On May 25 a hunger strike began at Folsom State Prison in California just east of Sacramento.
Folsom State Prison, also known as Old Folsom, is the second oldest state prison in California, behind San Quentin, and is highly recognized as one of the first maximum security prisons. Folsom State Prison is also known for the executions of over 90 inmates over the course of 20 years in addition to being where former Black Panther, Eldridge Cleaver, was held for a short period. The decades of oppression behind bars has never failed to produce resistance by those most affected.
This most recent hunger strike was declared in response to the harsh conditions that prisoners in Administrative Segregation Units are facing. Prisoners are given food without plates or bowls and they’re not given any cups to drink water from thus being forced to eat from plastic bags and drink from old milk cartons. Mail is withheld from prisoners for months without any explanation. The prison refuses to provide them with basic rehabilitation programs or even cleaning supplies for their cells.
Prisoners have reached out to multiple people and have received no response or help for the conditions that they are forced to live with on a day to day basis. They have even reached out to the public information officer at the prison, but no action was taken and it is highly unlikely that any prison official will take action in the future. After constantly struggling to obtain basic human necessities and being ignored, a hunger
strike is the last resort to let their voices be heard and to be provided with basic necessities.
Although this strike has just begun, there has been no media attention leading up to the strike and there most likely will not be any mainstream media attention. Attention to the strike would cause recognition and sympathy for the strikers. Media attention would also cause a problem for the prison guards who are in part responsible for the poor conditions seen behind bars. We must stand in solidarity with the hunger strikers at Folsom State Prison and make sure that their voices are heard so that they can live in dignity.
The reality of the system of mass incarceration that we live in is that prisons act as modern day concentration camps that collect members of the working class who have been deemed “excess” and then criminalized by “law and order,” “lock’em up and throw away the key” policies. In the midst of this oppression, we must resist and organize so that we can fight back. Prisoners are a crucial part of this fight and we can never forget the members of our class that are locked up. The struggle will continue until the criminalization of the working class ends and the real criminals, the 1 percent, face true justice.
Call In Campaign
The following are officials to contact:
- Chief Deputy Inspector General – Roy Wesley – (916) 255-1102
- Ombudsman Sara L. Smith (the person who is supposed to check on welfare, investigate complaints, etc.) – (916) 324-5458 // [email protected]
- Secretary Scott Kernan – [email protected]
- Undersecretary Ralph M. Diaz – [email protected]
- Governor Jerry Brown – (916) 445-2481
- Chief Office of the Ombudsman – Sara Malone – [email protected]
- Public Information Office of Folsom – Jack Huey – (916) 985-2561 // [email protected]
- Folsom Warden – Ron Rackley – [email protected]
In addition, you can call the prison itself at (916) 985-2561.
To get someone on the line, press #1 for English, then #3 for administrative services, and #1 for the P.I.O (public info).
Sent to a secretary or voicemail? Leave a message.
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“Hello, my name is ____________and I’m a resident of California. I am calling in support of the hunger strike that is beginning today at Folsom State Prison. I am deeply concerned about the inhumane conditions of confinement that have brought this on, and strongly urge you to act upon the prisoners’ demands, which are reasonable and amount to basic human rights.”*
*If you are calling the prison or a prison official, you can also urge them to not retaliate against the hunger strikers.
You can reach the support crew at folsomhungerstrikesupport@
