Pelican Bay Inmates End Hunger Strike; Prisoners at Other Jails Still Refuse to Eat

By Erin Sherbert Thu., Oct. 13 2011 at 4:40 PM

Would you like extra cheese on those burgers?

After nearly three weeks of refusing food, inmates at Pelican Bay have ended their hunger strike, however, inmates at Calipatria and Salinas Valley prisons are reportedly still on strike.

Both the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity and officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation issued a memo to the press announcing the hunger strike at Pelican Bay had been called off. Inmates started eating again after the CDCR said it would meet prisoners' demands, including continue a reviewing its conditions for prisoners in solitary confinement and its policies of gang validation.

"This is something the prisoners have been asking for and it is the first significant step we've seen from the CDCR to address the hunger strikers' demands," says Carol Strickman, a lawyer with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, "But as you know, the proof is in the pudding. We'll see if the CDCR keeps its word regarding to this new process."
Inmates went on strike on Sept. 26, claiming the CDCR had not substantially met their earlier demands to improve prison conditions and revamp its policies for validating gang members in prison. The strike started out large, with more than 4,000 inmates in eight state prisons refusing to eat state-issued meals. However, the number steadily dropped and as of today only 580 inmates in three state prisons were still on hunger strike, according to the CDCR.

Inmates, who went on a hunger strike for 20 days in July, issued a statement via its mediation team, which met with CDCR officials this week.

"People would rather die than continue living under their current conditions. ...It is a privilege, an honor to be a part of the struggle, to be a part of history for the betterment of all those inside these cement walls...I will go as far as my body allows me to go."

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Tags:

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Calipatria, CDCR, inmate hunger strike, Pelican Bay, Salinas Valley

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bigriggs

Who cares about the hunger strikes?

CONVICT

Well, well,well so called bigriggs, it should be peanut brain if you knew enything about doing time in the SHU or if you had someone in your family doing time in the SHU you would'nt be saying who cares,i would be willing to put some money on this if it were so, but again what do you know right, not a DAM THING that what is wrong with all you native and uneducated people that do not educate yourselfs and look into where and how our TAXES are being used. And i bet you would'nt or should i say you could'nt last 1 hr in the SHU before you broke it down and start crying for the gruards to let you out of the cell, we CONVICTS would make you into a house mouse and you would be our little bitch and you would like it no matter what and when it was time for you to parole and send your family the form for dress outs they would send you a SKIRT to parole in so now you are a TRANSFORMER welcome to our WORLD . .................. Someone that has been there done that and knows what time it is................... yours truely.....CONVICT

Danielzvenia

to convict right on my brother. these free world types are super soft. I cleaned up a 16 year stint doing about 10 on it. nobody understands who has not been inside. I have zero respect for these know it all types. they need a dose of reality. via a asskicking chain gang style. D.M.Z

Frogslady4life

Convict- I cant agree with you more, I have a my exboyfriend/best friend in the SHU in PB and this cat Bigriggs wouldnt last an hr in the SHU sorry but knowing everything my friend (EX) has been through in his time in PB, he is a strong ASS man... n I luv him with all my heart and soul and miss every day... and I know the SHU is a joke does no one any good and it should be band all around...

Frogslady4life

AJ Honeylake

I know what it's like to do time in the SHU. I've worked in it for the last 5 years. Have yet to meet a single guy in there who hasn't at least committed his fair share of stabbings and slicings on the yard. The SHU is for inmates who have already been to AdSeg ("the hole") multiple times and failed to get it even there. Solitary confinement is not torture when we can't keep you anywhere else without the risk that you might kill whomever we put you with, even your own relatives.

bigriggs

You are correct, I have no idea what's it like to do time in the shu. I'm not a criminal. If I had a family member that did something so egregious to land in the shu, they would never be in my life again. I don't associate with nor have any sympathy for these criminals. I really could care less how they are treated, they deserve it. Plus, I could really not give two shits about your opinion. You are entitled to an opinion and you may call me names all you want and wish bodily harm on me but that does not change the fact that I don't care one iota about a hunger strike in a prison.

You are probably right, I wouldn't last very long caged away with all the animals. As I stated before, I am not or ever will be a criminal so I guess I need not worry about that.

Have a nice day.

D.M.Z

you know what I respect your opnion. God bless and dont ever break the law. you seem like the type that wouldent, but we all thought that about jerry sandusky.

bigriggs

Actually, no, it's not. Believe it or not, there are still people in this world that respect and follow laws. It's really not that hard a thing to do. Outside of a few speeding tickets in my 20's I have never broken a law and never will.

Danielzvenia

bigriggs you are an idiot. Prey you never land inside. its easier than you think 2 get their. D.M.Z

Frogslady4life

Bigriggs

you know id watch what you say because karma has a way to come around and bit you on the ass, you say that you'd never end up in prison well no one ever thinks they will end up there shit happens and at least some are willing to the time for their crimes...

Now dont get it twisted the ones who rape childern and woman need to be put down as well as those who kill innocent childern and woman...

But the ones who just made a bad choices in life, shouldnt be treated bad and they doing the time with a grain a salt and they dont complain because they know they have done wrong in life...

We can never say not me not me cause you never know when the twist of faith will hit you straight on...

just a thought.....

Sorry but Humans treat Animals far worse and i bit you are one of those people who beat animals and do nasty things to them hmmm maybe KARMA will get you faster then you think.....

just my thoughts