of workers went prisoner in Alabama strike that yearHe refused to work in prison kitchens, laundries, and factories in protest against the conditions in state prisons.
Several prisoners told The Associated Press that prisons recently reduced the amount of food and other items they can buy each week from the prison complex, a move that could prevent stockpiling of materials ahead of any strike.
The prison system said in a statement that food service had been contracted with a new vendor, Aramark, but did not provide details.
“We are truly concerned that they have faced retaliation and abuse in response to all of their activity,” said Andrew Jarecki, director of Resolve Alabama.
“It is particularly ironic that these men who were incredibly brave – and frankly learned – who learned the law, were leaders and always monitored non-violent means of protest, were always met with violence by the authorities.”