Prison hunger strike reignites
Posted by Mike E on October 4, 2011
This first appeared on Prison Hunger Strike Solidarity. This is a time for active solidarity — not allowing the media to use one struggle (in the public view) to blot out another (taking place in bitter isolation).
Prisoner Hunger Strike Grows to Nearly 12,000!
Numbers released by the federal receiver’s office show that on September 28th, nearly 12,000 prisoners were on hunger strike, including California prisoners who are housed in out of state prisons in Arizona, Mississippi and Oklahoma. This historic and unprecedented number shows the strength and resolve of the prisoners to win their 5 core demands and is a serious challenge to the power of the California prison system and to the Prison Industrial Complex in general.
Prisoners are currently on strike in Pelican Bay State Prison, Calipatria, Centinela, Corcoran, Ironwood State Prison, Kern Valley State Prison, North Kern State Prison, and Salinas Valley State Prison. Throughout the last week prisoners at California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, Pleasant Valley State Prison, San Quentin as well as West Valley Detention Center in San Bernadino County were participating.
The receiver’s office and the CDCR begin monitoring prisoners who have refused food for 72 hours or for 9 consecutive meals. Representatives of the hunger strikers have previously stated that this will be a rolling strike, allowing prisoners to come off strike to regain strength. Because of this, numbers will likely fluctuate throughout the duration of the strike.
Watch a short video about solitaritary confinement produced by the American Friends Service Committee.
Simon Bolivar said
Mike,
Comrade you should do an article on the PFLP hunger strikers that are fighting against the illegal solitary detention of general secretary Sa’adat and the continued oppression of Palestine along with the humiliation of their fellow PFLP comrades in Zionist jails.
Best wishes to all revolutionary hunger strikers who fight for justice.