Hunger Strike Ends ?

Prisoners at Pelican Bay End Hunger Strike, Declare Victory Lawyers and Mediators Share Messages from Hunger Strike Leaders         For Immediate Release – July 22, 2011   Press Contact: Molly Porzig Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity 510-444-0484 650-380-4107 cell   What: Press Conference Where: California State Building, 1515 Clay St, Oakland When: 11am, July 22, 2011   Oakland – Lawyers, mediators and prisoner’s family members will hold a press conference on July 22, 2011 at the California State Building in Oakland announcing that prisoners at Pelican Bay have ended a hunger strike that began on July 1st. The prisoners collectively decided to end their strike when presented with an offer by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) meeting at least one of their demands. “The prisoners have been offered cold weather caps, calendars and the possibility of some educational opportunities in the Secure Housing Unit (SHU),” says Carol Strickman, a lawyer with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children who spoke by phone with four of the hunger strike leaders today, “They understand this is a victory not just because of the concessions that were offered, but because the tremendous international outcry around the conditions at Pelican Bay has made it possible to move towards lasting changes for prisoners across California.”   The strike, which lasted three weeks, received broad international support and prompted California lawmakers to initiate hearings on conditions in the SHU, including the practice of long-term solitary confinement. “While the strike might be over, conditions at Pelican Bay and around California remain deplorable,” says Emily Harris, coordinator of Californians United for a Responsible Budget. “The culmination of this hunger strike must be viewed in light of the fact that the CDCR is in federal receivership because it provides substandard medical care to prisoners. This will be an ongoing struggle.”   The Pelican Bay prisoner hunger strike has been one of the largest and longest strikes by prisoners in California history, with more than 6,600 prisoners participating at the height of the strike. A source at the Associated Press notified supporters that prisoners at Calipatria, Corcoran and Tehachapi state prisons remain on strike as of July 21st.Manuel LaFontaine, an organizer with All of Us or None, points out “This strike has been really significant in terms of the media attention it has received but more importantly because it marks a shift in terms of “business as usual” for the CDCR.”   Advocates and lawyers will continue to monitor conditions in the SHU at Pelican Bay State Prison and encourage ongoing review of conditions of confinement in all California prisons.   ### Recent Media Coverage Isolation, indeterminate sentences used to extract confessions at California supermax prisons by Jeff Kaye, San Francisco Bay View July 22, 2011 Prison Rebellions as a Window to the New World: Every Crook Can Govern By George Ciccariello-Maher and Jeff St. Andrews, Counterpunch July 22 2011 As Prisoners End Hunger Strike at Pelican Bay, Their Cause Continues by James Ridgeway and Jean Casella, Solitary Watch July 22 2011 California prison hunger strike still on Los Angeles Times July 21, 2011 Hunger strike still on at 3 Calif. prisons UPI July 21, 2011 Prison hunger strike ends after 20 days; advocates say strike raised awareness about prison conditions Thadeus Greenson and Kaci Poor, (Eureka)The Times-Standard, July 22 2011 California Prison Hunger Strike Ends Peacefully by David Seth Michaels, The Dream Antilles July 22 2011 California prison officials say the Pelican Bay hunger strike is over, activists accuse the authorities of lying Free Speech Radio, July 22 2011 Torture in America: Calif. prison hunger strikes, national protests continue by Deborah Dupre, Examiner.com July 22, 2011 Mary Bottari on ALEC Exposed, Marjorie Cohn on prison hunger strike CounterSpin (7/22/11-7/28/11) The Next Movement: Pelican Bay Prison Hunger Strike The Next Movement, July 21, 2011 What we can do in other countries to SUPPORT the Californian HUNGERSTRIKERS! Brighton ABC, July 21 2011 Hunger Strike Puts Focus On Calif. Prison Conditions KOSU News. July 21, 2011 The prison hunger strike is over… or is it? By Josh Richman, Political Blotter July 21st, 2011 Hunger Strike Leaders confirm that the Hunger Strike is over. My Brother's Keeper July 21, 2011 What the Hunger Strikers Demand by Azadeh Zorabi, Ella Baker Center Blog Jul 21, 2011 Providence, RI Solidarity for Pelican Bay Prisoners Propaganda Lalaland July 21, 2011 Statements from Human Rights and Civil Rights Groups Support Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers by Sal Rodriguez, Solitary Watch Pelican Bay Prison Inmates End Hunger Strike CBS Sacramento July 21, 2011 Pelican Bay Ends Hunger Strike Prisonmovement's Weblog July 21 2011 Enough is enough: Pelican Bay Hunger Strike and the Abysmal Conditions in America’s prisons by David Leonard, Your Black World July 21 2011 Media denied access to California jails PressTV Jul 21, 2011 Hunger strike called off by George Gale, KXO Radio 21 July 2011 Dept of Corrections Says Hunger Strike at Pelican Bay Prison Over; Interview: Permeation of Gangs in Calif. Prisons Posted by Jon Brooks, KQED July 21, 2011 Prison hunger strike over, officials say By Silvio J. Panta Imperial Valley Press, July 22, 2011 California Prison Hunger Strike Ends Huffington Post July 21 2011 Prison officials say hunger strike ends at Pelican Bay Jack Dolan, LA Times July 21 2011 California inmates end 3-week hunger strike Henry K. Lee, San Francisco Chronicle July 21, 2011 Hunger Strike Puts Focus On Calif. Prison Conditions by Carrie Kahn, All Things Considered, NPR July 21, 2011 Hunger Strike Puts Focus On Calif. Prison Conditions by Carrie Kahn, WBEZ 91.5, July 21, 2011 Calif. prison officials: Inmates end hunger strike By Paul Elias, Associated Press, July 21, 2011 Pelican Bay inmates end hunger strike By Record Searchlight staff, Record Searchlight, July 21, 2011 Pelican Bay inmates halt hunger strike By Sam Stanton Sacto 9-1-1 July 21 2011 Inmates end hunger strike after 21 days Times-Standard Online July 21 2011 Prisoner hunger strike has ended, prison official says Larry Mantle & Eric Zassenhaus, 89.3 KPCC July 21 2011 The Lying Liars and the tales they tell….. Prisonmovement's Weblog July 21 2011 Prisoners in Solitary Confinement on 21st Day of Hunger Strike - Department of Corrections is LYING About the Strike & Prisoners' Medical Conditions! Redwood Curtain CopWatch July 21 2011 Prison officials: Hunger strike is over LA Times, July 21, 2011 Statement by CDCR on Inmate Hunger Strike CDCR Today July 21, 2011 Pelican Bay Prison force-feed showdown: Just follow orders or human rights? Deborah Dupre, Examiner.com July 21, 2011     Wednesday's demo in Providence, RI       Needless to say, a link to an article does not imply endorsement.     Click here for complete list of links to news articles since July 1.                   Upcoming Events (next 72 hours)   In the US:     California   Chino July 23, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Day 23 Hunger Strike Support Rally:  @ CIM 14901 Central Ave Chino CA 91710 (we will probably arrive by 8:00 a.m.) Please note the the rally at Chino has been canceled.   Los Angeles July 22, 9:00AM-5:00PM - All Day Action - Downtown Los Angeles, Ronald Reagan State Building,300 South Spring St (between 3rd and 4th st),Los Angeles, CA 90013(@ 5pm march to LA County Jail)   July 22, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. @ Los Angeles Co Jail 441 Bauchet St LA 90012( be prepared to walk thru the streets of Los Angeles @ 8:30 p.m. to pass out info flyers and get petitions signed)         Ohio Youngstown Sat. July 23: From Supermax to Supermax – Rally 2:00-4:00 pm at Ohio’s supermax, Ohio State Penitentiary, 878 Coitsville-Hubbard Rd., Youngstown, OH 44505. Followed by a reception, discussion and DVD on physical & psychological torture USP at Marion. Come to St. Augustine’s Church, 614 Parmalee Ave., Youngstown, OH 44510.     This list is of upcoming events we know of within the next 72 hours - for a complete list click here   If you are organizing an event in your area, let us know!   Also, if you'd like photos of your actions to appear inHungerstrike News, just send us an email... Hungerstrike News can be reached at hstrikenews@yahoo.ca Unsubscribe / Change Profile