Red Onion Unbearable Conditions
UPDATE Nov 26: Earlier today, the Virginia Black Legislative Black Caucus issued a statement condemning "Inhumane Conditions at Red Onion State Prison" and calling for "Immediate Action to Prevent Further Self-Immolation and Protect Human Rights" (full statement.) More updates below.
Interfaith Action for Human Rights Demands
Interfaith Action for Human Rights (IAHR) shares this statement about "Unbearable Conditions at Red Onion State Prison." The statement was issued in October, but IAHR remains in contact with those incarcerated at Red Onion and reports, as of Nov 25, no change in conditions and an on-going cover-up by prison officials. Prison Radio is preparing further updates and adds: "The prison must investigate and transfer the folks who are filing grievances because they are suffering retaliation. We will have more written about this soon."
One of the men involved shares his own account. And this is one of the requests from the men at Red Onion:
Call Red Onion State Prison at (276) 796-7510 and demand the following:
- Immediate Investigation into the incidents of self-harm and conditions leading to these tragedies.
- Transparency regarding the use of solitary confinement and the prison’s mental health policies.
- Humane Treatment for all incarcerated individuals, ensuring their basic rights are respected.
When calling, you can say:
“I’m calling to express my deep concern about reports of self-inflicted burnings and harsh conditions at Red Onion State Prison. I demand an immediate investigation and humane reforms to end the inhumane treatment of incarcerated people. Their lives matter.”
More Background
Here is one news report on self-immolation and hunger strikes. See also the following from years past:
- Human Rights Watch Report on conditions at Red Onion in 1999.
- Truthout report from 2012.
- Report from Solitary Watch in 2016.
- Documentary: "Solitary: Inside Red Onion State Prison" on HBO; also found on YouTube
- "Propaganda at Red Onion" at Prison Radio, November 2024
- Marshall Project report on the documentary, 2017
UPDATES and ADDITIONAL REPORTING
On Nov 26, ACLU of VA posted on X: "We don't have info on these specific reports. But NO ONE should be subjected to conditions so awful they set themselves on fire to escape them." They do note, however, that they stand with the VA Black Caucus in demanding investigation and share information on the push for Independent Prison Oversight in the commonwealth.
Reporting from before Nov 25 but not linked above:
- "A Dozen Black Inmates..." at Latin Times, published on Nov 22
- "Conditions so bad that prisoners set themselves on fire: Crisis and cover-up at Red Onion super-max" from SF Bay View
Image reads: “I would rather die before I stay up here, because every day I’m dealing with discrimination, whether it’s about my race, my last name, or my religion.” -- Ekong Eshiet, Red Onion State Prison