"Fast Food Chains Accused of Exploiting Alabama Prison Inmates in Forced Labor Lawsuit"

A federal lawsuit has been filed against Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, fast food companies, and a beer distributor, alleging that Alabama prisoners are being used as slave labor in a "labor-trafficking scheme" that generates $450 million annually for the state. The lawsuit claims that private companies such as KFC, Wendy's, Burger King, and McDonald's benefit from this arrangement, which resembles the convict leasing system that followed slavery in the South. The lawsuit also alleges racial disparities in parole rates and dangerous conditions in Alabama prisons. Over 500 companies have contracts with the Alabama Department of Corrections to obtain work from inmates, who are not allowed to refuse work or protest conditions.