Solidarity demonstration for Prisoners on Hunger Strike - Friday 29 July

Thousands of prisoners across California have been on hunger strike for nearly 4
weeks now in protest against the use of solitary confinement following a call by
prisoners in the Pelican Bay Secure Housing Unit (SHU). Though the prisoners in
Pelican Bay have ended their protest following a number of apparent concessions
by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), prisoners
in at least three other Californian state prisons, CCI Tehachapi, Corcoran and
Calipatria, continue to refuse food.

The Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity coalition has called for all outside
supporters to continue pressure on the Prison and State authorities
[http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/support-still-needed/]
to keep to their promises and to continue negotiating with the prisoners and
their representatives. This is essential given the hostile CDCR statement
[http://cdcrtoday.blogspot.com/2011/07/statement-by-cdcr-on-inmate-hunger.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CDCRToday+%28CDCR+Today%29]
announcing the end of the Pelican Bay hunger strike, where they rehearse the
same lies about the protests being ordered by prison gang leaders" and adding
that hunger strikes “are a dangerous and ineffective way for prisoners to
attempt to negotiate.” This statement deliberately ignored the Tehachapi,
Corcoran and Calipatria hunger strikers and carried an implied threat of
retribution against those who have taken part in the protests so far.

Join the protest at the California Tourism Information Office in Covent Garden
on Friday 29 July from 12.30-2.00 pm.

California Tourism Information Office
15 Bedford Street
Covent Garden
London WC2E 9HE

You can also sign the on-line petition at:
http://www.change.org/petitions/support-prisoners-on-hunger-strike-at-pelican-bay-state-prison


Make calls and write letters of protest to:

Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
TEL: (916) 445-2841

Secretary Matthew Cate
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
1515 S Street
Sacramento 95814
Phone: (916) 323-6001
CDCR Public Affairs Office: (916)445-4950

or to the US Embassy:

Switchboard: 020 7499-9000

Look here for more ways to get involved :
https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/07/482528.html

Keep yourself informed:http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/