International Day of Protest and Solidarity with 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 (SHU) and inspired the support of people far and wide; people of consciousness everywhere across the U.S. and beyond, are to joining 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 throughout the prison system—were brought to the attention of the general public. Their original five core demands:

1) End Group Punishment & Administrative Abuse,
2) Abolish the Debriefing Policy, and Modify Active/Inactive Gang Status Criteria,
3) Comply with the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons 2006, Recommendations Regarding an End to Long-Term Solitary Confinement,
4) Provide Adequate and Nutritious Food, and
5) Expand and Provide Constructive Programming and Privileges for Indefinite SHU Status Inmates,

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 and civil rights demanded by their very humanity.

To find an event in your city go to: http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/take-action/demonstrations-actions-events-in-the-us-canada/