Day 50: CA Prisoner hunger strike:a historical moment in the longest & largest prisoner hungerstrike

[annm4peace]

(every day i pull up this site I'm afraid I'll see another prisoner has died. Gov Brown is still silent,, I guess he is waiting till they start dying before he'll do something)

ttp://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/day-50-statement-from-the-mediation-team/

As a member of the Mediation Team, never did I think I would be a part of a Hunger Strike that would enter into its 50th day. Never did I think that, as a member of the Mediation Team, I would be denied access to the face to face meetings that have taken place within the CDCR because I am a family member. And never did I think that CDCR would refuse on all grounds to meet even the most reasonable demands of the prisoners.

As I reflect on the past 50 days, I have often asked myself, “What is my role in all this?” How can I be heard if there is no one to listen? And even more… no one that even seems to care? I now sit and wonder if there is not even one, just out of sheer human nature, motivated by heartfelt compassion of the suffering of the families and the strength and dignity of the prisoners left starving to death… There must be some that are losing sleep at night…There must be someone in CDCR who can no longer play the role they have been assigned. Or have the prisoners lives become such a replaceable commodity that hearts are calloused towards the thought of the prisoners’ starvation and suffering?

Every statistic and study from animal research to human research has proven the harmful effects of solitary confinement. And CDCR’s solution is to say that solitary confinement simply does not exist. Problem solved right? In a sense, I feel as if I might not exist because that is how we continue to be treated as family members on the Mediation Team. Like maybe if we are ignored long enough the problem will simply go away. Or maybe if we are ignored long enough we will just quit?

But on the 50th day, I am filled with absolute awe of the strength and character of these individuals who have endured decades-long isolation. And I think it must be hope that fills them with such a determination… hope for long overdue change, hope in a system that has kept them in isolation for decades. And I think of great changes in history that only took place when people did not give up and when the awakening of a moral consciousness was stirred within the heart and soul of the public.
So as we enter into the 50th day, a historical moment in the longest and largest prisoner hunger strike in United States history, I hold on to hope for the greatest changes within our system to come. For the efforts of humanity to be restored to the prisoners and for rehabilitation to honestly begin taking place within our prison system.

50 days into this strike I can’t help but wonder – will change only come at the cost of human lives? But CDCR has an answer for that one too. The state of California is going to force feed the prisoners, no loss of lives, hunger strike over, problem solved? Perhaps this is my role on the Mediation Team – to see what I’ve never seen before, to witness CDCR at its very best when it comes to problem solving?
Since the CDCR will not enter into meaningful negotiations I can only hold on to Hope, that the awakening has begun and that the problems will truly be solved, as we anxiously wait for change to come.

On behalf of the Mediation Team,
Dolores Canales, California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement (CFASC)

Hunger Strike Mediation Team
Dr. Ronald Ahnen, California Prison Focus and St. Mary’s College of California
Barbara Becnel, Occupy4Prisoners.org
Irene Huerta, California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement (CFASC)
Laura Magnani, American Friends Service Committee
Marilyn McMahon, California Prison Focus
Carol Strickman, Legal Services for Prisoners With Children
Azadeh Zohrabi, Legal Services for Prisoners With Children

Share this:
********************
Call Governor Jerry Brown
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Suggested script: I’m calling in support of the prisoners on hunger strike. The governor has the power to stop the torture of solitary confinement. I urge the governor to compel the CDCR to enter into negotiations to end the strike. RIGHT NOW is their chance to enter into clear, honest negotiations with the strikers to end the torture.
Action Alert: We need a Emergency Hearing to address the Hunger Strike
Action Alert: HEALTH CARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT — EVEN FOR HUNGER STRIKERS!

[Mr_Teg]

1. The five demands....

1) End group punishment

I'm not sure why the state would agree to this. Encouraging self enforcement of the rules among inmates is a legitimate means of control.

2) Stop investigating gang affiliation

Yeah right...

3) End solitary confinement

Some folks need it.

4) Better food.

Not sure why there should be anything beyond the bare minimum.

5) More TV channels

K...

_________________________

1. End Group Punishment & Administrative Abuse – This is in response to PBSP’s application of “group punishment” as a means to address individual inmates rule violations. This includes the administration’s abusive, pretextual use of “safety and concern” to justify what are unnecessary punitive acts. This policy has been applied in the context of justifying indefinite SHU status, and progressively restricting our programming and privileges.

2. Abolish the Debriefing Policy, and Modify Active/Inactive Gang Status Criteria -

Perceived gang membership is one of the leading reasons for placement in solitary confinement.
The practice of “debriefing,” or offering up information about fellow prisoners particularly regarding gang status, is often demanded in return for better food or release from the SHU. Debriefing puts the safety of prisoners and their families at risk, because they are then viewed as “snitches.”
The validation procedure used by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) employs such criteria as tattoos, readings materials, and associations with other prisoners (which can amount to as little as greeting) to identify gang members.
Many prisoners report that they are validated as gang members with evidence that is clearly false or using procedures that do not follow the Castillo v. Alameida settlement which restricted the use of photographs to prove association.
3. Comply with the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons 2006 Recommendations Regarding an End to Long-Term Solitary Confinement – CDCR shall implement the findings and recommendations of the US commission on safety and abuse in America’s prisons final 2006 report regarding CDCR SHU facilities as follows:

End Conditions of Isolation (p. 14) Ensure that prisoners in SHU and Ad-Seg (Administrative Segregation) have regular meaningful contact and freedom from extreme physical deprivations that are known to cause lasting harm. (pp. 52-57)
Make Segregation a Last Resort (p. 14). Create a more productive form of confinement in the areas of allowing inmates in SHU and Ad-Seg [Administrative Segregation] the opportunity to engage in meaningful self-help treatment, work, education, religious, and other productive activities relating to having a sense of being a part of the community.
End Long-Term Solitary Confinement. Release inmates to general prison population who have been warehoused indefinitely in SHU for the last 10 to 40 years (and counting).
Provide SHU Inmates Immediate Meaningful Access to: i) adequate natural sunlight ii) quality health care and treatment, including the mandate of transferring all PBSP- SHU inmates with chronic health care problems to the New Folsom Medical SHU facility.
4. Provide Adequate and Nutritious Food – cease the practice of denying adequate food, and provide a wholesome nutritional meals including special diet meals, and allow inmates to purchase additional vitamin supplements.

PBSP staff must cease their use of food as a tool to punish SHU inmates.
Provide a sergeant/lieutenant to independently observe the serving of each meal, and ensure each tray has the complete issue of food on it.
Feed the inmates whose job it is to serve SHU meals with meals that are separate from the pans of food sent from kitchen for SHU meals.
5. Expand and Provide Constructive Programming and Privileges for Indefinite SHU Status Inmates.

Examples include:

Expand visiting regarding amount of time and adding one day per week.
Allow one photo per year.
Allow a weekly phone call.
Allow Two (2) annual packages per year. A 30 lb. package based on “item” weight and not packaging and box weight.
Expand canteen and package items allowed. Allow us to have the items in their original packaging [the cost for cosmetics, stationary, envelopes, should not count towards the max draw limit]
More TV channels.
Allow TV/Radio combinations, or TV and small battery operated radio
Allow Hobby Craft Items – art paper, colored pens, small pieces of colored pencils, watercolors, chalk, etc.
Allow sweat suits and watch caps.
Allow wall calendars.
Install pull-up/dip bars on SHU yards.
Allow correspondence courses that require proctored exams.

http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/the-prisoners-demands-2/