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| California prisoners end hunger strike against the use of solitary confinement | California prisoners end hunger strike against the use of solitary confinement |
| (12 days later) | |
| Prisoners in California a have ended a 60-day hunger strike that challenged the use of solitary confinement in state jails. | Prisoners in California a have ended a 60-day hunger strike that challenged the use of solitary confinement in state jails. |
| About 100 inmates who had refused food resumed eating on Thursday, in order to avert the death of malnourished, weakened men, strike leaders said in a statement. | About 100 inmates who had refused food resumed eating on Thursday, in order to avert the death of malnourished, weakened men, strike leaders said in a statement. |
| "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." | "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." |
| The leaders, who are at Pelican Bay state prison and call themselves the Short Corridor Collective Representatives, said they remained committed to the struggle and would make the "ultimate sacrifice" if required, but that prisoners dying was not their objective. "We recognize such sacrifice is at times the only means to an end of fascist oppression." | The leaders, who are at Pelican Bay state prison and call themselves the Short Corridor Collective Representatives, said they remained committed to the struggle and would make the "ultimate sacrifice" if required, but that prisoners dying was not their objective. "We recognize such sacrifice is at times the only means to an end of fascist oppression." |
| At the outset on 8 July, more than 30,000 inmates in two-thirds of the state's jails joined the strike, the biggest in California history, to protest extended solitary confinement, in some cases lasting decades. Human rights groups have called the practice torture. | At the outset on 8 July, more than 30,000 inmates in two-thirds of the state's jails joined the strike, the biggest in California history, to protest extended solitary confinement, in some cases lasting decades. Human rights groups have called the practice torture. |
| The dozens still fasting have now accepted food, the Department of Corrections said in a statement. "As of this morning, all participants of the prison hunger strike have started taking state-issued meals or have otherwise begun the process of re-feeding." | The dozens still fasting have now accepted food, the Department of Corrections said in a statement. "As of this morning, all participants of the prison hunger strike have started taking state-issued meals or have otherwise begun the process of re-feeding." |
| Governor Jerry Brown and the department rebuffed strikers' demands even as dozens fell ill and required medical attention. However the protest attracted widespread attention, and two Democratic state legislators said they would hold hearings this autumn on isolation units at maximum security prisons. | Governor Jerry Brown and the department rebuffed strikers' demands even as dozens fell ill and required medical attention. However the protest attracted widespread attention, and two Democratic state legislators said they would hold hearings this autumn on isolation units at maximum security prisons. |
| "Maybe it wasn't a victory but the fact is a huge sphere of influence was created with this hunger strike. A lot more people became aware of what's happening and big folk became involved," said Geri Silva, an activist with Families to Amend California's Three Strikes who liaised with strikers. | "Maybe it wasn't a victory but the fact is a huge sphere of influence was created with this hunger strike. A lot more people became aware of what's happening and big folk became involved," said Geri Silva, an activist with Families to Amend California's Three Strikes who liaised with strikers. |
| She said the offer of joint hearings by Senator Loni Hancock and Assembly Member Ton Ammiano held promise of reform. "It's worth taking a chance on. Too many of them were close to death." | She said the offer of joint hearings by Senator Loni Hancock and Assembly Member Ton Ammiano held promise of reform. "It's worth taking a chance on. Too many of them were close to death." |
| Lawyers and activists representing strike leaders were due to make an announcement later Thursday at a public rally in Oakland. | Lawyers and activists representing strike leaders were due to make an announcement later Thursday at a public rally in Oakland. |
| Jeffrey Beard, secretary of the state's Department of Corrections, avoided any triumphalism in a brief statement. "We are pleased this dangerous strike has been called off before any inmates became seriously ill. I'd like to commend my staff and the staff with the federal Receiver's Office for working together to ensure the health and safety of all employees and inmates was a top priority." | Jeffrey Beard, secretary of the state's Department of Corrections, avoided any triumphalism in a brief statement. "We are pleased this dangerous strike has been called off before any inmates became seriously ill. I'd like to commend my staff and the staff with the federal Receiver's Office for working together to ensure the health and safety of all employees and inmates was a top priority." |
| He said that authorities would continue to implement reforms in isolation cells, known as Security Housing Units, which were initiated two years ago in the wake of earlier hunger strikes An estimated 4,000 inmates are currently in solitary confinement. | He said that authorities would continue to implement reforms in isolation cells, known as Security Housing Units, which were initiated two years ago in the wake of earlier hunger strikes An estimated 4,000 inmates are currently in solitary confinement. |
| Strike leaders – an unusual alliance of whites, African Americans and Latinos – said prolonged isolation was cruel and that the system for selecting those for segregation is callous and capricious. A condition of release into the general jail population is to "debrief" – to inform – against gang members. | Strike leaders – an unusual alliance of whites, African Americans and Latinos – said prolonged isolation was cruel and that the system for selecting those for segregation is callous and capricious. A condition of release into the general jail population is to "debrief" – to inform – against gang members. |
| The strike's epicentre was Pelican Bay, a remote, windswept facility outside Crescent City, near the border with Oregon. Of those 100 prisoners striking, around 40 had refused food continuously since 8 July. The others joined later, or broke the fast and then resumed. They consumed vitamins and Gatorade, which cotains calories. | The strike's epicentre was Pelican Bay, a remote, windswept facility outside Crescent City, near the border with Oregon. Of those 100 prisoners striking, around 40 had refused food continuously since 8 July. The others joined later, or broke the fast and then resumed. They consumed vitamins and Gatorade, which cotains calories. |
| Authorities said the strike was an attempt by isolated gang leaders to regain the ability to terrorise fellow prisoners, staff and communities throughout California. Each side accused the other of brutality and manipulation. | Authorities said the strike was an attempt by isolated gang leaders to regain the ability to terrorise fellow prisoners, staff and communities throughout California. Each side accused the other of brutality and manipulation. |
| The media were not granted access to striking inmates but several in Pelican Bay wrote to the Guardian. "Greetings from the living graveyard!" wrote Gabriel Reyes. "I have been placed in an ice-box in Ad-Seg, they are giving me vitamins and electrolites, don't know how much longer those will sustain me." | The media were not granted access to striking inmates but several in Pelican Bay wrote to the Guardian. "Greetings from the living graveyard!" wrote Gabriel Reyes. "I have been placed in an ice-box in Ad-Seg, they are giving me vitamins and electrolites, don't know how much longer those will sustain me." |
| Lawyers accused authorities of trying to break the strike by placing leaders in administrative segregation, a more complete form of isolation known as Ad-Seg, and blasting cells with cold air. | Lawyers accused authorities of trying to break the strike by placing leaders in administrative segregation, a more complete form of isolation known as Ad-Seg, and blasting cells with cold air. |
| Martin Bibbs, who was convicted of attempted murder and placed in a SHU in 1991, said the truth about solitary confinement was emerging. "It's merely a mechanism … to break men's spirit, will and self-worth. It deters nothing! We've always known that but now society is beginning to understand it." | Martin Bibbs, who was convicted of attempted murder and placed in a SHU in 1991, said the truth about solitary confinement was emerging. "It's merely a mechanism … to break men's spirit, will and self-worth. It deters nothing! We've always known that but now society is beginning to understand it." |
| Anne Weills, a civil rights attorney who represents some of the strikers, said the protest had created a "well-oiled machine" to continue lobbying for reform of solitary confinement. | Anne Weills, a civil rights attorney who represents some of the strikers, said the protest had created a "well-oiled machine" to continue lobbying for reform of solitary confinement. |
| "It was a major accomplishment to bring so much attention to this issue. The more you know, the worse it is, and it took this hunger strike to really bring in the sunlight." | "It was a major accomplishment to bring so much attention to this issue. The more you know, the worse it is, and it took this hunger strike to really bring in the sunlight." |
| Lawyers and activists were gearing up for regional public hearings due to start next month, said Weills. "We're not skipping a beat. We will bring Californians into the debate." | Lawyers and activists were gearing up for regional public hearings due to start next month, said Weills. "We're not skipping a beat. We will bring Californians into the debate." |
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