Riot in a federal prison in Brooklyn: why lawmakers are on the side of prisoners

About 1600 prisoners in the Federal Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn spent a week without heating and lighting.

Фото: Depositphotos

Last weekend, hundreds of relatives of prisoners and political activists staged a protest against inhuman conditions of detention outside the prison building, writes “Voice of America".

Most of the past week in New York was frosty weather, and, according to lawyers whose clients were in the cells without light and heat, the air temperature in the prison fell to zero or below. At the same time, visits to prisoners of relatives and lawyers were suspended and access to the prison shop, where you can buy extra clothes, was closed.

According to the leading federal defender in Brooklyn Deardr von Dornum, the inmates were left without access to the computers they use to communicate with family and lawyers, as well as to get prescription drugs. “As far as I understand, they are completely locked in their dark cells,” von Dornum told the Associated Press.

At the same time, the prison director confirmed to The New York Times newspaper that a partial power outage had occurred at the correctional facility, but said that the prisoners were not injured as a result.

On Friday, prisoners began to beat the windows and walls to attract the attention of people on the street. New York City Council member Justin Brannan videotaped the scene and tweeted it, saying that "this is one of the worst sounds he has ever heard in life." “This is surreal,” he added.

On Saturday, several hundred people gathered outside the prison. Some of them were holding posters with appeals to their loved ones in the hope that they would see from the camera window. Others came out with posters "Close the prison!" And "Torture in the MDC!". At some point, a group of relatives tried to break into the building, and pepper gas was used against them.

Against the background of the protests, several lawmakers representing New York visited the prison. Among them was a member of the House of Representatives of the Congress, Jerry Nadler. He condemned the prison authorities and demanded that urgent measures be taken in connection with the situation.

On Saturday evening, the New York City Emergency Service delivered generators, blankets and mittens to the federal detention center. After reporting this on Twitter, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio added:

“The people there have the right to safety and human dignity. We will not allow the Federal Bureau of Prisons to deprive them of this. New York is ready to provide all possible assistance. ”

On Sunday evening, the supply of electricity to the prison building, at least partially, was restored. However, on Monday the building was still closed to lawyers and other visitors, and therefore there is no information from independent sources.

The US Department of Justice, which is in charge of federal prisons, issued a statement saying that the building has restored electricity, heating, and hot water.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who is running for the presidency, expressed outrage at the violation of prisoners' rights and the lack of reliable information about prison conditions.

“Controversial information continues to come in at the Metropolitan Detention Center,” she wrote to Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. “The lack of transparency in the actions of the Federal Bureau of Prisons testifies to the neglect by this department of its duties and reflects the lack of due care for prisoners under the control of this department.”

Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo also pointed to possible violations of the law by federal officials.

On Tuesday, the federal court in New York intends to hold hearings on the situation in the Metropolitan Detention Center, and to require accurate information from the prison administration and immediate correction of the situation.

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