Franklin County Residents Rally Against Proposed Prison Site

Residents of Franklin County, Arkansas, are continuing their fight against a plan to build a new prison in their community. For over a year, they have voiced concerns that the proposed location lacks the necessary roads, water, and other systems to support a large facility.

Activist Spike Cohen recently met with the concerned residents. He plans to present their worries, along with a documentary about Franklin County, to state lawmakers in Little Rock during their budget meeting. Cohen hopes to change how legislators view the project. He explained, "Folks here are worried it's going to harm their community, not just the prison itself, but because there isn't enough infrastructure to support it."

Local involvement has grown, and residents say their efforts are now getting statewide attention. Justin Flanagan from the Chickamauga nation called the plan "government going too far." A Franklin County resident said, "We've built momentum, showing Arkansans that we can work together to achieve what our community wants."

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the prison project last week. She stated that Arkansas needs more prison beds because state inmates are overcrowding county jails. "We've added 1,500 beds," Sanders said, but still believes "Franklin County is the best location."

Despite the Governor's stance, residents feel they are making progress. The vote in getting funds approved for the project have been blocked five times thus far, and Cohen believes the ongoing organizing has built support and could impact the project's future.