30,000 California prisoners banned together to tackle the torturous practice of long-term solitary confinement, who were they, and where are they today?

The first of three prisoner hunger strikes started on July 1, 2011, at Pelican Bay State Prison’s Security Housing Unit. A total of 6,500 prisoners on the third day gradually decreased until the end of the strike on July 20, 2011. It was a long 19 days focused on a review and change of policies around solitary confinement and management of prison gangs.

Two additional hunger strikes later in the year continued the cause for prison reform. Overall, more than 30,000 prisoners participated in one or more of the hunger strikes. It was the largest prisoner hunger strike in US history. These were organized hunger strikes initiated by prisoners passionate about the injustice of solitary confinement and other practices in prison.

There were five core demands of the prisoners, who included all races and various gangs. These demands were: eliminate group punishments; abolish the debriefing policy and modify active/inactive gang status criteria; Comply with the recommendations of the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in Prisons (2006) regarding an end to longterm solitary confinement; provide adequate and nutritious food; and expand and provide constructive programs and privileges for indefinite SHU inmates.

While there is still much work to be done with justice and equity in prison, these hunger strikes led to some lasting changes, particularly with transformative art programs. Here is a look at two hunger strike leaders and the role art has in their lives today.

See "10th Anniversary of Prisoner Hunger Strike: Where Organizers Are Now?"

https://ipsnews.net/business/2021/06/22/10th-anniversary-of-prisoner-hunger-strike-where-organizers-are-now/

my article about the work of Prison Yoga Project.https://socialistfactor.com/out-of-hell-and-beyond/

Hello!

My name is Katelin. I am a college student working on my senior capstone research project in Criminal Justice. I am asking for assistance in my research project by participating in a survey regarding the current inmate labor practices in the US. The survey is about the public perception and knowledge of inmate labor in the United States. This survey is for anyone who resides in the United States and is over the age of 18. I am also looking for those who were previously incarcerated. I would greatly appreciate your help by participating in the survey. The survey should take roughly 10-15 minutes. Thank you for your time!

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SUMMARY:

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July 1st, 2021, marks the 10-year anniversary of the first of three hunger strikes by California prisoners over the use of long-term solitary confinement. Each hunger strike led to more participation than the strike before, ultimately leading to the largest prisoner hunger strike in US history of more than 30,000 prisoners.

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PRESS RELEASE:

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Three prisoners offer their first-hand accounts of participating in hunger strikes that led to the largest prisoner hunger strike in U.S. history.

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California prisoner Donald "C-Note" Hooker who is serving a three strikes life sentence recalls very well his participation in three of the two hunger strikes. "I participated in the last two, as a general population (GP) prisoner at Corcoran and Lancaster. It wasn't easy to get general population buy-in because long-term solitary confinement was a Pelican Bay issue in the SHU [Security Housing Unit] not ours on the mainline. And the guards knew how to create a hostile environment for those participating."

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One of those prisoners who were retaliated against for organizing the second strike amongst the general population prisoners was former prisoner Min King X. King was freed in 2019 after serving 24-years. Six in the federal prison system before being transferred to California's worst prisons recalls very well his participation in all three hunger strikes. "I was in the hole at Corcoran when I participated in the first Hunger Strike. I was released from the hole and started organizing GP prisoners at Corcoran to prepare for a Second Hunger Strike. It wasn't an easy sell to general population prisoners who were by no means directly impacted by long-term solitary confinement. Next thing I know, I was on a bus to Pelican Bay's SHU for my organizing work at Corcoran."

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"When I look back at the historical hunger strike of July 2011, I think about the question that was on the minds of the California hunger strike representative body, 'Will the sacrifice by starvation lead to death for some?'," stated 70-year-old Lewis Powell. Powell was a principal strike organizer who spent decades in solitary confinement at Pelican Bay.

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"What was known for certain, the indefinite solitary confinement class was in desperate circumstances. Years and decades of sensory isolation had led to numerous deprivations with no relief. Parole was out of play, the California paroling Authority had never in it's long history ever found a single person suitable for parole while under solitary confinement. I was one of four representatives for the Black racial class. Each racial class had a team of four Representatives. I was selected to be the representative for having a social consciousness as well as foresight and understanding in the coming phenomena. Even with 12,000 hunger strikers at play, the hardline prisoncrats wouldn't negotiate under good faith. They really didn't have a clue about the hunger strike being well organized with contingency plans in place that would bring prison commerce to complete standstill by prisoners in the thousands refusing to eat."

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If you want to hear from these activists and their first-hand accounts regarding the largest prisoner hunger strike in US history, contact us.

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CONTACT:

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Company: Darealprisonart

Contact: Anna Smith

Phone: 1(408) 502-0102

Email: darealprizonart@gmail.com

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