Hundreds of prison guards flood NY state capital as wildcat strike stretches into 16th day: ‘Hold the line’
More than 1,000 prison guards flooded Albany on Tuesday, chanting a defiant message as pressure mounted on them to stop their wildcat strike: “Hold the line.”
The unsanctioned strike entered its 16th day — with the protesters demanding Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York legislators repeal a law limiting the use of solitary confinement, as well as improve working conditions.
The strike has roiled New York’s prison system, where nine out of 10 guards have participated and at least seven inmates — including 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi — have died since it began on Feb. 17, according to state officials.
Hochul said late last week that she’d reached a deal with leaders of the corrections officers’ union to stop the strike, with the agreement including a 90-day suspension of the HALT Act that cuts the use of solitary confinement and a promise to ease mandatory overtime shifts.
But the striking guards need to accept the deal struck by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, which never sanctioned the work stoppage as state law that prohibits it for public sector employees in New York.
Another attempt to stop the strike unfolded over the weekend, as the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision sent termination notices to guards who haven’t been on the job and pulled them off their health insurance.
“They have threatened you with jail. They have threatened to take away your family’s health insurance,” Joe Pinion, a Saratoga-based Newsmax commentator and former Republican candidate for US Senate, told the protesters in Albany.
“You’ve got nothing left to do now, but hold the line.”
Nicole, the wife of a correction officer, addressed the crowd and spoke about her husband’s work at a prison more than two hours from their home.
She said sometimes he’ll be gone for 14 days at a time, missing holidays, birthdays and other life moments with their kids.
“How could they walk into very dangerous situations day after day when their hearts are miles away, aching for their loved ones,” she said about guards. “The very institution that preaches rehabilitation and stability refuses to provide its own employees the same basic considerations.”
Another striking correction officer said he actually returned to work on Saturday, but refused to come back after he was almost immediately threatened by prisoners.
“I feel safer out here fighting for my rights than I would in there,” he said.
The rogue correction officers involved in the strike have demanded to stop the HALT Act’s solitary confinement prohibitions, as well as an end 24-hour shifts and work placements far from their homes.
Their “hold the line” chant could be heard from Hochul’s ceremonial office in the Capitol as she spoke to reporters following an unrelated announcement.
She canceled an appearance at an event with the New York State United Teachers union set to unfold near the guards’ protest — the second time in as many weeks she didn’t show face amid potentially hostile demonstrations.
“It’s a complicated situation,” she said. “I hope it ends soon, but otherwise I’m working on a lot of Plan Bs.”
But some argued the calls to focus on the correction officers’ plight were undercut by Nantwi’s death Saturday in Mid-State Correctional Facility.
State correction officials placed 15 people on leave as a probe into Nantwi’s death unfolded — and Hochul issued a statement strongly hinting at suspected misconduct.
“While the investigation into this incident is ongoing, early reports point to extremely disturbing conduct leading to Mr. Nantwi’s death and I am committed to accountability for all involved,” she said.
Nantwi’s fellow inmates said corrections officers had beaten him before his death, The New York Times reported.
The reputed incident carried echoes of the killing of Robert Brooks, who was beaten by correction officers in a sickening body-worn camera video.
Both Brooks and Nantwi were black.
Their deaths were decried during a rally held by a group of prisoner advocates and state lawmakers in the State Capitol, while the correction officers protested outside.
“What happened to Robert Brooks and Messiah were lynchings,” said Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher (D-Brooklyn). “What is happening with the COs and the strike are the lynch mob.”
Assemblyman Tony Simone (D-Manhattan) acknowledged that correction officers have tough jobs.
But he said the strike is meant to divert from “lynchings.”
“What happened to Messiah and Robert Brooks was murder,” he said.
Jen, a correction officer who contended she has been terminated four times in the last four days, told The Post she hasn’t watched the video of Brooks’ killing.
“I don’t condone any behavior of violence against and undeserving or innocent defenseless person. None of us do,” she said. “I think I speak for all of us when I say that we pray for the victims of incarcerates and we care about the safety of corrections as well.”
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