[Ppnews] Isolated California Inmates Continue Their Fight for Reform
Political Prisoner News
ppnews at freedomarchives.org
Fri Dec 30 23:44:19 EST 2011
Isolated California Inmates Continue Their Fight for Reform
December 30, 2011
http://solitarywatch.com/2011/12/30/isolated-california-inmates-continue-their-fight-for-reform/
by <http://solitarywatch.com/author/sal2329/>Sal Rodriguez
Since the widespread hunger strikes across
California protesting the conditions of long-term
solitary confinement in the California prison
system, there have yet to be any indications of
substantive change on the horizon.
Since the end of the most recent hunger strike in
October, at least
<http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/three-prisoners-die-in-hunger-strike-related-incidents-cdcr-withholds-information-from-family-members-fails-to-report-deaths/>three
hunger strikers have committed suicide–two in
Pelican Bay State Prison’s Security Housing and
another at Calipatria State Prison’s Administrative Segregation Unit.
There have been reports of hunger striker leaders
at Pelican Bay State Prison facing disciplinary
action for their participation in the strikes.
One hunger strike leader reported that:
On November 30th, myself and several other men
here (whom CDCR has labeled as “leaders” of the
peaceful-protests) received serious rule
violations, charging us with causing a riot/mass
disturbance and they referred it for felony –
prosecution, to the local D.A’s office.
And further, that:
The Ad-Seg/ ASU units are bad news – I was never
housed in them until being put in the one here –
on Sept. 29th, this was CDCR’s retaliatory action
against (15) of us here. We were all isolated on
a tier, in strip cells with nothing but a set of
clothes and fish kit (spoon, cup, bar of soap,
etc
), with ice cold air blasting outta the vents!
Confinement in the ASU reportedly lasted until
October 13th, the end of the Pelican Bay hunger strike.
Since this time, there has been difficulty
maintaining the momentum sparked by the first
hunger strike, which notably led in a historic
<http://solitarywatch.com/2011/08/24/historic-california-assembly-hearing-on-solitary-confinement/>California
Assembly hearing on the matter with promises of
future Public Safety Committee inquiries into the
system of solitary confinement.
The frustration with the slow-moving CDCR has
apparently led to ASU inmates at Corcoran State
Prison to launch a hunger strike on December 28th
(more information is forthcoming). A letter
declaring the purpose of the hunger strike, along
with a list of demands (similar in nature to the
previous hunger strike demands)
<http://sfbayview.com/2011/new-hunger-strike-petition-for-improved-conditions-in-administrative-segregation-unit-at-corcoran-state-prison/>has
been published on December 30th.
Dated December 22nd, the below letter is from the
Pelican Bay Short Corridor–a group of inmates
considered the leaders of the previous hunger
strikes. It is reflective of the growing
frustration and determination among inmates to
see to it that their situation and cause remains
in the publics awareness and urges individuals to
keep the pressure on CDCR and the California
government to fully address this issue.
Pelican Bay Short Corridor Update
(December 2011)
A Shout-out of respect and solidarity – from the
Pelican Bay Short Corridor – Collective – to all
similarly situated prisoners subject to the
continuing torturous conditions of confinement in
these barbaric SHU & Ad/Seg units across this country and around the world.
This is our update of where things currently
stand and where we’re going with this struggle –
for an end to draconian policies and practices –
summarized in our “Formal Complaint” (and many
related documents published and posted online, since early 2011)
As many of you know
beginning in early (2010),
the PBSP – SHU Short Corridor Collective
initiated action to educate people and bring wide
spread exposure to – the (25+) years of ongoing –
progressive human rights violations going
unchecked here in the California Department of
Corruption – via dissemination of our “Formal
Complaint” to 100’s of people, organizations,
lawmakers, Secretary Cate, etc
wherein, we also
sought support and meaningful change.
The response by CDCR – Secretary Cate was “file
an inmate appeal” (collectively, we’d filed
thousands); therefore, after much reconsideration
and dialogue, the collective decided to take the
fight to the next level via peaceful protest
action – in the form of hunger strike.
With the above in mind – beginning in early
(2011)
we again sought to educate people about
the ongoing torture prevalent in these prison
systems – solitary confinement units; and
pointing out our position that – the
administrative grievance process is a sham, and
the court system’s turned a blind eye to such
blatantly illegal practices – Leaving us with no
other meaningful avenue for obtaining relief,
other than to put our lives on the line and
thereby draw the line and force changes, via
collective peaceful protest hunger strike action.
We believed this was the only – fully
advantageous – way for us to expose such
outrageous abuse of state power, to the world and
gain the outside support needed to help force real change.
We requested support in the form of – asking
people to write letters to those in power
we
received more support than we ever expected – in
the form of letters, rallies, and hunger strike
“participants” – more than (18,000) similarly
situated prisoners and some people on the outside!
All united in solidarity, with a collective
awareness – that the draconian torture practices
described in our “Formal Complaint” are prevalent
across the land; and that – united in peaceful
action, we have the power to force changes.
The hunger strike actions of (2011) achieved some
success, in the form of – mainstream world wide
exposure – solid, continuing outside support –
some small improvements to SHU/Ad-Seg unit
conditions
and assurances of more meaningful –
substantive changes to the overall policies and
practices re: basis for placement and amount of
time spent, in such units – a substantive review
of all prisoners files, per new criteria – and
more change to the actual conditions in such units.
However, this fight is far from over! Notably,
the second hunger strike action was suspended in
mid-October
in response to top CDCR
administrator’s presentation that the substantive
changes be finalized
would be provided to “the
stakeholders” (this includes our attorneys),
within 60 days for comment. To date, CDCR hasn’t
produced anything re: SHU/Ad-Seg policy changes;
and PBSP’s Warden has not even replied to the (2)
memo’s we’ve sent him concerning – additional
program – privilege issues, per core demand #5 (see footnote #1 below)
Naturally, many people are not happy about CDCR’s
failure to abide by their word – again – and they
are asking
“what’s the next move in this struggle?”
Based on our collective discussions, our response
is
people need to remain focused, and continue
to apply pressure on CDCR, via letters, emails,
fax, etc
summarizing the continuing core demands
– immediately! There’s real power in numbers!!
(see addresses to contact below, at footnote #2)
It’s important for everyone to stay objective and
on the same page – remember
united we win,
divided we lose. And, if we don’t see real
substantive changes within the next 6 months
we’ll have to re-evaluate our position.
Additionally, now is a good time for people to
start a dialogue about changing the climate on
these level IV mainlines
As it stands now, these
lines are warehouses, with all the money meant
for programs – rehabilitation, going into guard pockets.
It’s in all of our best interests to change this
in a big way, and thereby force CDCR to open
these lines up and provide all of us with the
programs and rehabilitative services that we all should have coming to us!!
Respect and Solidarity,
T. Ashker, A. Castellanos, Sitawa (s/n Dewberry), A. Guillen
-Dec. 2011-
Footnote#1: To date, we’ve received zero
improvements re: core demand #5
while Corcoran
and Tehachapi have gained on canteen and dip-pull
up bars – which, is all good. This is an example
of what we pointed out in our “Formal Complaint”
re: disparate treatment at PBSP-SHU compared to other SHU’s.
This is also a typical CDCR attempt to create
discord and disruption to our unified
struggle
we’re certain this feeble move will fail
because all of us understand what our main
objective is – an end to long term torture in
these isolation units! It is our fundamental
right to be treated humanely
we can no longer
accept state sanctioned torture – of our selves!
(and, our loved ones!) and we remain unified in our resistance!!
Footnote#2: Addresses of people to write
1. Tom Ammiano,
Assemblyman 2. Governor Edmund G. Brown
Capitol Bldg. Rm#
4005 State Capitol, Ste #1173
Sacramento, CA
95814 Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone#
916-319-2013 Phone# 916-446-2841
Fax#
916-319-2113 Fax# 916-558-3160
3. CDCR – Secretary Matthew
Cate 4. Carol Strickman, Attorney at Law
1515 S. St. Ste.
#330 1540 Market Street, Ste. #490
Sacramento, CA
95811 San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone#
916-323-6001 Phone# 415-255-7036
Fax# 415-552-3150
Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863-9977
www.Freedomarchives.org
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