On July 8, 2013, 30,0000 California prisoners began a hunger strike. They have five core demands:
- End long-term solitary confinement
- Abolish de-briefing, change gang validation criteria
- End group punishment
- Provide educational, vocational and self-help programs
- Provide adequate nutritious food
The strike has been guided by a 2012 Agreement to End Hostilities, issued by the multiracial inmate leadership of the first Pelican Bay Hunger Strike which states that “from this date on, all racial group hostilities need to be at an end…; do not allow personal, individual issues to escalate into racial group issues.” All struggles in the U.S. need to go by these words of wisdom.
California uses long-term solitary confinement more than any other state and incarcerates over 10,000 people in various forms of solitary. Solitary confinement is called “Secure Housing Units,” referred to as SHU, pronounced “shoe.” At Pelican Bay Prison 500 men have lived in solitary confinement more than 10 years, 78 more than 20 years, and at least 2 over 40 years. This is torture and must be stopped.
The U.S. incarcerates a far higher rate of people than any other country in the world. According to Wikipedia, as of 2009, the U.S. incarceration rate was 743 per 100,000 of national population. In comparison, Russia had the second highest, at 577 per 100,000, Canada was 123rd in the world at 117 per 100,000, and China had 120 per 100,000.
As the computerized robotic economy, controlled by capitalists, finds no use for workers, in the U.S., more and more people are imprisoned in ever worsening conditions. This mass incarceration affects a huge portion of the population. This is unendurable, and the prisoners, families and supporters are striking back in a way that unifies all racial groups.
Even in highly affluent Silicon Valley, about 75 supporters of the hunger strikers on August 4, 2013, rallied across the street from the main downtown jail. People wore all white to symbolize color not being important and everyone uniting for justice. The prisoners could see the candlelight vigil, and they banged on the windows and later turned the lights on and off. It was like an electrical charge of excitement coming out of the jail. They knew they were not alone any more. The prison hunger strike is a great example of a new way to struggle which can lead to real change in the U.S.
