FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Thandisizwe Chimurenga, 213-321-0575 FAMILY MEMBERS, CONCERNED CITIZENS DEMAND AN END TO TORTURE IN CALIFORNIAâS PRISONS Monday, July 18 · 9:00am - 5:00pm Ronald Reagan State Building 3rd and Spring Sts., Los Angeles, CA Delegation to meet with Gov. Jerry Brown, Press Conference @ 11 a.m. Family members and concerned citizens will convene on Monday, July 18, 2011, at the Ronald Reagan State Office Building, 3rd and Spring Sts., from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. The all-day vigil will bring attention to the more than 6,000 prisoners across the state who have participated in an indefinite hunger strike since July 1, especially those in the Pelican Bay and Corcoran Security Housing Units facing severe medical consequences. There is also a 7:00 PM vigil planned at the County Jail, 441 Bauchet Street, L.A. The prisoners are on strike to bring much-needed attention to the conditions of their confinement, conditions that many consider torture. A delegation representing family members of the striking prisoners will also go to CA Governor Jerry Brownâs office at 11 a.m. They demand that the Governor order the CA Dept of Corrections to meet the strikersâ demands to end inhumane treatment in the stateâs Security Housing Units (SHUs). U.S. and international human rights organizations have condemned SHUs as having cruel, inhumane, and torturous conditions. CA SHU prisoners are kept in windowless, 6X10-foot cells, 23½ hours a day, for years on end. The CDCR operates four SHUs in its system at Corcoran, Ca. Correctional Institution, Valley State Prison for Women and Pelican Bay. The demands of the prisoners, many of whom are in now in medical crisis since going without food or water since July 1, are: 1. End Group Punishment & Administrative Abuse; 2. Abolish the Debriefing Policy, and Modify Active/Inactive Gang Status Criteria 3. Comply with the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in Americaâs Prisons 2006 Recommendations Regarding an End to Long-Term Solitary Confinement 4. Provide Adequate and Nutritious Food 5. Expand and Provide Constructive Programming and Privileges for Indefinite SHU Status Inmates. Prisoners at the Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, CA initiated the hunger strike on July 1, but have since been joined by prisoners at Corcoran, Tehachapi, Calipatria and others. The prisoners have also stated that they are willing to give up their lives unless their demands are met. Press coverage of this significant development and humanitarian crisis has been inadequate up to this point. TODAY!!! 12:00PM-3:00PM PROTEST at San Bernardino County Central Detention Center (CDC) 630 East Rialto Avenue San Bernardino, California 92415 According to Prisoner Solidarity Blog: âThis afternoon leaders of the Pelican Bay hunger strike unanimously rejected a proposal from the CDCR to end the strike. In response to the prisonersâ five, straightforward demands, the CDCR distributed a vaguely worded document stating that it would âeffect a comprehensive assessment of its existing policy and procedureâ about the secure housing units (SHUs). The document gave no indication if any changes would be made at all Despite the promises from the federal Receiver overseeing the CDCR, no one has received salt tablets or vitamins hundreds of prisoners at Pelican Bay remain on strike, with thousands more participating throughout the CAâs 33 prisons.â Go here to read the whole article: http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/2011/07/16/pelican-bay-hunger-strikers-reject-proposal-the-strike-continues/ These are updates we have from letters, posts, facebook messages, conversations, emails. Tehachapi A mother went to go visit her son in the SHU and was told that all the men on B yard are not eating, except for one who is a diabetic. Her son had lost about 20 lbs. and she reported that he looked extremely skinny, his skinned looked sucked in and eyes really big. She said he came out to visit with this very ugly dirty suit and believes they are not allowing them to do laundry. He was told about the protest that will be taking place tomorrow in San Bernardino and broke down crying. He thanked everyone who has been involved in organizing efforts. He said it is becoming very challenging but he is going to hold on and keep going strong. He said they had heard almost nothing about the strike. They had only managed to get ahold of one article, but it had no mention that Tehachapi was also on hunger strike and they have been going since July 1st. He urged to bring awareness to the fact that they are still on hunger strike and will continue to be. Donovan "I received a letter from my man today letting me know the inmates in the hole at Donovan are participating in the hunger strike .... there is absolutely no news coverage in the San Diego area. All I know is he's telling me the men are eating canteen and that's it. I was under the impression they weren't eating at all... he said he's sent me numerous letters however I've only gotten two prior ones telling me how starving he is.... he's lost 20lbs so far. Its hard to find out any accurate information he did say that he finally received mail from the beginning of July. I've called numerous times to get some sort of information, but supposedly nobody knows anything. Please fill me in if you find out any information. I'm not sure how long they have been eating canteen.... its a total upside down mess there. I have a friend who emailed all the local news channels yet nothing has been gone public. He said he wrote me a letter regarding what's going on in there but of course I never got it .. I don't think anyone knows which different prisons still have strikers, that's why we're trying to get a list together. Reports keep coming in from different places, and cdcr is keeping a tight lid on inmates trying to get the word out to their loved ones. If I had to guess, I would say there are still THOUSANDS participating... not hundreds!â PBSP SHU-C Corridor about 50 inmates on the C corridor that are participating in this hunger strike. Soon you may not hear from the men but BE DILIGENT in making sure they're okay. If your incarcerated loved one has an attorney try to get in contact with them to see if they can get direct answers regarding what is really going on inside. âStood outside gates of Pelican Bay today with 2 others and a banner in support of hunger strikers while visitors came and went. Camping with Julie (see blog), who's been here for 3+ weeks...plenty of room for more support up here!â Julieâs blog: http://julie-tackett.blogspot.com/ Desert View Modified Community Correctional Facility âI went to visit my husband along with my sister in law and we were denied a visit because he is in the hole on a disciplinary violation. After looking into it further. I can see that they are retaliating against him for participating in the hunger strike. He wrote to me and I received the letter a few minutes ago telling me that there was a hunger strike that went on for 36 hours after that he had to give in because he was going crazy. On July 14 Thursday, he said that the "gaffled him up" after going to his GED class. He has not received a write up or anything stating what he did wrong. They just mentioned that he will be charged with "inciting", apparently the teagher thinks that he is responsible for the class not showing up on July 13. He also says that if they look at the "sign-in" sheet for the past month they would see that the whole class doesn't show up quite often in the meantime I am contacting his attorney, so that he can go in there and see what is really going on I forgot to mention that my husband is in a cell by himself he is not allowed any mail other that outgoing mail and he is locked down 24hrs since 7/14 so it has been 48 hours. If this isn't cruel and unusual punishment I don't know what is. These privatized prisons are going to far, they forget that only GEO Group is contracted with the Government, the employees aren't.â Prisonerâs Rights: Right to Receive Mail While in Prison "[A] prisoner's right to the free flow of incoming and outgoing mail is protected by the First Amendment." Davis v. Goord, 320 F.3d 346, 351 (2d Cir. 2003). "[T]interference with prisonersâ mail âmust be no greater than is necessary or essential to the protection of the particular governmental interest involved. Washington v. James, 782 F.2d 1134, 1139 (2d Cir.1986) (quotation marks omitted). Prison mail regulations are valid only if they are "reasonably related to legitimate penological interest." Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89 (1987). "Prison walls do not form a barrier separating prison inmates from the protections of the Constitution," Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. at 84. "[N]or do they bar free citizens from exercising their own constitutional rights by reaching out to those on the âinside[].â" Thornburgh v. Abbott, 490 U.S. 401, 407 (1987). "Access [to prisoners] is essential (From Section 1983 blog website)â (they can go in during the week to pay visits) Some men are not having anything but water and coffee. Response: âcut out the coffee because it dehydrates (although it also suprresses his hunger). Try to take vitamin C or orange juice along with the water...â âAs a clinical psychologist who works with recently incarcerated individuals, I have witnessed first hand the trauma caused by inhumane conditions in prisons. Cruel and unusual punishment wounds individuals and harms our communitiesâ- anonymous WE STILL NEED FOLKS FOR A PANEL IN UC SANTA BARBARA! Any family members that have son incarcerated and participating in hunger strike? LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. THEY OFFERED TO HELP WITH GAS. EVENTS TO PLUG IN! SUNDAY-JULY 17 TODAY! 12:00PM-3:00PM PROTEST at San Bernardino County Central Detention Center (CDC) 630 East Rialto Avenue San Bernardino, California 92415 MONDAY- JULY 18 1:00PM-4:00PM DIRECT ACTION @ CDCr Headquarters 1515 S St. Sacramento, CA 11:30AM-1:00PM Demo in Solidarity- New York California State Franchise Office 1212 6th Ave. (between 47th & 48th) Manhattan, New York City 6 PM EDT/ 5 PM CDT/ 4PM MDT/ 3 PM PDT NATIONAL HUNGER STRIKE SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE CALL Toll-Free Call In Number: 1(800) 920-7487 Participant Code: 62435226 9:00AM-5:00PM RALLY outside at State Building Downtown Los Angeles 7:00PM VIGIL and JERICHO MARCH Los Angeles County Jail 441 Bauchet Street Los Angeles, California 90012 8:00 PM.- 9:00 PM VIGIL IN SOLIDARITY WITH HUNGER STRIKE ACROSS CALIFORNIA Las Vegas , Nevada! 333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 8016 Las Vegas, NV 89101 TUESDAY- JULY 19th 8:00PM Informational/Update on Hunger Strike and Radical Folk Music Show ft. Ryan Harvey Dry River Radical Resource Center 740 N. Main Ave. Tucson, AZ More info: http://dryriver.org/ryan-harvey-luke-romano-douglas-fur-and-a-presentation-on-pelican-bay-hunger-strikes WEDNESDAY- JULY 20 Fast/Rally in Rhode Island (assuming the strikers haven't had their demands met by then) organized by DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality) for more info, call: 401-351-6060 PLEASE MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS! It takes one minute! You can even multi task! WE NEED YOU TO HELP US MEET DEMANDS AND BRING THIS TO AN END! PHONE #âs For Governor, Jerry Brown: (916) 445-2841 âMy name is _____. I support the reasonable âfive core demandsâ of the hunger striking prisoners. I urge the Governor to become involved or to direct Secretary Cate to negotiate with the prisoners immediately & in good faith. During this crisis and afterward, the prisoners' human and civil rights must be respected. Thank you.â For CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate: (916) 323-6001--- calls now redirected to (916) 445-4950 âHi my name is _____. Iâm calling about the statewide prisoner hunger strike that began at Pelican Bay. I support the prisoners & their reasonable âfive core demands.â I urge the CDCR to negotiate with the prisoners immediately & in good faith. Thank You.â Governor Jerry Brown w/ phone calls @ (916) 445-2841 CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate @ (916) 323-6001--- calls now redirected to (916) 445-4950 PBSP Warden Greg Lewis: 707-465-1000 x 9040; and Ombudsman Ralyn Conner: 916-324-6123 IF BUSY, please Call The Public Safety Committee: Senator Loni Hancock - (Chair) Capitol Office Phone: (916) 651-4009 District Office Phone: (510) 286-1333 Senator Joel Anderson- (Vice Chair) Capitol Office Phone: (916) 651-4036 El Cajon District Office Phone: (619) 596-3136 Temecula District Office phone: (916) 651-4036 Senator Roderick Wright: Capitol office Phone: (916) 651-4025 District Office Phone:(310) 412-0393 Long Beach District Office: (562) 427-1028 Public Safety Standing Committee of Assembly Tom Ammiano (Chair) (415) 557-3013 (916)319-2013 Steve Knight- (Vice Chair) (916) 319-2036 (661) 267-7636 (760) 843-8045 Call Out Terry Thornton on her lies! , 916-324-4590... http://ontheblockradio.blogspot.com/2011/07/pelican-bay-state-prison-hunger-strike.html If you are looking for more info regarding the hunger strike's demands: http://www.prisons.org/hungerstrike.htm Deatiled information regarding the SHU:http://afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/Buried%20Alive%20%20PMRO%20May08%20.pdf For updates and more detailed information visit: www.prisons.org and http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/ There you will find actions to plug into around the world. ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:laamn-unsubscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:laamn-subscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:laamn-dig...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:laamn-ow...@egroups.com?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:la...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/laamn@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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