The Youth Service Officers working at Connecticut Juvenile Training School decided to finally protest against their negative treatment by management in 2014. YSOs did not sign petitions or hold meetings due to sudden inspiration or angst. No, their sudden activism was aroused due to several factors (1.) three YSOs were fired due to the machinations by management to silence activist Cornell Lewis, (2.) YSOs endured racial animus emanating from right wing Caucasian peers, (3.) management targeted five employees of color that filed a class action lawsuit against CJTS in 2010.
It was only after all of the things mentioned above happened that YSOs decided to get some back bone and stand up to the oppressors implementing draconian policies. The question for today is will these YSOs fight the power at CJTS in 2015? For years at CJTS and other facilities run by Department of Children and Families racism and employee abuse ran rampant, unchecked and vicious. Finally small groups were willing to fight but a majority stood on the sidelines watching, afraid their overtime might be reduced or of losing a job. Now these same people who got involved [ barely ] in 2014 must take risks to make certain their egalitarian rights are gained --no matter what the cost.
In a few days people will observe the Martin Luther King national holiday with speeches, songs, lighted candles and dancing- let us hope they will throw in praxis at the CJTS plantation.
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