Why Inmates in U.S. Prisons Launched a Nationwide Strike

What may shape up to be one of the largest prison strikes in modern U.S. history began Tuesday, with inmates across the country protesting what they call "modern day slavery."

The nearly three-week strike targets poorly paid prison labor, prison conditions and life-long sentencing, and was spurred by deadly riots earlier this year at the Lee Correctional Institution where seven inmates were killed.

Through labor strikes, hunger strikes and sit-ins staged from Aug. 21 to Sept.