Fridays: Pickets Continue at U.S. Consulate

When: 12pm – 1:30pm, August 5th (and every Friday until further notice)
Where: the United States Consulate at 1155 rue St-Alexandre (metro Place des Arts)

On July 1st, prisoners in the long-term isolation unit at Pelican Bay and 12 other prisons in California began an indefinite hunger strike to try to win some modest improvements to their conditions.

These men are held in their cells, alone, 22½-24 hours per day, they are served unsanitary and unwholesome food, punished collectively for the actions of individuals, and routinely - and without reason – denied access to programs and amenities which are considered standard in similar facilities in other states and at the federal level.

Solitary confinement has been shown to have serious effects of one’s physical and psychological health after even a small period of time – many of the California prisoners have spent decades enduring such conditions.

On July 20th, the strikers negotiating team at Pelican Bay accepted an offer from the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (CDCR), which included some modest immediate gains and a commitment to seriously review the other demands, calling an end to the hunger strike. However, as of the most recent information available, prisoners in at least one California prison, Corcoran State Prison, were still continuing the hunger strike.

Also, the strike leaders have called upon supporters outside prison to continue this fight and make sure that the CDCR follows through with implementing its offer. A state legislative hearing on the matter will be held in California on August 23rd. Join us for a picket to keep up the pressure for the strike’s 5 demands:

1. End Group Punishment & Administrative Abuse
2. Abolish the Debriefing Policy, and Modify Active/Inactive Gang Status Criteria
3. Comply with the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons 2006 Recommendations Regarding an End to Long-Term Solitary
4. Provide Adequate and Nutritious Food
5. Expand and Provide Constructive Programming and Privileges for Indefinite SHU Status Inmates.

To find out more, get in touch:
Web: contrelesprisons.blogspot.com
Email: montrealcontreprisons@gmail.com