A
demonstration took place on July 18 in Sacramento in solidarity with the roughly 6,600 prisoners who are on hunger
strike in 13 prisons across California.
People held
banners, placards, and posters outside the California Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation demanding that the state negotiate with the hunger strikers
in the Secure Housing Units and that they meet the five demands made by the prisoners.
A
delegation from the demonstration went into the CDCR to demand that Secretary
Matthew Cate negotiate with the prisoners. Demonstratiors chanted, “Matthew
Cate, negotiate, or blood will be on your hands!” and “Our brothers are dying!
The CDC is lying! Meet the five demands! Meet the five demands!”
The
attempt failed and at the last minute, the demonstrators marched 10 blocks to
the Capitol building to speak with Gov. Jerry Brown. At the Capitol building, a
delegation of activists, mothers and relatives of prisoners who are on hunger
strike, and former prisoners who have experienced the conditions within the
SHUs went to speak with the governor. The delegation met with one of the
governor’s assistants, and again negotiations were refused.
After
the second attempt to bring the state to negotiations failed, there was a call
for all people to spread the word about the strike and the inhumane conditions
of the SHUs and to organize demonstrations in support of the prisoners.
The heroic
effort of the hunger strikers stands in stark contrast with the cowardly
response of state officials. The United States has the highest number of
prisoners in the world, both in absolute numbers and relative to its
population. The hunger strike that started in Pelican Bay is a struggle for all
who are languishing in prison cells across the country under inhumane
conditions.
But
after 18 days, time is beginning to run out for some of the hunger strikers.
Now is the time for all progressive forces to stand in solidarity with those
who are putting their lives on the line in this struggle for basic human
rights.
