Summary
Incarcerated individuals at Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison have reportedly burned themselves in protest of alleged inhumane conditions, including racial abuse, excessive solitary confinement, and neglect.
The Virginia Department of Corrections confirmed six incidents but denied reports of self-immolation, while others claim 12 men were injured.
Protesters and advocacy groups, including the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, demand an independent investigation, citing reports of maggot-infested food, physical abuse, and poor medical care.
Incarcerated journalist Kevin “Rashid” Johnson, who exposed the protests, was placed in solitary confinement, allegedly as retaliation.
A strawman is when you attack arguments nobody made.
I said “the story received no promotion”. I didn’t see it in the national news section of my local paper, and the national online news didn’t cover it for a month and aren’t even putting it on the front page a month later.
That’s borderline a blackout for something that should be a national shame.