Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Parole, Snitch, Die or Amplify: four ways to "get out of Pelican Bay State Prison"

Join us for
Conversations on
the Pelican Bay Hunger Strike

Monday November 7th 2011 6-8pm:
Sisters of the Road Café
133 NW 6th Portland, OR 97209
AND
Tuesday November 8th 2011 6-8pm:
Portland State University Smith Memorial Building -- Room 327
1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201

All events are free, open to the public and disability affirmative!
These political events will feature Molly Porzig, a national activist organizing solidarity efforts with prisoners striking at Pelican Bay State Prison. Hudson Munoz will speak about his work monitoring health and human rights conditions in the Pelican Bay Security Housing Unity. His message will include statements directly from inmates in the hunger strike movement at Pelican Bay State Prison. Join us for a panel discussion about updates on the strike and about how you can further support the efforts of the prisoners.

People housed in the SHU at Pelican Bay began a hunger strike on July 1, 2011 with five core demands:
1. Individual Accountability
2. Abolish the Debriefing Policy, and Modify Active/Inactive Gang Status Criteria
3. Comply with US Commission 2006 Recommendations Regarding an End to Long-Term Solitary Confinement
4. Provide Adequate Food
5. Expand and Provide Constructive Programming and Privileges for Indefinite SHU Status Inmates.


On September 26, 2011 inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison went back on strike because CDCR had not implemented any of its promised changes to SHU policies. This round of the strike is in its third week. Although CDCR has not made-good on its promises to change SHU policies, it has made good on its promises to retaliate against striking inmates.

On October 13, 2011, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation committed to releasing to general population SHU prisoners who do not meet new, stricter criteria for isolation. These new criteria will be in place by the beginning of next year, a plan confirmed in a memo signed by CDCR officials and the mediation team members. Join us to discuss the struggle leading up to this human rights victory, and the consequences for inmates in the CDCR system.

The inmates' courageous and extreme action falls within a long legacy of prisoner-led resistance throughout the world, including inside both men and women’s prisons in the US. As such, these struggles are connected to global struggles against inequality and powerlessness, for self-determination and liberation.
Sponsored by: Portland Law Collective, Portland National Lawyers Guild, Oregon Jericho, NW Jericho, Civil Liberties Defense Center, Portland Books to Prisoners, Committee to Connect the Dots, Sisters of the Road Café, Students for Unity and NW Student Coalition
more info?
pelicanbayhungerpdx@gmail.com


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