“This is a call for all prisoners [...] as well as the free oppressed and non-oppressed people to support the indefinite July 1st 2011 peaceful Hunger Strike in protest of the violation of our civil/human rights, here at Pelican Bay State Prison Security Housing Unit.” Pelican Bay Hunger Strike leader
Last week, courageous prisoners began a Hunger Strike at the Pelican Bay State Prison Security Housing Unit. Prisoners across the US are showing their solidarity by joining the hunger strike and sending letters of support. Family members, organizations, and allies are joining from the outside to build pressure for the prisoners’ demands.
SUMMARY OF THE PRISONERS DEMANDS:
1. End administrative abuse and group punishment
2. Abolish the Debriefing Policy, and Modify Active/Inactive Gang Status Criteria. Prisoners should not be categorized and punished as gang members just because another prisoner says they are part of a gang in order to get out of the SHU.
3. Comply with US Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons 2006 Recommendations Regarding an End to Long-Term Solitary Confinement and Provide SHU prisoners Immediate Meaningful Access to adequate natural sunlight, quality health care and treatment, transfer all Pelican Bay- SHU prisoners with chronic health care problems to the New Folsom Medical SHU facility.
4. Provide Adequate Food – cease the practice of denying adequate food as punishment, and provide wholesome nutritional meals including special diets, and allow inmates to purchase additional vitamin supplements.
5. Expand and Provide Constructive Programming and Privileges for Indefinite SHU Status prisoners (i.e. visitation, phone calls, mail, radio, etc).
For a full version and explanation of the prisoners’ demands, check out: prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com. Please visit and revisit their blog this week for updates from the organizers.
This weekend, cities around California and beyond are planning solidarity events. For demonstrations and actions in San Francisco, Oakland, Eureka, Los Angeles and beyond, click here. Take Action at one of these events or by spreading the word about the Strike to your networks.
6 Comments
Link to the Hunger Strike website isn’t working… try this:
http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/
What bull these inmates get up to $130 dollars a month personal canteen and have their mattresses stuffed while they refuse to eat state food. I say great give their food to the homeless and slop the hogs for slaughter. i care more for their victims they are predators worst of the worst and deserve nothing. Crack another beer and watch the 49ers loose…
Sorry “Jim Morrison.” But I have to disagree with you. Many people in our jails are serving time for non-violent offenses. Torturing the people our State has locked up only adds damage to damage. Doesn’t make any of us safer.
I noticed something. All of these claims are from prisoners. Prisoners said this, prisoners said that. So we are to take their word for it? If they said the guards were pulling them out of their cells every hour and beating them for being on a hunger strike would this be taken as gospel? I have yet to see an article from a non- prisoner who has seen the prison conditions for themselves. These individuals are not in prison for being honest, kind, gentle, moral, etc. If being in a cell with meals brought to your door, free television, the best medical money can buy, the best psychological help money can buy, social interaction with at least 6 other people you are housed with, if that is what we call torture now, then most of the world is being MORE than tortured. Our military does not eat as well as these prisoners. If homeless people on the street knew how well they would be taken care of in prison they would commit a crime just to get there. Should I live on the street going through dumpsters or should I go to prison with a roof over my head, and meals brought to me? Probably 50% of the world live in worse conditions than these prisoners, and most people in America cannot have surgery for a $5 copay. Most people in America do not have the luxury of having a psychologist standing by to be able to talk to. Most people do not have guards standing by to protect them (even if it is from themselves). Inside prison you do not hear the cries of ones being “tortured” you hear laughter and lively banter in the pods. You hear cheering as their sports team score on the television. You hear conversations of life on the streets etc. Most people in the world would say, “If this is torture, sign me up!”
Final note.. how can you have a cell mate in “solitary confinement”? SHU is NOT solitary confinement.
well, i think that american people gone a bit crazy about their prisons. Your prisons looks like 3-stars hotel. So what you want more? it’s prison not for me or you who lives normal,fair life. If you think that prisons in US have very bad conditions,visit Russia, Ukraine and will notice the differences.
Thank you and sorry if I hurt someone with my words
Lesenswert: 11.9. – zehn Jahre danach: Der Einsturz eines Lügengebäudes
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