The hunger strike by more than 1000 prisoners in California's jails entered its third week on July 23. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has refused to negotiate or address the strikers' five main demands, Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity (PHSS) said on July 23.
Prison officials have shown no interest in negotiating an end to the mass hunger strike despite the clear danger to the prisoners’ health.
“This is a clear attack against a non-violent protest,” says Anne Weills, attorney for several hunger strikers. “It is pathetic that in response to prisoners' calls for basic human and civil rights, the CDCR responds by violating those rights.”
Instead, prison officials have tried to break the hunger strike by moving prisoners' representatives from Secure Housing Units at Pelican Bay State Prison to Administrative Segregation, blasting cold air into cells (leaving some of the men sick) and confiscating legal documents from hunger strikers.
The callous attitudes of prison officials has led them to deny hunger strikers medical attention and banning lawyers, such as Marilyn McMahon, from visiting hunger strikers.
“This is a matter of life and death for the strikers and their families,” said mediator Barbara Becnel in a July 23 PHSS statement. “We object in the strongest possible terms to the complacency of the CDCR.”
CDCR secretary Jeffrey Beard has refused to meet with mediators working on behalf of the hunger strikers. California Governor Jerry Brown refuses to intervene in the unfolding crisis and is off touring Europe. Ironically, one of Brown’s tour dates is a visit to the concentration camp at Dachau in Germany.
Not surprisingly, families and loved ones of the hunger strikers are outraged by this callous indifference to the fate of thousands of men.
However, the hunger strikers at Pelican Bay State Prison who have been placed in Administrative Segregation are reportedly in high spirits and showing great resolve in the face of attempts to break them.
On July 23, day 17 of the hunger strike, they released statement (which can be read in full below this article) saying: “You should know that once again our peaceful protest is making history, bringing international attention to our collective efforts to bring an end, once and for all, to the inhumane conditions and torture of indefinite solitary confinement ...
“Gov. Brown is not above the will of the people of California, and if he refuses to recognize the legitimacy of our human and civil rights struggle against the practices of this prison system, then it is the responsibility of the federal government and President Obama to use their powers to stop the harm being done to thousands of prisoners being held in solitary confinement.”
The statement concluded: “In closing, we want to inform the world that this hunger strike is far from over. We are in it for the long haul ... We believe that we will prevail.”
People across the world can help stop the torture by telling the CDCR to return the 14 prisoner representatives at Pelican Bay State Prison to their cells, return their confiscated legal documents and lift the ban on McMahon, so she can visit her clients.
The United States spends tens of billions of dollars locking up its poorest citizens. Nearly 2 million US citizens are in jail as part of a bid to divide the population and prevent young people from resisting huge social and economic inequality. This historic hunger strike shows how resistance to a barbaric and inhumane society is possible, even against overwhelming odds.
[Sign a petition to Governor Jerry Brown in support of hte prisoners' campaign. For more information, and find out other ways to support the campaign, visit the PHSS website.]
‘We will see hunger strike through to victory’
The statement below was released by representatives of the prisoners on hunger strike at California’s Pelican Bay State Prison on July 23, the 17th day of the hunger strike.
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Greetings of solidarity and respect to all of our supporters, all people of conscience around the world, and all similarly situated prisoners.
You should know that once again our peaceful protest is making history, bringing international attention to our collective efforts to bring an end, once and for all, to the inhumane conditions and torture of indefinite solitary confinement.
We are being tortured each day by state officials (Governor Brown, his appointee California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary Beard, and all his underlings). Increased retaliation has been perpetuated upon defenceless and starving prisoners who only seek what any human being strives for—humane treatment, dignity, equality, and justice for our families, loved ones, and ourselves.
These are the fundamental rights of all people, including those incarcerated by the state. We are doing all we can, together with our outside supporters, to bring about a positive changes.
Gov. Brown is not above the will of the people of California, and if he refuses to recognize the legitimacy of our human and civil rights struggle against the practices of this prison system, then it is the responsibility of the federal government and President Obama to use their powers to stop the harm being done to thousands of prisoners being held in solitary confinement.
CDCR officials are attempting to undermine the voluntary actions of prisoners who truly want better treatment and living conditions by wrongfully accusing us of forcing tens-of-thousands of prisoners across California, along with our supporters in the free world, to participate in our protest.
Prisoners across the state are participating because of the inhumane conditions they are being subjected to. As HUMAN BEINGS prisoners are collectively resisting such treatment, and they are doing so peacefully.
The attempted repression of our protest has not broken our spirits. In fact it has only helped to strengthen each of us—individually and collectively. Despite CDCR’s retaliations and propaganda, we remain steadfast in our commitment.
We will see our peaceful hunger strike through to victory, even if this requires us to endure the torture of force-feeding. We believe at this point in our struggle we are prepared to do what is necessary in order for Gov. Brown and the CDCR to realize how serious we are, and how far and long we are willing to go to have our reasonable demands implemented.
We are hopeful that all those brave men and women across the state who are participating in this strike—all who are able health-wise—will be encouraged to issue public statements of their own, via media outlets across the country, letting the world know why they have taken part in this historic, collective struggle.
In closing, we want to inform the world that this hunger strike is far from over. We are in it for the long haul. Thus, we strongly urge Gov. Brown to return from his “get-away” vacation overseas and deal urgently with this crisis before more prisoners suffer serious health damage or death.
If any deaths do occur, the responsibility for them will fall squarely on Brown and the CDCR in their callousness and inaction.
We believe that we will prevail.
In Solidarity,
PBSP-SHU Short Corridor Representatives
- Todd Asher, C-58191, PBSP-SHU, D4-121
- Arturo Castellanos, C-17275, PBSP-SHU, D1-121
- Sitawa Nantambu Jamaa (Dewberry), C-35671, PBSP-SHU,D1-117
- Antonio Guillen, P-81948, PBSP-SHU, D2-106