stopmassincarcerationbayarea

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San Francisco & Oakland ROCK IN THE NEW YEAR WITH RESISTANCE TO POLICE MURDER!

ROCK IN THE NEW YEAR WITH RESISTANCE TO POLICE MURDER! NO NEW YEAR UNDER THIS OLD SYSTEM! WE CAN'T BREATHE! A Call from Carl Dix

On New Year's Eve, as the clock winds down on 2014, the powers that be will hope to be ringing in a new year that carries forward business as usual. That must not be allowed to go down because business as usual in Amerikkka includes wanton police murder of Black people. The refusal of grand juries in Ferguson and Staten Island to indict the cops who murdered Michael Brown and Eric Garner made this clear. So the powerful, beautiful and necessary outpourings that have disrupted this society's normal routine must continue and escalate on New Years Eve and into the New Year. [MORE]

BLACK LIVES MATTER! NO NEW YEAR UNDER THIS OLD SYSTEM! WE CAN’T BREATHE! Dec. 31st, 2014 New Years Eve, 9PM Embarcadero BART Station Plaza And New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2015 Memorial for Oscar Grant and all victims of Police Murder Fruitvale BART Station, Oakland, 12 Noon

On New Years Eve, in 2009 Oscar Grant and his friends celebrated, watching the fireworks at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. It was his final day of life. On his ride home, he was murdered, shot in the back on the cold platform of the Fruitvale Station by a BART cop. But, when police kill people as they did with Oscar, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and thousands of others, they get away with murder. But something new has begun to happen. People are rising up against this, in the tens of thousands across the country. This resistance to this wanton police murder has been beautiful, powerful and very necessary. We need to keep it going. Let’s all do this!  Individuals and organizations, join together! Bring your signs, big visuals, noise and leaflets; intensifying and reaching out much more broadly, with determination to END POLICE MURDER ONCE AND FOR ALL!!!

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POSTPONED!! EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Andy Lopez

The expected press conference and announcement is not happening today - BUT STAY ALERT and be ready to go into the streets on the day of and day after the announcement.

JOIN US IN THE STREETS! when the announcement occurs

Day of Meet at the Dollar Tree parking lot at 777 Sebastopol Road at West in Santa Rosa. See map below.

Day After: meet at 1 pm in Old Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa.

No Whitewash! Andy's Murderer Must Be Put on Trial and Face Justice! We Are All Andy Lopez! The Whole Damn System Is Guilty!

  On October 29, some 1,000 to 2,000 (maybe more) people-mostly high school and junior high students-poured into the streets of Santa Rosa, a city of 170,000 north of San Francisco, in the latest in a string of marches and protests against the police murder of 13-year-old Andy Lopez. It was the largest outpouring against police murder in Sonoma County in memory. Click HERE for article.

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EMERGENCY! PROTEST! Let Our Children Go! MONDAY, JUNE 30, 11am-1 pm in San Francisco

EMERGENCY! PROTEST! Let Our Children Go! MONDAY, JUNE 30, 11am-1 pm I.C.E. Enforcement and Removal Operations Office 630 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA For more information call 510-984-3648 Thousands of children are being sent to military bases for so-called "shelter" - but the fact is that they are being incarcerated and secreted away: no reporters are allowed to interview, or to take photographs of most of them; the general public is being denied access to them and prevented from inspecting their conditions of confinement. NO! These children need enjoyable, positive living environments, not mass incarceration and not deportation! (Initiated by the Stop Mass Incarceration Network, Bay Area) ¡EMERGENCIA! ¡PROTESTA! ¡Dejen ir a nuestros niños! EL LUNES 30 DE JUNIO, DE 11 a.m. a 1 p.m. En la oficina de operaciones de ejecución y remoción de I.C.E. 630 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA Miles de niños están siendo enviados a bases militares para un llamado "albergue" – pero el hecho es que están siendo encarcelados y escondidos: no se permite que ningún periodista o reportero los entreviste o les tome fotos; al público en general se le niega acceso a los niños y se le impide que inspeccione sus condiciones de confinamiento. ¡NO! ¡Estos niños necesitan entornos de vida placenteros y positivos, no encarcelamiento en masa y no la deportación! (Iniciado por Stop Mass Incarceration Network, Bay Area). Para mas informacion 510-984-3648

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The NYC Rev Club speaks on the recent Harlem raids. 

"This was NOT a gang raid. This was a shock and awe military style assault on a Black and Latino neighborhood."

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Statement re Suspension of Hunger Strike

Representatives of the Hunger Strike issued this statement today: September 5, 2013 Greetings of Solidarity and Respect! The PBSP-SHU, Short Corridor Collective Representatives hereby serve notice upon all concerned parties of interest that after nine weeks we have collectively decided to suspend our third hunger strike action on September 5, 2013. To be clear, our Peaceful Protest of Resistance to our continuous subjection to decades of systemic state sanctioned torture via the system’s solitary confinement units is far from over. Our decision to suspend our third hunger strike in two years does not come lightly. This decision is especially difficult considering that most of our demands have not been met (despite nearly universal agreement that they are reasonable). The core group of prisoners has been, and remains 100% committed to seeing this protracted struggle for real reform through to a complete victory, even if it requires us to make the ultimate sacrifice.  With that said, we clarify this point by stating prisoner deaths are not the objective, we recognize such sacrifice is at times the only means to an end of fascist oppression. Our goal remains: force the powers that be to end their torture policies and practices in which serious physical and psychological harm is inflicted on tens of thousands of prisoners as well as our loved ones outside.  We also call for ending the related practices of using prisoners to promote the agenda of the police state by seeking to greatly expand the numbers of the working class poor warehoused in prisons, and particularly those of us held in solitary, based on psychological/social manipulation, and divisive tactics keeping prisoners fighting amongst each other. Those in power promote mass warehousing to justify more guards, more tax dollars for “security”, and spend mere pennies for rehabilitation — all of which demonstrates a failed penal system, high recidivism, and ultimately compromising public safety.  The State of California’s $9.1 billion annual CDCR budget is the epitome of a failed and fraudulent state agency that diabolically and systemically deprives thousands of their human rights and dignity. Allowing this agency to act with impunity has to stop! And it will. With that said, and in response to much sincere urging of loved ones, supporters, our attorneys and current and former state legislators, Tom Ammiano, Loni Hancock, and Tom Hayden, for whom we have the upmost respect, we decided to suspend our hunger strike.  We are especially grateful to Senator Hancock and Assembly Member Ammiano for their courageous decision to challenge Governor Brown and the CDCR for their policies of prolonged solitary confinement and inhumane conditions. We are certain that they will continue their fight for our cause, including holding legislative hearings and the drafting legislation responsive to our demands on prison conditions and sentencing laws. We are also proceeding with our class action civil suit against the CDCR. The fact is that Governor Brown and CDCR Secretary Beard have responded to our third peaceful action with typical denials and falsehoods, claiming solitary confinement does not exist and justifying the continuation of their indefinite torture regime by vilifying the peaceful protest representatives. They also obtained the support of the medical receiver (Kelso) and Prison Law Office attorney (Spector—who is supposed to represent prisoners interests, and instead has become an agent for the state) to perpetuate their lie to the public and to the federal court — that prisoners participating in the hunger strike have been coerced — in order to obtain the August 19, 2013 force feeding order. We have deemed it to be in the best interest of our cause to suspend our hunger strike action until further notice. We urge people to remember that we began our present resistance with our unprecedented collective and peaceful actions (in tandem with the legislative process) back in early 2010, when we created and distributed a “Formal Complaint” for the purpose of educating the public and bringing widespread attention to our torturous conditions. After much dialogue and consideration, this led us to our first and second hunger strike actions in 2011, during which a combined number of 6,500 and 12,000 prisoners participated. We succeeded in gaining worldwide attention and support resulting in some minor changes by the CDCR concerning SHU programming and privileges. They also claimed to make major changes to policies regarding gang validation and indefinite SHU confinement by creating the STG/SDP Pilot Program. They released a few hundred prisoners from SHU/AD SEG to general population in the prison.  But in truth, this is all part of a sham to claim the pilot program works and was a weak attempt to have our class action dismissed. It didn’t work. In response we respectfully made clear that CDCR’s STG-SDP was not responsive to our demand for the end to long term isolation and solitary confinement and thus unacceptable.  (See: AGREEMENT TO END HOSTILITIES) Our supporting points fell on deaf ears, leading to our January 2013 notice of intent to resume our hunger strike on July 8, 2013 if our demands were not met.  We also included Forty Supplemental Demands. In early July, CDCR produced several memos notifying prisoners of an increase in privileges and property items, which are notably responsive to a few of our demands, while the majority of our demands were unresolved, leading to our third hunger strike, in which 30,000 prisoners participated and resulted in greater worldwide exposure, support and condemnation of the CDCR! From our perspective, we’ve gained a lot of positive ground towards achieving our goals.  However, there’s still much to be done.  Our resistance will continue to build and grow until we have won our human rights. Respectfully, For the Prisoner Class Human Rights Movement Todd Ashker, C58191, D1-119 Arturo Castellanos, C17275, D1-121 Sitawa Nantambu Jamaa (Dewberry), C35671, D1-117 Antonio Guillen, P81948, D2-106 And the Representatives Body: Danny Troxell, B76578, D1-120 George Franco, D46556, D4-217 Ronnie Yandell, V27927, D4-215 Paul Redd, B72683, D2-117 James Baridi Williamson, D-34288. D4-107 Alfred Sandoval, D61000, D4-214 Louis Powell, B59864, D1-104 Alex Yrigollen, H32421, D2-204 Gabriel Huerta, C80766, D3-222 Frank Clement, D07919, D3-116 Raymond Chavo Perez, K12922, D1-219 James Mario Perez, B48186, D3-124

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Del Norte Triplicate will run Emergency Call to Stop Torture in U.S. Prisons

The Emergency Call to Stop Torture in U.S. Prisons, signed by prominent people and 100s of others from all walks of life was published as an ad in the LA Times Wednesday. Tomorrow, Saturday,  it will run as a paid ad in the Del Norte Triplicate which is read by people in the city outside Pelican Bay State Prison, the epicenter of the hunger strike. This paper is also read by prisoners, guards, etc. , so this could cause a ruckus. will create supportive public opinion for the hunger strikers locally and regionally, condemn the torture going on at Pelican Bay with moral certitude, and challenge readers' ethical compass. Do you have suggestions about where and how we can spread this Call? Please contact stopmassincarcerationbayarea@gmail.com  with any ideas, help. Please share with friends. We are continuing to collect signatures, funds and get this important statement far and wide.

The prisoners lives are on the line.  It is day 54. There are high stakes bound up with happens from here on out, and we have not won this round of this fight.  The statement genuinely contributes to making clear that torture is unequivocally unacceptable and a serious grouping of people have put their feet down and voiced collectively that we will have these prisoners backs, that we support them in their fight for justice, and that we will not tolerate the barbarity of solitary torture.

http://www. stopmassincarceration.net/ content/emergency-call-stop- torture-us-prisons

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Emergency Call to Stop Torture in California

Los Angeles, August 28 – On Day 52 of the California Prisoner Hunger Strike, scores of artists, intellectuals, attorneys, activists, religious leaders, and families with loved ones locked down in isolation have signed an “Emergency Call to Stop Torture in U.S. Prisons” published in the LA Extra/California section of the  Los Angeles Times. In addition to Stop Mass Incarceration Network and California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement, signatories include Viggo Mortensen, Cornel West, Noam Chomsky, Alice Walker, Michelle Alexander, Tom Morello and Daniel Ellsberg. See online version of what is in the Times HERE The introduction to the statement says “Most Americans imagine that torture happens in other countries far, far away.   But torture is occurring every day, right here in California.  The question is how long will we tolerate it?” It furthers argues that “10,000 people in prison in California and 80,000 people in prisons across the U.S. are held in solitary confinement - a punishment that is a recognized form of torture.”   Noting that the current California prisoners’ hunger strike is entering its eighth week, with many prisoners still refusing food, it lists the five basic demands of the striking prisoners.    Keith James from the Stop Mass Incarceration Network stated, “The California prisoners are 51 days into their hunger strike against solitary confinement torture.  These courageous men must have their demands met so they don’t lose their lives over what should be a basic human right to not be tortured by years and decades of isolation.”    James added, “The publication of this important statement challenges the lies and distortions perpetuated by those in power about these prisoners, and tears the covers off their efforts to conceal the existence of solitary confinement torture in CA, and indeed throughout the country.  Jeffrey Beard, the head of the California prison system and spokespeople from the California Department of Corrections have relentlessly depicted the hunger strikers as "gang leaders," "murderers" and even "terrorists" and described the unprecedented CA prisoner hunger strike, began by 30,000 prisoners, as a "gang power play," including in a recent Op-Ed in the LA Times.  No!  The prison hunger strikers have exhibited great humanity in standing up to torture, are conducting this act not only for themselves but so future generations will not have to experience the horrific torment of indefinite solitary confinement, and have issued historically important statements calling for the cessations of racial and ethnic hostilities inside and outside of prison.”

*The complete list of signatories can be viewed at stopmassincarceration.net

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Day 50 of Hunger Strike: $2000 more needed to publish Emergency Call

New signatories include: Gaillard T. Hunt, Guantanamo attorney; Martha Rayner, Guantanamo attorney; Bernardine Dohrn; James D. Cockcroft, author; Tananarive Due, author.

About $2000 more in donations is needed in the next 24-36 hours for the Emergency Call to be published as a half page ad in the Los Angeles Times. American Book Award winner Tananarive Due writes: "Our system of mass incarceration is an international travesty. Major steps must be taken to reform our criminal justice and prison systems, particularly in eliminating all financial incentive to lock up our citizens. This truly IS the New Jim Crow!"

UPDATE: Alice Walker just signed!

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Update on Publishing the Emergency Call to Stop Torture in U.S. Prisons

More signatories and more donations came in yesterday. We now need $3500 to publish The Emergency Call as a paid ad in the Los Angeles Times. Almost there, please donate whatever you can!

Recent signatories include Denis O'Hearn who is the author of Nothing But an Unfinished Song: The Life and Times of Bobby Sands (Bobby Sands was the leader of a hunger strike against repressive conditions in Northern Ireland's H-Block prisons that grabbed the world's attention. After sixty-six days of refusing to eat, Sands died on May 5, 1981.)

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Publishing Emergency Call to Stop Torture - Where we stand today

Yesterday we raised almost $600, with $100 more on the way. A number of people, including family members of prisoners, have committed to raising $100-200 be calling signatories and friends. We need about $3900 more. If 30 people donate between $100-250 as well as smaller donations and we will make our goal and be able to publish the Emergency Call in the LA Times early next week. This is doable!

New signatories to the Call yesterday include: Haifa Zangana, Iraqi author; Staughton Lynd; Dahlia Wasfi, MD; David MacMichael, Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS); Martha Razo, mother of a prisoner.

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New Signers for the Emergency Call

New Signers for Emergency Call in the last few days include:Daniel Ellsberg; Noam Chomsky; Viggo Mortensen; Bettina Aptheker, Professor, Feminist Studies Department,University of California, Santa Cruz; Hillary Donnell, Project Coordinator at Herman’s House; Jackie Sumell, artist, Herman’s House;Lynn Feinerman, Producer, WOMEN RISING RADIO; Alisa Bierria, Associate Director of the Center for Race and Gender at UC Berkeley, Cynthia Papermaster, Hunger Striker, now on Day 67, for Guantanamo and U.S. Prison Hunger Strikes; Mary Prophet, OEA/CTA/NEA.  We raised $780 raised on August 19, 20 & 21!  Sign & Donate by clicking HERE .

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New Signers for Emergency Call 8-20-13

8/20/13 *NEW* SIGNATORIES include: Bettina Aptheker, Professor, Feminist Studies Department,University of California, Santa Cruz; Hillary Donnell, Project Coordinator at Herman’s House, Jackie Sumell, artist, Herman's House; Lynn Feinerman, Producer, WOMEN RISING RADIO; Alisa Bierria, Associate Director of the Center for Race and Gender at UC Berkeley, Cynthia Papermaster, Hunger Striker, now on Day 67, for Guantanamo and U.S. Prison Hunger Strikes

$655 raised on August 19 and 20!

Sign & Donate by clicking HERE

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PUSH to publish EMERGENCY CALL! JOIN US IN STOPPING TORTURE IN U.S. PRISONS!

THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.  It’s day 44 of the California prisoners’ hunger strike to end the torture of solitary confinement and other abuses.  Never have so many prisoners participated (30,000) and never have so many (nearly 100) maintained a hunger strike so long.  Now California is preparing to force-feed these hunger strikers.  Guantanamo all over again - further torturing those protesting torture.  This must be stopped!

So please sign the Emergency Call to Stop Torture.  Make a generous contribution so it can be published.  ($6,400 is needed for half-page ad, $13,000 for full-page.)  Talk to others about doing likewise.

Publishing this ad in the LA Times will inform 100's of thousands who know little or nothing about the hunger strike; it will counter authorities' lies and vilification of the prisoners, and it will show California that growing numbers see their actions as unconscionable and illegitimate! 

Join: Viggo Mortensen; Noam Chomsky, professor, (Ret.), MIT; Oscar Grant Foundation; Legal Services for Prisoners with Children; Prison Watch Network; Witness Against Torture; San Francisco Bay View Newspaper; Cornel West, author, educator, voice of conscience;  Luis Valdez, Founding Artistic Director, El Teatro Campesino; Gbenga Akinnagbe, actor and director; Arturo O'Farrill, Afro Latin Jazz Alliance; Cindy Sheehan, anti-war activist; Fr. Gregory J. Boyle, Homeboy Industries; Marjorie Cohn, Professor, Thomas Jefferson School of Law and editor, "The United States and Torture: Interrogation, Incarceration, and Abuse"; Wayne Kramer, Jail Guitar Doors USA; Chuck D, Public Enemy*; Rev. George F. Regas, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace*; Cynthia McKinney, former Congresswoman & 2008 Presidential Candidate for the Green Party; Standish Willis, National Conference of Black Lawyers, Gerry Condon, Board of Directors, Veterans For Peace and hundreds more.

EMERGENCY CALL! JOIN US IN STOPPING TORTURE IN U.S. PRISONS!

Tens of thousands of people imprisoned in the US are being subjected to torturous, inhumane conditions.  Many are: •   Held in long term solitary confinement; locked in tiny, windowless, sometimes sound proof, cells;  cut off from fresh air and sunlight for 22-24 hours every day and given small portions of food that lack basic nutritional requirements. •   Denied human contact and violently taken from their cells for petty violations. •   Put in solitary arbitrarily, often because of accusations for being members of prison gangs based on dubious evidence, with no way to challenge the decisions of prison authorities to place them in solitary.

Many are forced to endure these conditions for months, years and even decades!  Mental anguish and trauma often results from being confined under these conditions.  Locking people down like this amounts to trying to strip them of their humanity.  These conditions fit the international definition of torture!  This is unjust, illegitimate and profoundly immoral. WE MUST JOIN IN AN EFFORT TO STOP IT, NOW!

People imprisoned at Pelican Bay and other prisons in California launched a nationwide Hunger Strike on July 8, 2013.  Prisoners at Pelican Bay also issued a call for unity among people from different racial groups, inside and outside the prisons.  People who are locked down in segregation units of this society’s prisons, condemned as the “worst of the worst,” are standing up against injustice, asserting their humanity in the process.  We must have the humanity to hear their call, and answer it with powerful support!

A nationwide and worldwide struggle needs to be built NOW to bring an end to this widespread torture and to support the prisoners who have put their lives on the line.

To the Government: We Demand an Immediate End to the Torture and Inhumanity of Prison House America – Immediately Disband All Torture Chambers.  Meet the Demands of Those You Have Locked Down In Your Prisons!

To People in this Country and Around the World: We Cannot Accept, and We Should Not Tolerate This Torture.  Join the Struggle to End Torture in Prisons Now!

To Those Standing Up in Resistance Inside The Prisons: WE SUPPORT YOUR CALL FOR UNITY IN THIS FIGHT, AND WE WILL HAVE YOUR BACKS!

More signatories: Robin D.G. Kelley, Distinguished Professor of History, UCLA; Rev. Stephen Phelps, The Riverside Church, NYC; Peter Schey, President, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law*; William Ayers; Laura Markle Downton, NRCAT Director of U.S. Prisons Policy & Program; Colin Dayan, Professor of the Humanities, Vanderbilt University; Larry Aubry, Advocates for Black Strategic Alternatives; Rev. Dr. Dorsey O. Blake, Presiding Minister, The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, S.F. CA; Blase Bonpane, Ph.D., Director, OFFICE OF THE AMERICAS; CAL Football* Players Alejandro Crosthwaite, Khairi Fort, and Richard Rodgers; Carl Dix, Revolutionary Communist Party; Glen Ford, Black Agenda Report; James Lafferty, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild / Los Angeles; Dr. Antonio Martinez, Institute for Survivors of Human Rights Abuses* and co-founder of the Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture*; Marilyn McMahon, California Prison Focus*; Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto, Pastor, Glide Memorial Church*, Belinda Ramos, son serving life in a California State Prison; Helen Schietinger, Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC, International); Jim Vrettos, professor, John Jay College; Ron Ahnen, California Prison Focus; Dorsey Nunn, All Of Us Or None; Rev. Richard Meri Ka Ra Byrd, KRST Unity Center; John Burris, Civil Rights Attorney; Josh Fattal, Author; Rev. Frank Wulf, United University Church, LA, CA; Charles Carbone Esq., Prison Rights Attorney; Alex Sanchez, Executive Director, Homies Unidos; Rev. Frederick Trost, President, Wisconsin Conference, United Church of Christ (Ret.); Fr. Bob Bossie SCJ; Ron Jacobs, writer; King Downing, Human Rights Racial Justice Center; Rael Nidess M.D.; Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Director, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture*; Peadar King, Irish Filmaker, Presenter/ Producer of the Irish documentary series “What in the World?”;  J. Tony Serra, Lawyer; John Galbraith Simmons, medical writer and author, Corey Weinstein M.D., SF, CA,  Lisa Guenther, Vanderbilt Philosophy Professor, Author of Solitary Confinement: Social Death and its Afterlives more  Complete list of signatories

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Day 38 of the California Prisoners Hunger Strike: Life – Sized SHU Cell Installed on State Capitol Steps – 100 people rally to protest Prison Torture and Support Prisoners 5 Demands

On Wednesday, August 14, an extraordinarily urgent press conference, SHU replica installation and protest was held on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento, California, to expose the lies of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the silence of Governor Jerry Brown, and to demand that the authorities meet the prisoners' 5 demands – including an end to the torture of indefinite, long-term solitary confinement.   The protest, initiated by the Stop Mass Incarceration Network (SMIN) and State Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, and joined by California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement (CFASC), and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) drew some 100 people, including dozens of family members of people in solitary, prison rights activists, revolutionaries, and other concerned people.  At least 25 people traveled hundreds of miles from as far south as San Diego to attend.    

At dawn activists from Stop Mass Incarceration assembled a solitary SHU cell replica on the cement plaza at the South Steps of the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The glowing white domed Capitol with the small wooden model SHU cell set up outside resembled a plantation mansion and a slave shack.  

All day legislators and their aides hurried by, some averting their eyes and muttering inaudibly, with a few stopping and peeking into the interior.  A mariachi group stopped to talk with activists and family members, tourists wandered in, leaning close to read the statements of the strike reps, or to study the art of Bill Michael Sell, the prisoner who died during the hunger strike. Throughout the day several hundred people stopped to look, read prisoners’ statement or study the pictures of prison cells.   At the press conference hosted by SMIN, Tom Ammiano, CFASC and NRCAT, and MC’ed by Dolores Canales of CFASC and D’Andre Teeter of SMIN, between 80-100 people listened to speakers condemning long term solitary confinement and asking that the demands of the prisoners be met.   Media presence included the LA Times, KQED, Associated Press, the Sacramento Bee, Revolution newspaper, Capitol Public Radio and others.  

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano opened the press conference stating, “When you get a letter that says to incarcerate someone in solitary confinement for longer than a very short period is torture, you know the whole world is watching….There has been some very bad press on this—demonizing us for being activists for human rights for prisoners.  We know that there are some people who have committed some very egregious crimes but that’s not the issue… looking at everyone as if they are a gang member and isolating them. We don’t support that.  We want appropriate steps to be taken.”

Keith James of the Stop Mass Incarceration Network then spoke movingly about the intolerability of tens of thousands of people being tortured in U.S. and CA prisons right now, and challenged CDCR Chief Jeffrey Beard's disinformation and lies characterzing the hunger strike of 30,000 CA prisoners as being  "a gang power play", including by emphasizing the historic import of the prisoners' Agreement to End Hostilities between the racial groups in Cailfornia prisons and jails.  James exposed the serious retaliation targeting the hunger strikers, the death of Corcoran SHU prisoner Billy Sell on July 22 during the hunger strike, and how urgent it is a massive societal wide struggle be further built up, quickly, to support the hunger strikers and compel the State of California to meet the prisoners just demands.    

Pastor Theon Johnson, III from Glide Memorial Church cited A Religious Call for a Just and Humane End to the Hunger Strike in California Prisons signed by over 1000 clergy and religious leaders,  “The religious community in California and across the country continues to stand with the hunger strikers...those who are demanding that dignity and justice be theirs....That individuals incarcerated would be willing to die to call attention to the atrocities, the torture that is being committed, of solitary confinement is a wake-up call for all of us.” “Shame on our state, shame on our nation for affirming torture...we are standing up along side of those who are the crucified people of history...today is the day, my brothers and sisters when we do the work of bringing this inhumanity to an end.” He announced that the SHU model would be set up outside of Glide Memorial this Sunday to bear witness to the call for an end to solitary.   Alan Jones from the United Methodist Church in Sacramento said, “all human life is sacred, and ALL means ALL...My faith and my essential humanity require me to demand of my governor and Dr. Jeffrey Beard to honor the five key demands of the hunger strikers."  

Larry Everest spoke, calling the hunger strike an act of enormous courage and self-sacrifice, “It is criminal for a system to confine people to solitary for decades and then claim that it isn't solitary because they have television, or because a guard walks by twice a day and shoves food through a slot. This is the logic of a torturer and a criminal and illegitimate system.”  He also stressed that the prisoners’ actions and words during the hunger strike show their tremendous potential to be a powerful force for emancipation.  Everest said that a real revolution, based on the work of Bob Avakian, was needed to end these crimes, and invited all present to check out and get into this work at the Revolution Books.  

Marie Levin, sister of Ronnie Dewberry (Sitawa Jamaa), a prisoner in the Pelican Bay SHU & one of the four main Short Corridor Representatives of the hunger strike said, “Where's justice? Where really is justice in America?” She pointed out that prisoners who go into prison in their twenties change and transform, and that the prisoners had gone 38 days without food to press for change. “I invite every legislator in this building to walk inside the SHU. Sit down for a minute!”  

Steven Czifra, who had spent a total of eight years in solitary confinement including 5 years in Pelican Bay SHU spoke: “When I lived in C 105 in the Pelican Bay SHU they told me there's only 3 ways out: parole, snitch or die.' I don't want to say that all of these guys (prison guards) are animals, or all of these guys are pigs, but almost all of these guys are animals or pigs.”  Czifra contrasted this with the humanity of the prisoners in the SHU and said, “If the people, here, us, if we don't do something Jeffrey Beard will kill every person in the SHU – and then he will restock it...."

Laura Magnani, of American Friends Service Committee noted that there had been previous activism for prisoner rights for quite some time but that the hunger strikes, beginning in 2011 put the struggle on a new level,  "nothing really started happening until the prisoners took this incredibly courageous action. It's the prisoners, their organizing, their analysis, their courage and their commitment that has now spawned a national movement, and really an international movement...."   Dr. Ron Ahnen, Professor of Politics, St Mary's College, President of California Prison Focus, and a member of the Mediation Team said he had done research and concluded that the prisoner hunger strike is the biggest strike in history. He spoke about the “behaviors” that the CDCR is now using as criteria for validation. “These are some of the “criminal” gang behaviors that will put you in the SHU for at least 4 year: Artwork.  Photographs. Exercising in a group.  Wearing certain kinds of jewelry or clothing. Gestures. Handshakes. Slogans.  Those are the kinds of things that they can put people in solitary confinement for!”  He dismissed the accusations by Beard that the hunger strike was a “gang power ploy” and said, pointing at the model SHU ,“this is a peaceful, non-violent, demonstration where people are sitting in cells like this and refusing to eat. That's not a power ploy.”  He said the office of Inspector General has opened an official inquiry into the death of hunger striker Billy Sell, who was in Corcoran SHU. “I'm convinced no matter how Billy Sell died, if the hunger strike had not happened, and the conditions of SHU had not happened, that Bill Sell would be with us today. And somebody at CDCR has to take responsibility for those conditions and take responsibility for that young man's life.” Ahnen said that Jeffrey Beard was “playing with people's lives. We have had over 150 emergency triage visits during this hunger strike. People are at the edge of their lives.”  

Dolores Canales of CFASC who's son is in the Pelican Bay SHU, thanked SMIN for pulling together the mock SHU installation, and spoke of the demonization of the people through labeling them “gang affiliates.” She said, “As soon as they use the word “gang” in a court of law they have a conviction. It doesn't matter if they are guilty or innocent.". Speaking of Todd Ashker, one of the reps of the hunger strike she said, “The media is portraying him as a gang leader. A murderer.” Said said that when Todd went to prison “he entered as a 20 year old drug addict serving a six year prison sentence. In prison he then became convicted of murder. In prison he then became an alleged gang member. If he became these things while in prison, what does that say about our system? What does that say about California Department of Corrections? What are they creating? What are they doing to our loved ones? Who are THEY turning them into?”   Messages of support were also read and received from Dr. Carl Hart, Dr. Gabor Mate; Dr. Marc Sapir; Hilary Donnell and the Herman's House Team; Senator Leland Yee; Stephen Rohde and Rev. George F. Regas of Interfaith Communities United for Justice and peace; Jack Gerson; Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund Executive Director Mike Holman; attorney Steven Rood; Kiily Nyasha, former Black Panther and radio journalist; Christina Garcia-Aguilera, sister of a Pelican Bay SHU hunger striker and Karen King Modjeski who's husband has been in the SHU for 10 years.   After the press conference, D'Andre of Stop Mass Incarceration noted that Governor Brown had been invited to come visit and defend the SHU but had not appeared. About 50 people went inside the Capitol to Brown's office to demand that he meet with representatives of the hunger strikers and to end torture in California.  Two members of the mediation team – Ron Ahnen and Irene Huerta -- were let in to the Governor's office to speak with an aide who told them essentially nothing would be done. Then the group went to the office of Lieutenant Governor Newsom where families were turned away, and then to Senator Loni Hancock's office where 25-30 people sat down with an aide and laid out demands for an emergency public hearing to expose the crimes of the CDCR to the public and to end the hunger strike.  They emphasized the need for action, NOW – that this is an emergency situation; that something must be done before any more prisoners die or harm their health.  One of the mediation team will be calling both Hancock and Newsom’s office today for their response to these basic and just demands. 

Photographs courtesy Stop Mass Incarceration and Revolution newspaper.

[stopmassincarcerationbayarea]

Statements of Support for Aug 14 SHU Installation at Capitol

A number of people who were not able to be present at the SHU Installation and Press Conference in Sacramento send statements of support for the day, which we are putting here, in hopes that they will be widely read.

August 14, 2013 “The indiscriminate use of solitary confinement is not only inhumane and a direct violation of internationally recognized human rights, but is ultimately a self-defeating practice. It has been clearly established that prolonged isolation increases the risk of mental illness, self-harm, and likelihood of reoffending.  In order to combat the rampant abuse of this failed policy, I am carrying SB 61 in the hopes of curbing its use on children.  Because while subjecting adults to solitary confinement is damaging and backwards, to do so to children is absolutely reprehensible.  It is time for California to face the reality of our justice system and force it to move in a direction that is more moral, effective, and just.” Dan Lieberman Press Secretary Office of Leland Y. Yee,  PH.D. California State Senate Capitol Office – Room 4074, Sacramento, CA 95814 ***************** Excerpts of Ammiano comments at Press Conference: “When you get a letter that says to incarcerate someone in solitary confinement for longer than a very short period is torture, you know the whole world is watching...There has been some very bad press on this—demonizing us for being activists for human rights for prisoners.  We know that there are some people who have committed some very egregious crimes but that’s not the issue… looking at everyone as if they are a gang member and isolating them. We don’t support that.  We want appropriate steps to be taken.” ************** Here in New Orleans, the incarceration capital of the world, every day we see our friends, our husbands, our sisters, our children and our neighbors go to prison and be subjected to horrible, inhumane and unlawful conditions. In a former slave plantation called Angola, Herman Wallace has spent 41 years in solitary confinement and is now dying of liver cancer as we lie in wait for the state to rule on his humanity. These are the realities of our criminal justice system that seeks to break our communities rather than serve them. Herman Wallace and the Angola 3 have dedicated their lives to spreading the word that SOLITARY IS TORTURE. The hunger strikers in California are doing the same: risking their lives to tell the world that living in that cage is worse than dying of starvation. Enough is enough! All of us at Herman’s House lend our solidarity to the California Hunger Strikers as they demand dignity and respect for the rights of the incarcerated! We will fast every Friday in solidarity until their 5 core demands are addressed, acknowledged and met. Jeffery Beard and Jerry Brown, its time for you to come out and explain how being forced to live in this cage is anything less than a state sanctioned form of torture! Hillary Donnell and the Herman’s House Team www.hermanshouse.org @_HermansHouse     info@hermanshouse.org **************** As a physician who has worked with a highly addicted and oft-jailed population, I can attest that mass incarceration and solitary confinement neither help to rehabilitate individuals nor help protect society. As a world-authority on trauma, psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk of Boston University has pointed out, the vast majority of people inhabiting criminal justice facilities were traumatized as children. This is what science shows and my experience attests. People so hurt need compassion, support, counseling, and healing. Solitary confinement in particular damages key brain circuits that make future dysfunctional behavior more likely and rehabilitation more difficult, increasing criminality and social and financial costs. Humanity, science and social self-interest all dictate that such practices must stop. California, a state that has contributed so much positive to world culture, instead of disgracing itself with punitive medievalism, could take the lead in establishing an enlightened approach. Gabor Maté M.D. Vancouver, B.C. Canada   *****************  "The isolation practices of the CDCR (California Prison System) are cruel, brutal and inhumane.  The SHUs have been used by the authorities to actually increase prisoner violence and racism and to try and destroy any cohesiveness among prisoners.  The policy of locking people away for 10, 20, 30 years in solitary with the only possibility of relief being to finger someone as being a gang member is reminiscent of the practice of torturing people until they give names.  Likewise, these practices violate human rights, are outlawed by international covenants, are aimed at breaking down peoples' personalities, and are notoriously good at reproducing lies and violent gang activity when prisoners single out each other.  These actions by the authorities themselves are behaviors like those of the very gangs they purport to weaken.   The only difference is that the authorities can cloth their behaviors in the legal sanction and can act with impunity and imperial disdain for the powerless prisoners.  Mr. Beard's crass lying about the cruel practices in solitary confinement, such as claims the prisoners have skylights and that keeping people decades in solitary reduces gang violence, reveal that he is not fit to be in a position of authority over California's prisons and prisoners.  Beard's behavior is a stain on the sitting governor who allows this charade to continue when the State should be negotiating with the non-violent strikers, united across racial divisions against the cruel practices.  If the goal were really to end violence in the prisons, the authorities would be pleased to talk with the leaders and mediators of a non-violent and collaborative prisoner movement."  Marc Sapir, MD, MPH one of the organizers of the Health Professional's Letter on the CA Prisoners' Hunger Strike.  *************** "It is an abomination in violation of the Constitution's solemn prohibition against 'cruel and unusual punishment' for California's prison system to condemn 4,000 prisoners to solitary confinement, some for decades, a barbaric practice fit for the Dark Ages.  We applaud the brave hunger strikers for forcing this inhumane horror onto the front pages and we demand that Governor Brown halt this unspeakable punishment immediately."   Stephen Rohde, Vice-Chair, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace. *****************   I add my voice to the multitude calling for an immediate end to the barbaric conditions in California prisons. Governor Jerry Brown and the CDCR must put an end to their inhumane treatment of the souls trapped in their prisons, which they have literally turned into hellholes. Stop the torture! Jack Gerson Ph.D., MPH ******************* Christina Garcia-Aguilera whose brother, a Pelican Bay SHU hunger striker, has been in prison for 19 years and in solitary for the last 10. She said he was moved to Folsom during the hunger strike, supposedly because of medical facilities at Folsom: So overwhelmed.... How do I begin. Chris Garcia, J93559. Is loved. He has family that cares for him. We are not happy about the conditions that are taking place at Pelican Bay. He is now at Folsom due to a larger medical ward. ? We want to let the Governor know that things need to change. The prisoners are being treated very unfairly. We as humans need human interaction. We would all go crazy without that. Fresh air, outside yard, adequate meals and medical attention. Please negotiate and make some changes before more humans DIE. Thank you, in behalf of Chris Garcia j93559 family members, Christina Garcia Aguilera, Lopez family, Guzman family. ************************ Karen King Modjeski    7:11am Aug 14 If you can, please read this today. Thank you! My husband has been in the SHU for over 10 years. On our last visit in July he said to me, "I just want to be able to touch you and to give my kids a hug and kiss." To me, that says it all. He is a human being, not a rabid animal. How is keeping him in solitary confinement rehabilitative? And why os he still there? The last time anything wss found in his cell to keep him "validated" was in April of 2008! And that was some Aztec art. Over 5 years later, he's still there. Why? How is that justifiable? Security Housing Units are death camps. The CDC puts men in there so everyone can forget about them. Well, guess what? They are not forgotten. My husband is alive, he is strong, he is loved and he gives love. He is a man of integrity, intelligence and forgiveness. Governor Brown, Secretary Beard and all others in power, you must end long term solitary confinement NOW!!! This practice is barbaric and inhumane. *************** Words from a Jewish Lawyer about the Prisoners' Hunger Strike     I write here to support a change in the ways our society deals with the people we imprison.  As I begin to write these words, I think about how many letters and papers have been submitted over scores of years to the same end-- with no penetration.  I'm not surprised that little has changed.  It's an old story.  Who wants to listen?     What I say is not new insight; I just want, once again, to remind us of what seems so simply clear and true:  U.S. American culture projects our dark shadow directly onto "dark" people.  We get rid of our violence, greed, nastiness, abandon, and addiction first by placing those parts of ourselves into criminals, and second by stuffing the criminals into prisons.  In so doing, we have arranged to put 50% of undesirable and scary young men of color into the court and prison systems.  Easy.  Are we educating?  Are we training?  Offering jobs?  Creating citizens?  Showing ways toward integrity?  No, of course not.  We are, instead, leaving the generations alone, except when we arrest and convict them.  And after arrest and conviction, we leave them alone in prison.      Is not the question of race still the central rot at the heart?  Are we not turning our back on the wounded, who themselves, unfortunately, wound?  Can we not acknowledge that slavery still haunts our dreams?  Jews, every Passover, enjoin ourselves to remember that we were slaves in Egypt.  The Jewish sense of justice and obligation to others stems from that early wound.  Can we not imagine the present and sharp suffering of a people hardly out of slavery (compared, certainly, with 3000 years or so for Jews)?  Isn't it clear that Nazis did the same kind of projecting onto Jews, among other others?     What it comes down to-- for me-- is humanitas.  Respect for humans.  The value of the individual, no matter what his or her sins and omissions.  We are all suffering a hard struggle in this life.  The suffering, redemption, evil, error-- all of the parts of our own shadows-- must, I think, be reclaimed by each of us;  we must take back the mask we placed on the faces of prisoners.  The mask is our own shadow.  Let's deal with real and full humans inside and outside the walls.  Let's pay real and human attention to what our brothers and sisters are saying and what they reveal.     - Steven Rood, Esq. **************         "It is an abomination in violation of the Constitution's solemn prohibition against 'cruel and unusual punishment' for California's prison system to condemn 4,000 prisoners to solitary confinement, some for decades, a barbaric practice fit for the Dark Ages.  We applaud the brave hunger strikers for forcing this inhumane horror onto the front pages and we demand that Governor Brown halt this unspeakable punishment immediately." Rev. George F. Regas, Convener and Founder, Interfaith Communities United For Justice and Peace; Stephen Rohde, Vice-Chair, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace.

***************** Kudos to Tom Ammiano and the Stop Mass Incarceration Network for this creative, audacious plan to demonstrate just how oppressive and torturous the SHU really is.  A similar mock cell was set up in Union Square, SF, last month; when I stepped inside and felt the walled-in, closet-size space w/pics on the wall of the actual SHU cells, it was difficult to hold back tears. We must do everything we can, individually and collectively to pressure Gov. Brown to grant the demands of the hunger strikers before we lose still more lives. Kiilu Nyasha - ************** Statement from Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund By Executive Director Mike Holman In solidarity with the SHU Isolation Unit Installation, Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund is sharing this letter from a California prisoner, written 3 weeks ago, about the reality of solitary confinement. As you hear this, think about what CDC’s Jeffrey Beard claims about solitary confinement. In a shining example of torturers censoring news exposing the torture they commit in California prisons, CDC has recently censored at least two issues of Revolution sent to Pelican Bay prisoners by Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund. Revolution is covering, and continuing to cover, the courageous and inspiring stand that hunger-striking California prisoners are taking to end the inhumane conditions they face, including what is in fact torture under international law. Revolution reports this from the larger context of exposing a whole system of exploitation and oppression. The prison authorities allege that this news is “unauthorized correspondence between inmates”, and that Revolution incites “…participation in a mass disturbance (which) is a serious threat to the safety and security of this institution”. Their claims are outrageous and bogus. Hundreds of mainstream and other news sources are covering the hunger strike and prison conditions from different perspectives… Can prison authorities be allowed to ONLY permit prisoners to read news coverage that does not expose and challenge their lies, and censor anything else on the basis that it is “inciting participation in a mass disturbance”? This logic is chilling and illegal and must not stand. In the 1974 case of Pell v. Procunier, the US Supreme Court found that “the conditions in this Nation’s prisons are a matter that is both newsworthy and of great public importance”. Similarly, the 1987 McCabe v Arave case ruled that the presentation of ideas that some may find controversial does not constitute a plan to breach the security of an institution. Pelican Bay prison authorities are trying to isolate, demoralize and further torture prisoners through denying them revolutionary sustenance, including news of growing support beyond the prison walls for the prisoners’ just demands. Prisoners have a right to the life of the mind, which is a key part of being human. Through sending Revolution, BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian and other literature to about 800 prisoners in state and federal hellholes throughout the US, PRLF provides them with an educational opportunity to engage with world events and key political, cultural, and philosophical questions of the day from a unique revolutionary perspective… and to critically think about and dissect the current state of society as well as search for an alternative. Censorship of this is yet another intolerable and inhumane form of torture, and must not stand! There are two things people can do right now to oppose this censorship. Go to our website, PRLF.org, and 1) Sign the statement to End Censorship of Revolution at Pelican Bay Prison; and 2) Donate funds generously at PRLF.org to keep this revolutionary literature flowing to prisoners – in California and across the US. Numerous family members and friends of prisoners have reported retaliation by prison authorities against prisoners throughout the state. Less than a year ago, Governor Brown vetoed AB 1270, which would have restored media access to prisons to the level it was at in 1996. Several other periodicals that support the prisoners and the hunger strike have had issues of their periodicals censored. Censorship of Revolution and other periodicals that expose and oppose prison conditions could create conditions in which prison authorities are free to commit all kinds of abuses behind thick walls of concrete and of enforced silence. End the censorship of Revolution and other periodicals at all California prisons! ###

[stopmassincarcerationbayarea]

SHU ISOLATION UNIT INSTALLATION ON THE STATE CAPITOL SOUTH STEPS, AUGUST 14

The Stop Mass Incarceration Network (SMIN), Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement (CFASC), and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), in support of the California Prison Hunger Strikers and their Five Demands, invite the public to visit an installation of a life-sized mock Security Housing Unit (SHU) Cell on the California State Capitol South Steps in Sacramento from 8am to 8pm. (*see below for carpool info) What: Life-sized mock Security Housing Unit (SHU) Cell Where: California State Capitol South Steps When: Wednesday August 14 – 8 am to 8 pm & 12 noon press conference

with statements from prisoners’ families, hunger strike supporters, and human rights advocates, including Dr. Ron Ahnen, Professor of Politics, St Mary's College*, President of California Prison Focus, Member of the Mediation Team; Dolores Canales of CFASC; UCB student Steven Czifra, formerly incarcerated in Pelican Bay SHU; Larry Everest, Revolution newspaper; Rev. Theon Johnson, III of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church; Rev. Alan Jones;  Laura Magnani, American Friends Service Committee and Member of Mediation Team; Marie Levin, sister of Ronnie Dewberry (Sitawa Jamaa) prisoner in the Pelican Bay SHU - one of the four main Short Corridor Representatives of the hunger strike; J. Tony Serra, 50 years as a criminal defense lawyer; and others TBA.

SMIN, Assemblymember Tom Ammiano,  and CFASC, in support of the California Prison Hunger Strikers and their 5 Demands invite the public to visit an installation of a life-sized mock Security Housing Unit (SHU) Cell on the California State Capitol South Steps in Sacramento.

The families, Assemblyperson Ammiano, and SMIN invite Jerry Brown and Jeffrey Beard to visit the "SHU" and to state why this is not torture. *CARPOOL FROM MACARTHUR BART 8 AM. Ride co-ordinator - Call Diya at 415-509-2200 for rides from the Bay Area. From Concord and vicinity,Call Joseph at 925-524-0272 Also people needed in Sac to do prep work on Tuesday call 510-926-5207 to be a part of this. *GOING FROM LOS ANGELES: A car caravan will be leaving the LA area at 2am Wednesday morning to get to Sacramento by 10am for SHU Isolation Unit (Day Long Event) and Press Conference at 12 noon on the State Capitol South Steps.  If you have a car and want to be part of the caravan, contact us and let us know.  If you are driving up yourselves, check in and let us know.  If you need a ride please RSVP as soon as possible (by Tuesday morning at latest) as there will be a van. Time: Meet at 2am Wednesday morning (we will leave about 2:45am) Place: Denny's Restaurant Address: 530 Ramirez St.  (At Vignes and 101 Frwy near Men's Central Jail) Contact: Keith James at 213-840-5348 or Dee at 424-981-9189

This stark multimedia installation will allow visitors to acquire a tactile and visceral understanding of the reality of solitary confinement that over 4,000 California prisoners have endured for years and decades, and why this is cruel and unusual punishment deemed torture by the UN and human rights groups.

The installation includes images of SHU cells and prisoners and moving testimony from prisoners and others.

On July 8, 2013, 30,000 California prisoners began a hunger strike to end the torture of solitary confinement and for their basic rights and humanity. Their central demand is "comply with the recommendation of the U.S. Commission on Safety and Abuse in Prisons (2006) regarding an end to long-term solitary confinement.” Now, 100's of prisoners have gone over one month without food and many more in many prisons have supported the strike and gone on and off the hunger strike since its beginning. Millions throughout society support the prisoners, including prominent voices such as Jay Leno, Danny Glover, Cornel West, Noam Chomsky, Bonnie Raitt and Gloria Steinem; yet Governor Jerry Brown and the California Dept. of Corrections refuse to meet their just demands, have retaliated against the hunger strikers, and have publicly vilified the prisoners and the hunger strike. In a July 6 opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, CDCR secretary Jeffrey Beard claimed that the notorious SHU “is not 'solitary confinement.'”

On July 5, Amnesty International stated that "rather than improving," conditions in California prisons "have actually significantly deteriorated:” On July 22, 2013, Amnesty International called California Prisons and the CDCR's response to the hunger strike an "affront to human rights."

The Stop Mass Incarceration Network states "This is an EMERGENCY! One hunger striker, Billy ‘Guero’ Sell, has already died. Many more people need to stand NOW with the prisoner hunger strikers!"

The families, Assemblyperson Ammiano, and SMIN invite Jerry Brown and Jeffrey Beard to visit the "SHU" and to state why this is not torture.

“A hunger strike is not taken lightly by us, we are not suicidal, rather we hope to save lives. We may not be able to save our lives. But we have come to identify our existence in SHU as a conveyor belt leading into an oven of inferno. And we may indeed be strapped onto this conveyor belt with no way out as we have continued for years to watch our comrades fall into the abyss of the oven in psychosis, suicide or other chronic illness. And we may not be able to stop our ride from dropping us into the abyss but we will stop this conveyor belt for future generations to come. Today this ride stops!” (Excerpt from a letter to Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition by a prisoner dated July 8, 2013)

Stop Mass Incarceration Network

Mass Incarceration + Silence = Genocide