Captive Consumers!
Within prisons, exclusive contracts with private vendors leave incarcerated people with no choice.
by Tomas S. Afeworki
The prison industrial complex has always been rooted in profit, and it’s a well-oiled, self-feeding operation. And it will continue to grow during this new AI era as the citizenry loses jobs and the middle class becomes more nonexistent with each passing year.
Corporations have a hidden hand: They use AI to replace you while they bid for contracts to sell their defective surplus products to your loved ones who are unfortunate enough to find themselves caught up in the system.
These are just a few of the companies that sell their goods in prisons:
Shoes: Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Fila, Under Armour
Personal care: Irish Spring, Ivory, Dove, Suave, Speed Stick, Colgate, VO5, Pantene, Gillette
Food: Kirkland, V8, Keefe, Folgers, Kool-Aid, International Delight, BelVita, Top Ramen, Hershey’s
There is no real free market here. In the past, your family could go to different vendors to get you food and clothing. Now all orders must go through Union Supply, and of course all commissary is purchased through Correctional Industries (CI). Local small businesses are prohibited from getting these contracts. They force us to buy products from their lists while price gouging, since there is no competition.
CI also sells food to the Department of Corrections (DOC). They feed prisoners inferior products that violate Washington Executive Order 13-06, which directs that all state facilities must provide healthy foods and meet the Department of Health’s nutrition guidelines. We become captive consumers, forced to buy these products or starve.
These are dangerous times. As the job market dries up due to AI, everyone is at risk of being replaced. Imagine a bad version of Star Wars come true: If you can’t afford a ticket for a trip on Elon Musk’s space flights to occupy Mars, then you will be subject to imprisonment and forced to buy products from the same corporations that invest in your captivity.
Tomas S. Afeworki is a Pan-Afriqan illustrator and human rights activist focused on the social and political protection of the diaspora. Through grassroots organizations, community celebrations, and legislative summits, he aims to unify a coalition for freedom and is inspired by Nelson Mandela’s quote, “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere.”
Afeworki maintains that he has been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for a crime he did not commit and is actively fighting for his freedom.
Following in the steps of leaders that inspire his purpose like Nelson Mandela, George Jackson, and Assata Shakur, he seeks justice for himself and his fellow bothers and sisters that have been victimized by a corrupt judicial system.
To learn more about Tomas S. Afeworki and support his exoneration please visit: www.FreeTomas.com.