In January 2000, RATM and Michael Moore shot the video for ‘Sleep Now in the Fire’ on the steps of the New York Federal Hall. Their presence stopped traffic and Michael Moore was taken by the police into the Federal Hall. While this was happening, RATM stormed the nearby New York stock exchange. ‘We made it through the first set of doors’ said Tom Morello, ‘then a huge titanium gate came down.’ Meanwhile Michael Moore got off with a ticket. ‘I didn’t know if they’d seen my stuff, so I told them they didn’t wanna go down that road. It’s an ugly, ugly road.’
On this day, 22 March 2009, prison riots were sparked in Greece after the death of prison activist, Katerina Goulioni on March 18. Inmates in the women’s prison in Thebes refused to return to their cells, set fires and destroyed property, while protesters outside the prison clashed with riot police (content note: sexual violence).
200 inmates in Athens also held a protest in solidarity. Goulioni (pictured) was a prominent incarcerated activist, who had campaigned against lack of facilities for physically disabled prisoners, prison transfers in which many prisoners suspiciously died, and vaginal inspections which she termed “informal rape”.
In the wake of the rebellion, the government promised a review of vaginal inspection methods, and other prison conditions.
Goulioni’s fellow inmates sent the press the following goodbye statement: “All your life was full of thirst. Thirst for struggle and justice. You fought for all and for everything without care for the consequences. And at the end the consequences of your struggles rewarded you in the worse of manners, with a violent, unexpected sudden death. But we are still here, Katerina, and we shall remember you and continue the struggle you began. You are everywhere. We sense you and we thank you for taking care of us. For us, you will live for ever. Have a great journey!”
Learn more about women’s resistance in prisons in this book: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/resistance-behind-bars-the-struggles-of-incarcerated-women-victoria-law-1 https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1677764142408729/?type=3
