Thread by @JoshuaBHoe

"Cell Phones and Contraband Sparked South Carolina Prison Incident that Killed 7"

That is NONSENSE, yup @TomCottonAR is wrong again (hard to believe) cotton.senate.gov/?p=press_relea…

Why?

1. Here is proof that cellphones are NOT responsible for the Lee Riot or the unprecedented violence in South Carolina's prisons postandcourier.com/opinion/commen…

2. In fact, the only reason that we know what happened during the Lee Riot is BECAUSE of cell phones in prisons. In addition, the CAUSE was certainly not cellphones @hthompsn

3. Conditions of confinement are a huge cause of tensions too @hthompsn

4. In South Carolina the staffing problems are so bad they have facilities with 256 incarcerated people for every ONE correctional officer

5. 2018 was the deadliest year in the history of South Carolina's prisons, blaming it on cell phones accomplishes TWO goals

A) It takes the blame off of the legislature and DOC for the violence, suicides and abuse

B) It makes it even harder for anyone to see what is happening

6. Instead of passing legislation that makes our prisons and jails even less transparent - a problem that has reached catastrophic levels in SC, Texas, NC, Alabama, and Florida - we should do what we have done in every other area of technology - incorporate it

7. If we can monitor phones, and email, and other digital traffic, DOC's can provide cell phones and monitor them too...the alternative - jamming cell phones - makes prisons LESS transparent, MORE dangerous, and LESS accountable

8. If you believe that by banning cell-phones you will stop criminal enterprises, or end prison violence, I have a bridge to sell you (and it's in Brooklyn) FIN

Oh, one other thing...the 15th is the first anniversary of the Lee Riot, and I will be DAMNED if I am going to let Brian Stirling and Tom Cotton sell the story that SCDC was not a HUGE part of the problem in #SouthCarolina

No damn way

That Stirling/Cotton narrative is 🐴💩