Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers Reject CDCR Proposal

MEDIA ADVISORY--JULY 15, 2011

Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers Reject CDCR Proposal
Strike Continues

 Press Contact:    Isaac Ontiveros
 Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity
 Office: 510 444 0484

California-- This afternoon leaders of the Pelican
Bay hunger strike unanimously rejected a proposal
to end the strike from the California Department
of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). In
response to the prisoners' five, straightforward
demands, CDCR distributed a vaguely worded
document stating that it would, "effect a
comprehensive assessment of its existing policy
and procedure" about the secure housing units
(SHUs).  The document gave no indication if any changes would be made at all.

While the CDCR has claimed that there is no
medical crisis, mediators report that the
principal negotiators have lost 25-35 pounds each
and have underlying medical conditions of
concern. Despite promises from the federal
Receiver overseeing CDCR, no one has received
salt tablets or multiple vitamins.

The hunger strike is now in its third week and
shows no signs of weakening.  In fact, the
settlement document distributed last night to all
hunger strikers at Pelican Bay prison, resulted
in some people who had gone off the strike to
resume refusing food.  Hundreds of prisoners at
Pelican Bay remain on strike, with thousands more
participating throughout California's 33
prisons.  Advocates and strike leaders dismiss
the false claims that the strike is being orchestrated by prison gangs.

International solidarity with the striking
prisoners also continues to mount with
demonstrations and messages emerging from the US,
Canada, Turkey and Australia. According to
mediation team member Laura Magnani, "From day
one, the CDCR has demonstrated its inability to
resolve this situation. We call on Gov. Brown to
step in and negotiate in good faith to bring this
situation to a just resolution."  Strike
supporters plan to flood the Governor's offices
with phone calls and emails, echoing the strikers' demands.

"Given how basic the striker's demands are, it is
immoral that the CDCR would insult these men with
such poor faith proposals," stated mediator, Dorsey Nunn.