CSP – Corcoran Officials Retaliate Against Hunger Strikers in Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU) 1

By: Pyung Hwa Ryoo

Letter dated: March 23, 2012

When we, the prisoners housed in the Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU) of CSP-Corcoran, initiated a hunger strike to protest against the inhumane conditions and constitutional violations we faced in the ASU1, the prison officials responded with retaliation and indifference. Their intent was clear: to set an example of what would occur if these protests that had been rocking the California Department of Corrections (CDC) this past year continued. Their statement was not only meant for the protestors in this ASU1, but for the entire class of oppressed prisoners in the CDC.

The hunger strike in this ASU1 initially began on Dec. 28, 2011. It was a collective effort with various races and subgroups standing in solidarity for a common interest. A petition was prepared with the issues we wanted to address, and it was submitted to the Corcoran prison officials and also sent out to prisoner rights groups in an attempt to gather support and attention.

A few hours after the protest began, Warden Gipson sent her staff to move the prisoners who were allegedly, and falsely, identified as “strike leaders” to a different ASU. I was included in that category because my signature was on the petition that was submitted to prison officials. When we initially refused to move, the correctional staff came to our cells wearing full riot gear, to cell-extract and move us by force. Since we were engaging in a peaceful protest, we agreed to move and were placed in the other ASU, which turned out to be 3A-03 E.O.P., an Ad Seg unit that houses severely mentally ill inmates.

While isolated in that psychiatric ward, we continued to refuse food until we received word that the hunger strike ended in the ASU1. I later found out that the Warden and Captain had me with the spokesmen of the ASU1 protestors and promised to grant the majority of our demands, but requested three weeks to implement the changes and to have the agreements in writing. The protestors agreed to give the prison officials the benefit of the doubt, and for that reason the hunger strike was put on hold.

I continued to file complaints and 602s during this period asserting that my placement in a unit along with severely mentally ill inmates violated my Eighth Amendment rights because I was not mentally ill, and that my placement in this psychiatric ward was the result of illegal retaliation by prison officials against me for exercising my First Amendment right to peaceably assemble and protest.  These grievances went ignored. In addition to my isolation in the psychiatric ward, I received a 115 for “inciting/leading a mass disturbance” (12 month SHU term), and was later found guilty although they had no evidence to support that charge besides my signature on a petition. The other protestors who were also falsely identified as “Strike Leaders” were issued the same 115 for “inciting/leading a mass disturbance.”

On January 18, 2012, Warden Gipson ordered her staff to move me, as well as other isolated protestors, back to the ASU1, believing that the hunger strike was over. Before we were moved back, she sent an email to C/O Lt. Cruz, a correctional officer in 3A-03, and asked him to read it to us. It contained a warning that she would not tolerate any more disturbances in the ASU1, and a threat that any such behavior would carry more severe reprisals.

After 3 weeks had passed since the hunger strike was put on hold, it was clear that the prison officials had no intent to honor their word and keep their promises. The hunger strike resumed on January 27, 2012.

The ASU1 Lieutenant, after hearing that we resumed the protest, came to a few protestors and stated the following, “We are tired of you guys, all you guys, doing hunger strikes and asking for all this shit. I am not only speaking for myself, but for my superiors as well. There are correctional officers and staff getting laid off because the state doesn’t have money, and you guys in here are asking for more shit? You know what? We don’t care if you guys starve yourselves to death. You guys aren’t getting shit. The only thing you’ll get are incident packets.”

Two days later, on Jan. 29, 2012, Warden Gipson sent her staff again to round up the alleged “Strike Leaders” and place them in isolation. This time, the spokesmen who had previously come out to speak and negotiate with the prison officials regarding our demands were also included in that category. We were all moved once again to 3A-03 psychiatric ward, although we were not mentally ill. Furthermore, our visits were suspended by Classification Committee for the duration of our “involvement in the hunger strike,” and we were issued another 115 for “inciting/ leading a mass disturbance.”

The retaliation did not stop there. All the participants of the hunger strike were issued 115s for “participation in a mass disturbance,” and the most important of all, the correctional staff and prison officials were deliberately indifferent to the medical needs of the starved protestors in the ASU1. When some of the protestors started losing consciousness, experiencing serious pain and requesting emergency medical attention, the correctional staff  were deliberately slow in responding, and in many instances they just simply ignored them. This conduct and this mindset of prison officials, setting an example of action deliberately indifferent to the medical needs of the protestors, directly contributed to the death of one of our own. His brave sacrifice and unfailing personal commitment will never be forgotten, nor will it have been for naught.

This is where they stand. The oppressors who take away our freedom and liberty, continue to fight tooth and nail to deprive us of even our basic human rights. They employ brutal means of retaliation and suppression in an attempt to keep us from exposing the harsh truths of everyday life inside these prison walls. Although the ASU1 hunger strike may have ended, I will continue to have the spirit of resistance. The outcome will not be decided by a single battle but many, and I will do my part, in hopes that my small contribution may make a difference.

In Solidarity,

Pyung Hwa Ryoo

F88924

3A-03-213

Corcoran CA 93212