[Pnews] Message from Pelican Bay Reps to UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Méndez
Prisoner News
ppnews at freedomarchives.org
Mon Oct 21 15:53:08 EDT 2013
October 18, 2013
We, the four principal representatives of the prisoners confined in the
Security Housing Unit (SHU) at Pelican Bay State Prison, hereby welcome
Juan Mendez to California. We have followed your work and advocacy
against torture throughout the world and congratulate you on your
commitment and success in bringing your findings to the public's attention.
We recently suspended our hunger strike against torture in the form of
prolonged solitary confinement in California's prisons after 60 days.
Over 30,000 prisoners joined us in the largest protest ever against
prison conditions in the United States and possibly the world.
We decided to suspend our hunger strike for several reasons: (1) We
succeeded in making the issue of torture in California's prisons into an
issue of worldwide public and media attention. The New York Times,
Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Al Jazeera, and the BBC are
just a few of the media outlets that covered our cause, with many
running editorials in our support. Thousands of people joined
demonstrations, signed petitions and letters, and spoke out in our
favor. (2) State Senator Loni Hancock and Assemblyman Tom Ammiano
promised to hold legislative hearings to address solitary confinement,
the conditions of imprisonment, and sentencing policy in California and
to introduce legislation for reform. They have already held one hearing
on October 9, in a room filled with our supporters, and heard from
experts, former prisoners, and family members who spoke of the torture
we endure and demanded change. (3) CDCR officials promised to meet with
us to discuss our concerns, and we have already spent hours in talks
with them.
But nothing has changed. Over 3500 prisoners remain isolated in
California's SHUs with almost no human interaction, little opportunity
to exercise or even see the sun, and forbidden from contact visits or
telephone calls with their families. They join thousands of others who
are held in different forms of solitary confinement throughout the
system. Prisoners are revalidated for indefinite terms on the basis of
unconfirmed rumors, anonymous misinformation from debriefers and
informants, and possession of criminalized books, articles, and art
work. The only sure way out is to debrief and expose yourself to shame,
further exploitation by prison officials, condemnation and violence.
Mr. Mendez, we ask that you join in our struggle. We would like you to
testify at one of the upcoming Legislative hearings. We would like you
to consider becoming an expert witness in our lawsuit. As a former
prisoner yourself, we would like you to do your best to bring both our
conditions and our human rights movement to the attention of the
international community, with intention to take resolute action against
the torture we, along with many other prisoners in California and
elsewhere have endured for far too long. We look forward to meeting you.
With Respect and in Solidarity,
Todd Ashker
Arturo Castellanos
Antonio Guillen
Sitawa Nantambu Jamaa
http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/
--
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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