Imprisoned People Facing Medical Neglect and Violence, Family Members and Organizers Speak Out

For Immediate Release – Monday, November 23, 2015

 

Press Contact: Dolores Canales, Family Unity Network, (714) 290-9077 dol1canales@gmail.com  or Hannah McFaull, Justice Now, (415) 813.7715 hannah@justicenow.org

 

Sacramento – On November 11th, an imprisoned person at Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF), faced extreme violence at the hands of prison guards. Stacy Rojas and three others were detained, physically abused, sexually harassed, strip searched in the presence of male guards, and were kept without water, food or restrooms for eleven hours. The group was illegally kept in administrative segregation without a lock up order and have been denied health care support for the injuries caused by these officers. Requests to speak with members of the prison’s Investigative Services Unit have so far been ignored.

 

“I just want to let them know that we have been physically abused, sexually harassed,” said Stacy Rojas, “and that this was just wrong. They used excessive force, totally used excessive force against us and we need help.”

 

The public acknowledgment of excessive use of force and deadly use of force by police has increased throughout the nation. Video recordings of interactions between the police and the public have increased significantly in recent years as technology has improved and the number of distribution channels has expanded. This is not an option open to people experiencing violence from guards behind prison walls and any attempt to speak out is often met with retaliation and increased force.

 

“Our communities in and out of lock up have lived experiences with biased policing — ranging from racial profiling, to excessive, and sometimes lethal, use of force”, stated Patrisse Cullors co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter. “We hear about it more and more in the communities we live in, but rarely hear about the traumatic ways that it manifests in the California prison system. Stories like Stacy’s are happening everyday inside of California prisons and jails with little to no measures taken by authorities to keep people safe and hold law enforcement, such as prison guards accountable.”

Thurs, April 16th Lecture Event: “Human Rights, Racism, and the Police State”

 

Spring 2015 Human Rights Lecture Event: Human Rights, Racism, and the Police State on April 16

 *Free* and open to the public.
Bay Area students and community groups welcome!

 

The 2015 Human Rights Lecture Event features a full day of panels, workshops, and activities with organizers from Chicago, Ferguson, and the Greater Bay Area. Dr. Angela Davis will deliver a Keynote Speech on “Inequality and the Role of Resistance.”  (Link to RSVP for free tickets).

 

The day’s events begin at noon, where students and community members can learn from and engage with activists at the forefront of contemporary movements challenging police violence, mass incarceration, and social inequality.  Activities include:

 

• SOLITARY CELL ART INSTALLATIONS (12:00pm-5:00pm STUDENT UNION RAISED PATIO) from the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition 

 

• LUNCH PANEL (12:00pm-1:00pm, MLK 225) with community organizers from Ferguson, Chicago, #BlackLivesMatter, and the greater Bay Area

 

 • WORKSHOP (12:30-2:30, STUDENT UNION RAISED PATIO) by the HipHop Chess Federation

 

 • KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRESENTATION (1:30pm-2:30pm, MLK 225) by WeCopWatch

 

 • TALKING CIRCLE (3:30pm-5:00pm, MLK 225) where students can engage with local and national organizers to build on current movements to end mass incarceration and police violence.

 

 • KEYNOTE SPEECH: DR. ANGELA DAVIS, “Inequality and the Role of Resistance,” 7:00 pm, Morris Dailey Auditorium (doors open at 6:30, pre-program African cultural performance by Jaliya at 6:45).