Day 47: Calif. Prisoner on Hunger Strike Speaks Out [View all]

[annm4peace]

Days after a federal judge approved the force-feeding of hunger-striking California prisoners protesting long-term solitary confinement, we air an exclusive audio recording of a prisoner who has not eaten since the protest began on July 8.

Todd Ashker, one of the authors of the call to hunger strike, has been held for years in the Secure Housing Unit at Pelican Bay Prison after he received a life sentence for killing an inmate in 1987.

We also hear from California Correctional Health Care Services spokesperson Joyce Hayhoe, questioned by Democracy Now!'s Renée Feltz.

And we're joined by Azadeh Zohrabi, a member of both the Prisoners Mediation Team and the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition, as well as a Soros Justice Fellow at Legal Services for Prisoners with Children.

Democracy Now!, is an independent global news hour that airs weekdays on 1,200+ TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch it live 8-9am ET at http://www.democracynow.org.

I have been posting day by day of the Hunger Strike. I have worked with ex-prisoners, and i have worked with survivors of crimes. I have worked with nurses who have worked at the prisons, and I was born and raised in Central Ca. Just like the Military Industrial Complex, the Prison Complex is about making money for a few. who profits and who pays. and who suffers.
Our prisons are inhumane, the food, the treatment, the structure is inhumane. These prisons create violence and mental illness.

http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/


These prisoners have been on a hunger strike for 47 days. Some for all those days and some have been off and on. 1 man has died already.. many are in the hospital and will have permantely damaged their organs by fasting.
And when I called the CA State Senators' offices who are part of the Public Safety Commitee about the force feeding, the hunger strike, and the inhumane treatment by the CDCR, not staff person could tell they were concerned, or have a comment. 5 are Democrats, and 2 Republicans. One is a member of ALEC. If anything the staffers leaned towards the propaganda put out by the CDCR.
I have also been calling Gov Brown's office.. more in the beginning and there was no comment from his office also.
I can't stomach calling his office anymore. It is shameful. Gov Brown used to say he was progressive, yet he supports the CDCR with their treatment of the prisoners, torturing them even further as they are on their hunger strike. And then it comes out that Gov Brown is working the the Corrections Corporation of America to take over some of the prisons.

I hope CA contact their State Senators and Assembly member and say Meet with the Prisoners and their Advocates and to stop using our tax dollars for torture and abuse of human rights.

if you click on the link below you can see the list but also if you live in CA you can put your zip code in the box and get the contact for your Senator and Assembly member.
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/51040/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11853

You might be surprised by your State Senators and Assembly members responses. I know I was.