Tag

Convict Leasing

All articles tagged with #convict leasing

social-justice2 years ago•4 min saved

"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.

via AL.com|

#alabama #convict-leasing #fast-food-chains

history2 years ago•6 min saved

Unidentified Bodies in Historic Texas Cemetery and Rediscovering Forgotten Black Towns of Houston.

During the construction of a new school in Sugar Land, Texas, human remains were discovered, believed to belong to Black prisoners who worked and died on local sugar plantations during the convict leasing era. Reginald Moore, who had been pushing the City of Sugar Land to acknowledge its not-so-sweet origins for years, had warned officials about the possibility of unmarked convict graves in the area. Despite his persistence, his warnings and requests were often dismissed. The bodies have yet to be identified, and the story continues in Episode 2 of "Sugar Land," an investigative podcast series.

via KUT|

#archeology #convict-leasing #history