Rally targets PA prison construction, budget
National Occupy Day in Support of Prisoners comes to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh: Opponents of Governor Corbett’s controversial prison expansion plans will hold a rally on February 20 at 1 p.m. outside the Pittsburgh offices of Astorino (227 Fort Pitt Boulevard).
Astorino is one architecture firm that has been awarded a multimillion
dollar contract to design the new prison planned for construction in
Montgomery county. Organized by Decarcerate PA, the rally will include
testimony from formerly incarcerated people as well as a speak-out
against this unconscionable waste of public money on policies of mass
incarceration that are a proven failure.
“Why
the governor would want to grow our costly and inhumane prison system
defies both reason and conscience,” said person of Decarcerate PA.
“Instead of paying for our children’s education, he is giving millions
of dollars to Astorino to lock our children up.”
Pennsylvania
is currently spending $685 million dollars to build three new prisons
and expand nine others in Pennsylvania. These prison expansions continue
despite the governor’s claim of fiscal austerity. Corbett’s contentious
2012 budget proposal cuts more than $264 million from higher education
along with other proposed cuts to mental health services, medical
assistance, and the Philadelphia School District.
Meanwhile, the Department of Corrections $1.8 billion budget remained untouched following last year’s 11% spending increase.
Decarcerate
PA organized the rally. It is part of a “National Occupy Day in Support
of Prisoners” that was initiated by Occupy Oakland and has been
endorsed by Occupy groups around the country. There are rallies in a
dozen cities nationwide on Monday. The Pittsburgh chapter of Decarcerate
PA will be holding a rally outside the offices of Astorino, the
architecture firm designing the two new prisons slated to be built in
Montgomery County.
“The prison system is the clearest example of American inequality,” said so-and-so. “We stand with prisoners and all those seeking a positive alternative to the cruelties of rule by the 1%.”
Astorino is a Pittsburgh-based architecture firm.
Astorino is a Pittsburgh-based architecture firm.
Decarcerate PA is a coalition seeking 1. an immediate and lasting moratorium on all new prisons and prison expansions, county jails, and immigrant detention facilities; 2. positive policy changes that will reduce Pennsylvania’s prison population; and 3. community reinvestment.
