The Mississippi state penitentiary known as Parchman is under fire for the mistreatment of inmates and unsatisfactory conditions.
Jay-Z, Yo Gotti and a number of prison reform advocates teamed up to take legal action against the state and maximum security prison farm.
Under Team Roc, Jay-Z’s philanthropic organization, the Hip Hop moguls issued a letter to Mississippi government leaders citing “cruel and unusual punishment”.
Yo Gotti released a statement to the public.
“The conditions in the prisons operated by the Mississippi Department of Corrections are absolutely inhumane and unconstitutional,” the rapper said. “To see this happen so close to my hometown of Memphis is truly devastating. That’s why we’re calling on Mississippi state leaders to take immediate action and rectify this issue. If they don’t right this wrong, we’re prepared to take legal action to provide relief for those that are incarcerated and their families.”
Unlivable conditions and eruptions of violence and unresolved deaths have brought Parchman to the forefront as of late.
Currently, the penitentiary that houses 19,000 inmates has been declared unsafe because of its poor infrastructure and lack of water and power causing inmates to suffer.
A state health inspector’s report released almost one year ago revealed the horrifying conditions, causing many to investigate the institution.
The NAACP has been bombarded with letters and calls regarding Parchman.
“We’re in a crisis, this is not something that just happened,” said Dr. Corey Wiggins, the Executive Director of Mississippi’s NAACP. “This is something that our leaders for a long time have let happen under their watch and I think calling out and asking the governor, and I would ask the state legislature and the lieutenant governor to address these issues is very important.”
Some of the issues described in the report included no hot water, inoperable toilets, missing mattresses, mold, holes in the walls, and no soap.
Reports of Parchman’s conditions has reached as far as New York, where Justice League attorney Angelo Pinto has been working feverishly to draw attention to the prison.
“We’ve had countless family members reach out to us and share concerns and say they haven’t been able to hear from their loved ones who have health issues,” said Pinto. “They’re concerned for their safety, and we want to be able to lift the voices of those families and the folks who can not speak for themselves behind bars.”
