Prisoners fight back against extreme heat on former slave plantation

Inmates at Louisiana's Angola prison, working in extreme heat on a former slave plantation, have filed a lawsuit for relief from dangerous conditions.

Margie Mason and Robin McDowell report for The Associated Press.

In short:

Prisoners at Louisiana State Penitentiary work long hours in extreme heat with minimal protection.
A federal judge issued a restraining order against the state, demanding better heat-related policies for prisoners.
Inmates, advocacy groups and a judge argue the conditions are cruel and unusual punishment.

Key quote:

"I saw guys collapse. There were dudes that got heat stroke. There were dudes with underlying conditions, older or had some sort of disability, but they had to go out there, too."

— Lamont Gross, inmate

Why this matters:

Extreme heat poses severe health risks to prisoners, exacerbated by climate change. This lawsuit highlights ongoing issues of prison labor and inmate welfare in the U.S.

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