The message from Hunger Striking prisoners across California this week is clear: Support from people on the outside is more important than ever.
TRUST Act Breaks Through in California
Posted by copwatch | Wed, 09/05/2012 - 9:31pm story
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Governor Jerry Brown
Pelican Bay Short Corridor Update (Dec 2011)
Posted by copwatch | Thu, 01/05/2012 - 11:36pm story
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.
Monday Aug 1st: DAY OF PROTEST AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE PRISON HUNGER STRIKERS
Posted by copwatch | Fri, 07/29/2011 - 2:35pm event
August 1st: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST & SOLIDARITY WITH THE PRISON HUNGER STRIKERS
List of Actions for August 1: Day of Protest and Solidarity with the Prison Hunger Strikers
In support and respect for the courageous prisoners at Pelican Bay State Prison and other prisons all around California, whose July 2011 hunger strike challenged the inhumane conditions of the Security Housing Units [the SHU] and inspired the support of people far and wide—we now call on people of conscience everywhere across the U.S. and beyond, to join in an International Day of Protest and Solidarity with the Prison Hunger Strikers on Monday, August 1, 2011.
The Hunger Strikers achieved real success: the conditions of systematic abuse and torture in the SHU—and widespread thru the prison system—were dragged into the light of day. Their original five core demands have now been acknowledged—although not yet met—by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), which promised to consider them. On Monday, August 1 many diverse people and organizations will publicly speak out and act in support of these demands. Prisoners must gain the human rights and civil rights demanded by their very humanity—and by ours outside the prison walls too, wherever we may be. We insist there must be NO RETALIATION by the authorities against individual prisoners, groups of prisoners, prisoners’ family members or attorneys or other advocates, in the wake of the Hunger Strike. (And we will be paying attention.) Let us show on August 1 that the prisoners do not stand alone, through our demonstrations, rallies, religious services, fasts, call-the-governor-days, art and music, taking to the airwaves thru talk show and other call-ins, and many other public, visual, and creative expressions. Send word of your plans to prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity@gmail.com and follow news and information at prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com
It's Not Over: Abolish Long-Term Solitary Confinement!
Posted by copwatch | Sun, 07/24/2011 - 3:10am story
Support Still Needed!
excerpt of letter from prisoner at CCI Tehachapi; July 21, 2011
...As far as we last heard it’s been like 12 prisons that are involved. Here there are a lot of people on strike - all races, Pelican Bay and Corcoran for sure...
... All they do is weigh us and take our vitals (blood pressure, temp., and heart rate), but of course they weigh us in chains to weigh us down and they allow the c/o's to operate the scale. I am at 171 on my last weigh-in, down from 185. They attempt to take my blood, which I refuse; I'm weak as it is, if I do that I’ll fall out.
They truly don't care and they are perfectly content in watching us pass rather than admit fault and make changes to a policy that is brutal and baseless. I can’t take my medication anymore because I have to take it with food… I asked for help and they just ignored me.
"Prisoners Are Human Beings! Meet the Five Demands Now!" Rally Cries of People in Solidarity With Hunger Striking SHU Prisoners [VIDEOS, Words from Hugo Pinell included]
Posted by copwatch | Thu, 07/21/2011 - 10:10am story
Three weeks with No Food, Solidarity Strengthens
July 12 Update: Prisoner Hunger Strike
Posted by copwatch | Tue, 07/12/2011 - 4:22pm story
URGENT: MEDICAL
CONDITIONS REACH CRISIS IN PELICAN BAY HUNGER STRIKE
CONDITIONS REACH CRISIS IN PELICAN BAY HUNGER STRIKE
According to a source at Pelican Bay State Prison, who prefers to be anonymous, the medical conditions for many strikers have deteriorated to critical levels, with fears some prisoners could start to die if immediate action isn't taken. For at least 200 prisoners in the SHU at Pelican Bay, medical staff have stated:
"The prisoners are progressing rapidly to the organ damaging consequences of dehydration. They are not drinking water and have decompensated rapidly. A few have tried to sip water but are so sick that they are vomiting it back up. Some are in renal failure and have been unable to make urine for 3 days. Some are having measured blood sugars in the 30 range, which can be fatal if not treated."
Since the hunger strike has spread to at least a third of CA's prisons, family members have informed Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity of their loved one's conditions. They have reported hunger strikers have lost 20-30 pounds, are incredibly pale, and that a number of prisoners fainted and/or went into diabetic shock during family visits this past weekend. Some prisoners have been taken to the prison hospital in at least Corcoran and Pelican Bay.
"The prisoners are progressing rapidly to the organ damaging consequences of dehydration. They are not drinking water and have decompensated rapidly. A few have tried to sip water but are so sick that they are vomiting it back up. Some are in renal failure and have been unable to make urine for 3 days. Some are having measured blood sugars in the 30 range, which can be fatal if not treated."
Since the hunger strike has spread to at least a third of CA's prisons, family members have informed Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity of their loved one's conditions. They have reported hunger strikers have lost 20-30 pounds, are incredibly pale, and that a number of prisoners fainted and/or went into diabetic shock during family visits this past weekend. Some prisoners have been taken to the prison hospital in at least Corcoran and Pelican Bay.
TODAY: Take Action! Call NOW!
Richardson Grove Action Now To Sacramento Wed, June 8th!
Posted by copwatch | Sun, 06/05/2011 - 12:48pm event
Schwarzenegger Should Have Granted KEVIN COOPER Clemency Today (Jan 3, 2011)- But He Didn't.
Posted by copwatch | Tue, 01/04/2011 - 12:38am story
January 03, 2011
Kevin Cooper's Legal Team Expresses Disappointment and Vindication; Vows to Continue to Press for Clemency
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reacting to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's failure to grant Kevin Cooper's clemency petition during his last day in office, Mr. Cooper's lawyers today expressed disappointment at the out-going governor's lack of action and his decision to forward Mr. Cooper's petition to incoming Governor Jerry Brown. But seeing partial vindication in this act, the team vowed to fight on. "Governor Schwarzenegger dodged this issue in the final hours of his governorship," said Norman Hile, lead attorney for Cooper. "We are disappointed, but there is still time to prevent the execution of an innocent man. Because the State of California is currently enjoined from executions using lethal injection, we will have an opportunity to take our case to incoming Governor Jerry Brown."