QEJ stands in solidarity with the Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers
Posted by Q4EJ on July 18, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Hungerstrike News
July 17, 2011 No. 1, Day Seventeen
Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers Reject Proposal:
The Strike Continues!
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition <http://t.ymlp118.net/eqataybwakajswaoahh/click.php>
Friday, July 15 – This afternoon leaders of the Pelican Bay hunger strike unanimously rejected a proposal from the CDCR to end the strike. In response to the prisoners’ five, straightforward demands, the CDCR distributed a vaguely worded document stating that it would “effect a comprehensive assessment of its existing policy and procedure” about the secure housing units (SHUs). The document gave no indication if any changes would be made at all.
While the CDCR has claimed that there is no medical crisis, mediators report that the principal hunger strikers have lost 25-35 pounds each and have underlying medical conditions of concern. Despite the promises from the federal Receiver overseeing the CDCR, no one has received salt tablets or vitamins.
The hunger strike is now in its third week and shows no signs of weakening. In fact, the settlement document distributed last night to all hunger strikers at Pelican Bay prison, resulted in some people who have gone off the strike to resume refusing food. Hundreds of prisoners at Pelican Bay remain on strike, with thousands more participating throughout the CA’s 33 prisons. Advocates and strike leaders dismiss the false claims that the strike is being orchestrate by prison gangs. (Click here <http://t.ymlp118.net/eyazaybwaiajswatahh/click.php> for a clip from a legal visit with hunger strikers, explaining why prisoners are doing this hunger strike)
International solidarity with the striking prisoners also continue to mount with demonstrations and messages emerging from the US, Canada, Turkey and Australia.
According to mediation team Laura Magnani, “From day one. the CDCR has demonstrated it’s inability to resolve this situation. We call on Gov. Brown to step in and negotiate in good faith to bring this situation to a just resolution.” Strike supporters plan to flood the Governor’s office with phone calls and emails, echoing the striker’s demands.
Given how basic the strikers’ demands are, it is immoral that the CDCR would insult these men with such poor faith proposal,” state mediator Dorsey Nunn.
The challenge for supporters outside of prison is to match the courage of the hunger strikers, and to effectively pressure the CDCR to immediately negotiate on the standards any negotiation should follow: with the prisoners in good faith, addressing all of the demands, and with the prisoner-approved outside mediation team.
It is still important to continue calling in and writing letters to Sec. Cate.
We also need to intensify pressure on all elected officials, from Governor Brown to local state representatives, to get involved in this struggle–urge them to make sure the CDCR negotiates with the prisoners, urge them to visit Pelican Bay and demand to see the prisoners. We can also be targeting press and media to do the same.
MOBILIZE to SACRAMENTO:
MON, July 18th from 1-4pm. Demonstration outside CDCR Headquarters. 1515 S. St.
*FOR SUPPORTERS EVERYWHERE:
Join a conference call to hear direct updates, and to strategize effective ways to support the strike and the prisoners in winning their demands!
NATIONAL HUNGER STRIKE SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE CALL:
Monday, July 18th: 6 pm EDT/ 5 pm CDT/ 4pm MDT/ 3 pm PDT
Toll-Free Call In Number: 1(800) 920-7487
Participant Code: 62435226
Click here for a complete list of Coalition press releases and advisories. <http://t.ymlp118.net/msalaybwafajswaoahh/click.php>
Recent Media Coverage
- Protestors In Support Of Pelican Bay Prisoners March Through SF <http://t.ymlp118.net/muaiaybwakajswaiahh/click.php> - Jana Katsuyama reports for KTVU television, July 15 2011
- Prison Reform Movement’s Blogtalkradio show <http://t.ymlp118.net/meacaybwagajswadahh/click.php> talks to Ed Mead, Julie Tackett, and D.J. Vodicka, on July 16, 2011
- Interview with Carol Strickman, staff attorney for Legal Services for Prisoners with Children “The CDCR is using every method they have to try and stop this hunger strike” <http://t.ymlp118.net/mmapaybwaxajswagahh/click.php> Revolution #239, July 17, 2011
- Interview with Clyde Young, revolutionary communist “We should stand firmly with the prisoners and their demands” <http://t.ymlp118.net/mjapaybwavajswaxahh/click.php> Clyde Young is a revolutionary communist and a former prisoner. This interview was originally done on The Michael Slate Show and has been posted at revcom.us <http://revcom.us> courtesy of The Michael Slate Show (KPFK, 90.7fm Los Angeles, 98.7fm Santa Barbara, www.kpfk.org <http://www.kpfk.org> worldwide).
- Interview with Lance Tapley, journalist; U.S.: “The World Torture Champions” <http://t.ymlp118.net/mbagaybwavajswavahh/click.php> Lance Tapley is an award winning investigative journalist at the Portland Phoenix in Maine where he has covered the Supermax prison in Maine. Lance is also one of the contributors to the anthology “The United States and Torture: Interrogation, Incarceration and Abuse”. This interview was originally done on The Michael Slate Show and has been posted at revcom.us <http://revcom.us> courtesy of The Michael Slate Show (KPFK, 90.7fm Los Angeles, 98.7fm Santa Barbara, www.kpfk.org <http://www.kpfk.org> worldwide).
- Interview with Manuel LaFontaine, member of All of Us or None and the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition: “The worst of the worst is not allowing people to be treated as human beings” <http://t.ymlp118.net/mhafaybwadajswagahh/click.php> Manuel LaFontaine is a member of All of Us or None and the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity coalition. This interviewed was originally done on The Michael Slate Show and has been posted at revcom.us <http://revcom.us> courtesy of The Michael Slate Show, (KPFK, 90.7fm Los Angeles, 98.7fm Santa Barbara, www.kpfk.org <http://www.kpfk.org> worldwide)
- Emergency Press Conference in San Francisco: “We cannot stress enough how critical the situation is” <http://t.ymlp118.net/mwapaybwalajswapahh/click.php> Revolution #239, July 17, 2011
- Thousands of California Prisoners & Supporters Rally for Weeks <http://t.ymlp118.net/mqaraybwaxajswavahh/click.php> MIM(Prisons), July 2011
- When the Hunger Strike is in the US | Cubadebate (English) <http://t.ymlp118.net/myataybwaxajswaxahh/click.php> By Juana Carrasco Martín, Cubadebate Jul 16th, 2011 A CubaNews translation. Edited by Walter Lippmann
- Letters from Hugo Pinell and other hunger strikers – Rally to support the hunger strikers <http://t.ymlp118.net/jsanaybwaaajswacahh/click.php> San Francisco Bay View July 15, 2011
- Protests Grow in Solidarity with California Prisoners as Hunger Strikes Enter Third Week <http://t.ymlp118.net/juavaybwafajswaaahh/click.php> Democracy Now July 15, 2011
- Carl Small of the Montreal Hungerstrike Support Committee interviewed on Radio Free Worldinterviewed on Radio Free World <http://t.ymlp118.net/jeavaybwapajswarahh/click.php> , CKUW 95.9 FM Winnipeg, July 15 2011
- Pelican Bay/California hunger strike: 6,000 prisoners and growing <http://t.ymlp118.net/jmacaybwaoajswazahh/click.php> By Michelle Schudel, Liberation (Newspaper of the Party for Socialism and Liberation) July 15, 2011
- Pelican Bay Hunger Strike: Supporters Plan to Rally, Possibly Disrupt the Evening Commute <http://t.ymlp118.net/jjaraybwaoajswazahh/click.php> By Erin Sherbert San Francisco News, July 15 2011
- Rush Hour Protest Today to Back Hunger Strikers at Pelican Bay <http://t.ymlp118.net/jbafaybwagajswagahh/click.php> Rachel Swan East Bay Express, July 15, 2011
- Calif. inmates fight lockdowns, punishment of groups by race <http://t.ymlp118.net/jhacaybwacajswaoahh/click.php> BY ARLENE RUBINSTEIN, The Militant – July 25, 2011
- July 15: Amidst Pressure, CDCR Enters Negotiation with Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers <http://t.ymlp118.net/jwalaybwanajswaaahh/click.php> press release from the Prisoners Hungerstrike Solidarity Coalition
- Corrections officials accede to pressure, begin negotiating with hunger strikers as their health deteriorates <http://t.ymlp118.net/jqaiaybwafajswatahh/click.php> by Isaac Ontiveros, Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity, San Francisco Bay View July 15 2011.
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. <http://t.ymlp118.net/jyataybwapajswakahh/click.php>
Upcoming Events
(next 72 hours)
EVERYWHERE
*Monday, July 18th: 6 pm EDT/ 5 pm CDT/ 4pm MDT/ 3 pm PDT:
NATIONAL HUNGER STRIKE SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE CALL: FOR SUPPORTERS EVERYWHERE. Join a conference call to hear direct updates, and to strategize effective ways to support the strike and the prisoners in winning their demands! Toll-Free Call In Number: 1(800) 920-7487. Participant Code: 62435226
In the US:
California
Los Angeles
Monday, July 18th, 9am – 5pm ALL DAY – Reagan State Building, 3rd and Spring Sts., Downtown Los Angeles
Sacramento
Mon, July 18th1:00-4:00pm: Demonstration @ CDCR Headquarters.1515 S St. Sacramento, CA
San Bernardino
Sun, July 17th 12:00-3:00 pm: Demonstration at San Bernardino County Central Detention Center (CDC). 630 East Rialto Avenue. San Bernardino
San Francisco
EVERY DAY at noon. California State Building, Van Ness and McAllister, San Francisco.
Nevada
Las Vegas
Mon, July 18th 8:00- 9:00 p.m: VIGIL IN SOLIDARITY WITH HUNGER STRIKE ACROSS CALIFORNIA. Address: *waiting on location*
New York
New York City
Mon, JULY 18th 11:30am – 1pm Demo in Solidarity with Hunger Strike in California. California State Franchise Office, 1212 6th Ave. between 47th & 48th, Manhattan, New York City, New York.
Arizona
Tuscon
Tues, July 19th @ 8pm: Informational Update on the Hunger Strike and Radical Folk Music Show featuring Ryan Harvey. At Dry River Radical Resource Center 740 N. Main Ave. Click here <http://t.ymlp118.net/bsakaybwaxajswadahh/click.php> for more info.
Rhode Island
Wed, July 20th: Fast/Rally (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 <http://t.ymlp118.net/buadaybwaaajswaxahh/click.php>
This list is of upcoming events we know of within the next 72 hours – for a complete list click here <http://t.ymlp118.net/beadaybwanajswapahh/click.php>
If you are organizing an event in your area, let us know <mailto:hstrikenews@yahoo.ca> !
Hungerstrike News can be reached at hstrikenews@yahoo.ca