by Coalition to Abolish Prison Slavery (CAPS) at UFcaps.uf@gmail.com
On June 18 — following nationwide protests and rebellions against systemic anti-Black racism, murderous police, and the carceral state — University of Florida (UF) president Kent Fuchs made a statement that outlined policies aimed at taking “a step towards positive change against racism” at the university. One such policy is the purported end of the practice of exploiting prison labor at UF/IFAS agricultural facilities, as reported in the preceding Iguana issue.
Students, staff, and community members responded with a mix of excitement that UF had made this historic move and anger that they had used prison slave labor for so long. Those who learned about UF’s exploitation of prison slavery for the first time on June 18 were particularly irate.
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