Hungerstrike News
| July 21, 2011 | No. 5, Day Twenty One |
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Repression Breeds Resistance! |
drawing by
Kevin "Rashid" Johnson, who has been held in segregation in the Virginia prison system since 1994. To see more of Rashid's artwork and writings, see www.rashidmod.com | | July 20 - Reaching at least 6,600 prisoners across 13 prisons, this massive and inspiring act of solidarity and people power across prison-manufactured & exacerbated racial and geographic lines has dumb-founded the CDCR. While the daily numbers of hunger strikers fluctuates, the CDCR is certainly under-estimating how many people inside prison are participating in and supporting this strike. In the first days of the strike, the CDCR said “less than two dozen prisoners” were hunger striking, but then were forced to admit at least 6,600 prisoners were participating in the strike. Now the CDCR has publicly announced that four prisons continue to strike. Advocates are currently aware of hunger strikers at Pelican Bay, Corcoran, Tehachapi, Folsom and Calipatria. Supporters also know that prisoners at Valley State Prison for Women, Centinela, San Quentin, and RJ Donovan have also been participating in the strike, and may still be refusing food. It is safe to assume the CDCR is still dramatically under-counting participation. A close friend of a Calipatria hunger-striker told Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity: “Based on communicating with my best friend who is a hunger striker, I’m 100% sure at least 300 prisoners are still supporting each other and going strong, refusing food and demanding the CDCR change conditions of solitary confinement and policies around gang validation.” She continues to explain: “Calipatria is very south in CA, near the US Mexico-border, and like all prisons, has a long-history of corruption, guard-instigated violence, and a severe lack of constructive programming for prisoners. It is incredibly hot down there. It is 110 degrees outside prison. Imagine how much hotter it is in a concrete cell, and imagine not eating anything for weeks in that heat.” In order to break the strike and dwindle support for it, the CDCR has: - enticed prisoners into not fasting before the strike began by releasing a “4th of July Menu,” including food that prisoners have never seen before in prison
- continuously down-played participation and support in regards to numbers
- has been withholding information in regards to prisoners’ medical status and other details on the strike from press, media, advocates, family members and prisoners
- guards marched down prison halls announcing the strike was over and the demands were met
- not followed medical protocol, including distributing prescribed medication
- told the Federal Receiver’s office all prisoners were refusing medical care, therefore the Federal Receiver’s office does not need to follow protocol and weigh prisoners or do medical examinations until later
- denounced family members, friends, prisoners, and lawyers speaking out about the urgent medical crisis as prisoners experience symptoms of severe dehydration due to no food for weeks and torturous conditions
- said the strike is led by vicious gang members to justify torture and discourage wide-range support
- hanging up and/or disconnecting when supporters call-in urging the CDCR to negotiate
- claiming they cannot implement the changes asked for in the demands, when they are basic standards even in other Supermax prisons Pelican Bay was modeled after
- thrown hunger striking prisoners not yet in the SHU and Ad-Seg units into solitary confinement as punishment for supporting the strike
- transferred hunger strikers to other prisons–we’ve heard from the Receiver’s Office of hunger strikers being transferred from Pelican Bay to Corcoran, and Corcoran to Pelican Bay
- continuing to deny mail, the primary source of much needed human contact
- and many more tactics we have yet to hear due to extreme isolation and surveillance
Despite these attempts, the hunger strike led by prisoners to change prison conditions and outside support for this courageous action has only grown.Thousands of people worldwide are supporting the strike by calling the CDCR and legislators to negotiate with the prisoners immediately, in good faith, before people die and medical conditions get even worse. Supporters have also been holding demonstrations and rallies, often outside of prisons and jails, to draw attention to the prevalence of policing and imprisonment in their communities, particularly working-class and communities of color, as well as the prioritization of policing and imprisonment at the expense of the much-needed social services and resources for the same communities people are taken away from when locked up in prison. Whitney Walton, a member of the Stop The Injunctions Coalition in Oakland, which is fighting the legalization of racial profiling through “gang injunctions” says: “I’m supporting the hunger strike because policing and labeling individuals as ‘gang’ members, or neighborhoods as ‘gang zones’ is directly connected to ‘gang validation’ that occurs in prisons. Both are tactics used to criminalize, dehumanize, and isolate members of our communities.” This hunger strike certainly is “rolling” and strike participation in the way of refusing food will continue to fluctuate in regards to numbers. Without a doubt, this struggle will continue until the prisoner’s demands are met, and prisoners are recognized as human beings. |
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Understanding Torture:
A Reading List |
| | Pelican Bay & SHUs Pelican Bay History Solitary Confinement Torture & Imprisonment Confronting Torture in US Prisons, an interview with activists/journalists and co-founders of the new Solitary Watch website, James Ridgeway and Jean Casella. Here they talk about some of the history and purpose of solitary confinement & Pelican Bay, as well as some media strategies for organizing against torture and imprisonment. Exporting Prisons and Torture Tactics Internationally Read A Visit Inside Colombia’s Most Notorious Prison, La Tramacúa by James Jordan from Alliance for Global Justice for a break down of why 54 prisoners have also begun a strike this June at La Tramacúa penitentiary in Valledupar, Colombia. Eight prisoners have sewn their own mouths shut-extreme measures due to extremely bad conditions. La Tramacúa was built with US funds and is part of an effort to transform the prisons on a US model. |
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- Inmates on hunger strike say they would rather die than suffer inhumane treatment
By Charlene Muhammad and Jamo Muhammad, Final Call Jul 20, 2011
- A Hunger Strike for Humanity
By Ron Jacobs, Counterpunch July 20 2011
- What is the Hunger Strike by California Prisoners About?
Interview with Michael Montgomery, KQED News Fix July 20 2011
- Seattle: Disruption and Banner Drop for Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers
Infoshop News July 20 2011
- Prison denies media access to hunger-striking inmates
Ross Frasier, Press TV, Los Angeles July 21 2011
- Gov. Brown to face nat'l anti-torture religious group as inmates lay dying
Deborah Dupre, Examiner.com July 20, 2011
- Caged Californians Agree With Supreme Court, Go on Hunger Strike
Radio Arte interviews Molly Porzig, July 20th, 2011
- California Prisons Go On Hunger Strikes
by Gerren Keith Gaynor, News One July 19, 2011
- No Let Up by Hunger Strikers in Pelican Bay
Rachel Johnson, New America Media Jul 20, 2011
- Inmates collapsing in CA prison hunger strike
PressTV Jul 20, 2011
- Is the media driving strike at prisons?
by Anthony Skeens, The Triplicate July 20, 2011
- Sacramento July 18 Hunger Strike Solidarity Demo
youtube video
- Day 21: Support The California Prisoners' Hunger Strike!
The Dream Antilles, July 21 2011
- Prisoner hunger strike at Pelican Bay
89.3 KPCC July 21 2011
- Support prisoners’ hunger strike!
Workers World Editorial, Jul 20, 2011
- Interview: What is the Hunger Strike by California Prisoners About?
Posted by KQED News Staff July 20, 2011
- Inmate hunger strike
by George Gale KXO Radio 20 July 2011
- Are there First Amendment problems with California officials blocking media access to all hunger-striking prisoners?
Sentencing Law and Policy July 19, 2011
- Some updates on the Pelican Bay prison hunger strike | The Informant
By Sara Mayeux KALW News July 20, 2011
- Prisoners leak urgent call for American solidarity: Pelican Prison Strike Day 19
Deborah Dupre, Examiner.com July 19, 2011
- Pelican Bay Hunger Strike: Calif. torture officials might increase tactics
Deborah Dupre, Examiner.com July 20, 2011
- Inmate Health Dwindles as Prison Hunger Strike Enters Fourth Week
by Jorge Rivas, July 19 2011 Colorlines
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yesterday in Seattle
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| Needless to say, a link to an article does not imply endorsement.
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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.) Los Angeles July 21, 12:30PM: Youth and Community Stand by Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers & Call for Humane Treatment for Everyone Inside and Coming Home From Prison @ Chuco's Justice Center, 1137 East Redondo Blvd., Inglewood, 90302 on the border of South Central LA, one block west of Florence and Crenshaw 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) Sacramento Thurs, July 21st, 3:45pm: March & Demo at CDCR Headquarters (1515 S. St.). Meet at Freemont Park (15th & Q). Please bring signs urging the Department of Corrections to stop torture. Contact sacprisonersupport@riseup.net San Diego July 21, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in San Diego accross the street from Court House on Front St and Broadway. San Francisco
EVERY WEEKDAY from noon til 1pm. California State Building, Van Ness and McAllister, San Francisco. Call d’andre/Revolution Newspaper for more info 510-926-5207 Thursday July 21st: Weekly vigil from 5-7pm in front of the Alameda County Courthouse – 1225 Fallon St., near Lake Merritt bart station and downtown Oakland. Santa Barbara Thurs, July 21, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.: Informational Event @ University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) @ Multicultural Center Illinois Chicago Friday July 22: Support Rally and March at the State of Illinois Building, located at 100 West Randolph Street in downtown Chicago at 4:30 pm. 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. In Canada Montreal July 22 and subsequent Fridays 12 – 1.30 pm: Picket at the American Consulate. 1155, rue Saint-Alexandre, corner Rene Levesque, metro Place des Arts. For more info, contact: montrealcontreprisons@gmail.com | If you are organizing an event in your area, let us know! Also, if you'd like photos of your actions to appear in Hungerstrike News, just send us an email... | | |
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Since July 1, thousands of prisoners across California have participated in a hunger strike against torturous conditions at Pelican Bay State Prison's Security Housing Unit. Roughly one hundred prisoners have stated that they will refuse food until death if their demands for basic human rights are not met. Hungerstrike News documents their struggle and the actions of those who stand in solidarity with them. |
MAKE CALLS AND
WRITE LETTERS OF PROTEST TO:
Secretary Matthew Cate
CDCR 1515 S Street Sacramento Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814 |
If you have a website or blog and would like to help promote Hungerstrike News, get in touch. |
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