Imagine being awakened every 30 min for over 6 months

artwork by Todd (Hyung Rae) Tarselli
Sleep deprivation torture in Pelican Bay SHU (solitary) has been happening since August 2, 2015
The negative health consequences of inadequate sleep ha[ve] been extensively documented and nowhere in the literature is there a report on as severe a disruption in sleep as is occurring in the Pelican Bay SHU.”
–Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, internationally recognized sleep expert, 10/25/15
Since August 2, 2015 prisoners in solitary have been subjected to jarringly loud noise 40+ times day & night:
- reverberating noise of the steel doors to units opening and slamming closed,
- stomping of guards through the pods, up and down the stairs,
- rattling of keys and chains,
- banging Guard One metal pipes on the cells,
- beeping of Guard One metal pipes on metal buttons,
- guards shining their flashlights into the prisoners’ eyes.
These so called “welfare checks” serve no welfare or security purpose; they only harm the prisoners, mentally and physically.
Call to demand a STOP to the “checks” in Pelican Bay SHU:
- CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary’s Office (Scott Kernan): 916-323-6001
- Kelly Harrington, CDCR Director of Adult Divisions: 916-445-7688
- Senator Loni Hancock, Senate Public Safety Comm. Chair: 916-651-4009
- Assembly Member Bill Quirk, Assembly Public Safety Comm. Chair: 916-319-2020
- Governor Jerry Brown: 916-445-2841
Suggested script for calls:
Give your name, city, and state. Tell them all: “Stop the so-called “security/welfare” checks in the Security Housing Unit (SHU) at Pelican Bay State Prison. Sleep deprivation is torture.”
⇒Click this link from Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) to email state elected officials to oppose the “security/welfare” checks: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/51040/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17680
⇒Organizations and prominent persons, please write a statement condemning the sleep deprivation torture of prisoners. Send to Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Outreach phssreachingout@gmail.com and kohenet@sbcglobal.net
-
For more info: prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com
phssreachingout@gmail.com 510.426.5322
Facebook: Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity