CALL FOR AN INTERNATIONAL 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” [attached] 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 events will be posted on to the events page here.
Wherever you are, make August 1, a Day of Protest and Solidarity with the Prison Hunger Strikers, a day that counts!
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity 
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In London, England today a group of activists from Brighton Anarchist Black Cross, London Fight Racism Fight Imperialism, the Irish Prisoners Support Group and the Mumia campaign demonstrated outside the California Tourist Office in solidarity with the Califonia prisoners in struggle. Photos etc to come soon.
those of us who enjoy liberty and freedom
all too often shy away from inhumane ‘prison system’ issues
finding it disturbing:
which becomes a good reason to just forget about..’after all’ what can
we do?
this particular effort however, makes it all the more alarming!
my hope is that state governors throughout the u.s. are truly focusing
on what can be done at the State level & each nation has to do the same.
somehow it needs to become a prime concern to officials. policy makers, and
of the industries the prison systems are doing busness with
plus a look at the blue print in place prison by prison
the irony is that the manpower available in prisons
would not fare too well in a time of “International fiscal crises’
we all at this point will remember August 1st
..I know we Seniors have to feel confident we will get our Social Security
checks..God Bless America!!
fs
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