Prisoners Riot and ‘Completely Destroy’ Unit at Upper Peninsula, Michigan

A housing unit at a prison in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was completely destroyed early Monday in an uprising by prison rebels.

Prison rebels banded together to prohibit guards from entering a segment of Chippewa Correctional Facility. They took control of a housing unit for about five hours on Sunday night.

According to the Detroit Free Press:

A housing unit at a prison in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was “completely destroyed” early Monday in what the head of the union for corrections officers is calling “a riot” related in part to unsafe staffing levels.

Prisoners took control of a housing unit at Chippewa Correctional Facility for about five hours after a fight Sunday night, Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Chris Gautz said.

Prisoners did extensive damage to the unit, breaking equipment and glass and causing minor flooding, but Gautz said he was not aware of injuries to officers or prisoners either during the time officers abandoned the unit or during the time officials regained control.

Imprisoned militants did extensive damage to the unit, breaking equipment and glass and causing minor flooding. The uprising began after pigs used a Taser on a prisoner. When that prisoner was being taken away, prison rebels left their cells and forced the pigs out.

The prisoner lost consciousness after he was hit with the Taser. A group of about 40 prison rebels approached the pigs’ station and began making threats, saying it was “payback time.” The brick housing unit was “completely destroyed,” with windows broken, computers destroyed, and door mechanisms made inoperable. All cameras and two sinks were destroyed. Six windows — five interior and one exterior — were broken.

In September 2016, an uprising took place at nearby Kinross Correctional Facility during that year’s nationwide prison strike. Prison rebels at Kinross set at least one fire and caused extensive damage.

The uprising at Chippewa on Saturday followed an altercation with a guard on Saturday at Marquette Branch Prison. A sergeant was sent to the hospital and treated for a head wound and a concussion after he was struck by a homemade weapon.

Prison uprisings are likely to continue around the country, as imprisoned revolutionaries fight back against the same type of pig violence that has sparked uprisings in the streets.