6,000 back on hunger strike, a friendship is the first casualty

I'll say straight out...  Yes, Bryan is back on hunger strike. More on that in a bit

Two days ago I got a nice card from Bryan written on 9-15-11 in which he expresses deep appreciation for our friendship.  He also was devastated by the fact that CDCR had moved one of  his closest friends to another area.  This man has been in the same area as Bryan for almost 15 years.  This is part of a stated CDCR policy to break the hunger strikers, they randomly reassign men to different cells in an effort to tear apart support structures between friends.  Make them go it alone, crush their wills.

Imagine if your best friend, brother/sister or even spouse was whisked away in the middle of the night, and you could never speak to them again.  Now imagine that you are in solitary confinement, where the likelihood of building another trusting friendship in this world of misery and pain is slim.

How did these two men become friends?  It was nearly impossible.  As seen in the picture above (click on it to enlarge), each pod or area contains 8 cells with the guards monitoring the area sitting in a control area.  At exercise time a button is pushed and Bryan's door opens automatically.  He then walks through the pod area (picture on the right) into the exercise area, know as the dog run, which you can see in the picture on the left.  Inside this bare, concrete box, there is a steel door, welded shut, that connects to another dog run for the neighboring pod.  If you bend very low or crane your head to place your ear upon the door, you can hear and talk to the man in the next exercise area.  Sometimes you never even know what they look like. That is how he and his friend met. 

They exercised together, calling out a set of calisthenics, going individually to do the sets, then coming back to the door to decide on the next exercise.  Two guys working out together, what could be normal than that?  In prison, even in solitary confinement, friendship finds a way.

 Bryan and his friend learned Spanish together (I don't know who taught who) and supported each other though trials related to prison, family, heartache, and just trying to stay sane for another day.  For 15 years, this friendship was a great comfort to both. 

This is a minuscule  example of how ugly this hunger strike is going to be.  CDCR is going to be relentless in crushing this peaceful protest for basic human rights.  In the press release below, issued by www.prisonerhugnerstikesolidarity.wordpress.com, you can read about how horrible this battle is going to be.  CDCR is going for the jugular.  Expect death....many deaths.

Bryan knows all of this and still remains committed to the fact that this hunger strike is the only way, the very last attempt prisoners can make to draw attention to the horrible, inhumane conditions of life in solitary confinement.  He has been there for 16 years, he has nothing to lose but his life, and it is going to take a "body count" to get the public and government officials to put the extreme pressure required upon CDCR to force them to change the torturous conditions of the SHU.  

It is very clear to me that only when the bodies of hunger strikers start to pile up will CDCR even think about changing things. During the last 20 day hunger strike, Bryan lost 29 pounds, and due to seizures and heart arrhythmia, nearly died during a 5 day hospital stay in Crescent City. 

These men are committed, determined, strong of will and thoughtful as they begin this hunger strike, but they will be forced to go the distance.  Bryan is willing to lay down his life so that others will never know the torturous conditions he has lived with for 16 hears.  I know in my heart that it will probably come to that. 

*****

For Immediate Release – September 28, 2011

6,000 California Prisoners Resume Hunger Strike

CDCR Threatens Disciplinary Action

Press Contact: Isaac Ontiveros

Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity

Office:  510 444 0484
Cell:   510 517 6612 

California – Lawyers and mediators received confirmation from a reliable source today estimating that 6,000 prisoners statewide are taking part in a second wave of a massive hunger strike against inhumane conditions in California Secure Housing and Administrative Segregation (Ad-Seg) Units. While California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has not yet disclosed which prisons are participating, family members have confirmed that up to 1,000 prisoners in both the Calipatria State Prison general population and Ad-Seg units as well as prisoners at CCI Tehachapi, CSP Centinela and West Valley Detention Center are refusing food. “The CDCR is very tight-lipped about the numbers of prisoners known to be on hunger strike,” says Molly Porzig, a member of the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition, “During the July strike, it took persistence by journalists to get accurate figures on how many people and in which prisons. We assume the same will be true of this strike.”

The prisoners are refusing food to protest what have been characterized by human rights groups as torturous conditions in California’s Securing Housing Units (SHUs) at Pelican Bay, CCI Tehachapi, CSP Corcoran and Valley State Prison for Women. Prisoners continue to rally around 5 demands, originating at Pelican Bay, which include an end to the practice of long term solitary confinement as well as the policies of gang validation and debriefing. A prisoner at CCI Tehachapi recently described the conditions and reasons for striking: “The only clothing we are given in here are socks, boxers and a t-shirt. To be honest they’re filthy. Now just imagine being locked in that bathroom for 24 hrs, 7 days a week, year after year after year for no legitimate reason. We have only been allowed to have fresh air for four hours in the past eight months.” 

In a September 27 memo signed by Deputy Director Scott Kernan, the CDCR has threatened disciplinary action against any prisoners taking part in the strike as well as placement in Ad-Seg and the removal of canteen items. The CDCR recently stated that it had sufficiently addressed the prisoners’ demands and that any future hunger strikes would not be treated in the same fashion as the July strike, which lasted for nearly four weeks.  The prisoners maintain that while they have received some privileges such as sweat pants, colored pencils and proctored exams, the CDCR has yet to move on the demands related to solitary confinement and gang validation. “Though promises were made at the end of the last hunger strike, and some progress has been made, it is painfully slow for people who have lived under conditions of torture for years, and often decades in California’s prison system,” says Laura Magnani, a member of the prisoners’ mediation team and a representative of the American Friends Service Committee. “While the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation tries to paint the prisoners as nothing more than ‘dangerous gang members,’ we see this strike as a courageous effort to work across all cultural and ethnic divisions through time honored non-violent actions.”

Many of the prisoners have stated that they intend to continue their hunger strike until all of their demands are met, despite the possibility that they might suffer serious health consequences. Reports from the July hunger strike indicated that many of the strikers lost 20-30 pounds and experienced dizziness, fainting and heart arrhythmia. 

For more information and continued updates, please visit:  www.prisonerhugnerstikesolidarity.wordpress.com.
 ###

Bryan's 9-12-11 letter reflecting on the past and upcoming hunger strikes

Dear Julie,                                                                               Mon. 9-12-11

Hello my friend it’s me again.  As always I send you my utmost love and respect and hope that these words find you well and strong.  This will be rather brief because I’m unfortunately in scramble mode.  Not sure with your recent job hunt if you’ve had time to stay informed of the recent events or not.  In brief, CPF came back up and did a round of interviews and took stock of what everyone thought of CDC's concessions as far as the small property gains and more importantly the proposed step-down program.

The only complaints on the property have been that the prison never notified the vendors about the sweats and therefore they won't process the orders and that CDC has put the one year clean restriction on the photo and art supplies.  You and I both know and understand that CDC was going to use these concessions as behavior based incentives.  The majority view these items like canteen, as things we have coming period.  I personally view it all as small in the overall picture.

As for the step-down program we here in my area viewed it as a very positive step forward that it was even being worked on in a serious way.  I immediately voiced our opposition to the length and the "catch" excluding certain prisoners even if they complete it...us.  Well, it's been voiced that the way the entire program has been drafted that its viewed not as a way to get out of the SHU but an actual escalation of locking guys (more guys) up into this new four year program because it vastly broadens the scope in which they can label people.  Therefore, it has been roundly rejected and many men have decided to go back on strike as of the 26th this month.

Undersecretary Kernan kept his word on most of the material gains to improve our conditions but we are STILL here with NO end in sight.  It would be ludicrous to give up our fight of freeing ourselves of these conditions for a few material gains.  What you and I initially viewed as getting sold out during the stoppage of the strike was indeed an honest good faith effort to work with the Undersecretary and Tom Ammiano... regardless of the fact that it was clearly a tactical error and regardless of how a few may have conducted themselves during the strike.  I'm told the new strike will have zero mediation with CDC (Kernan) and will only be mediated through the chosen mediation team on the streets directly with the governor's office.  All have been warned that this will be a long protracted strike that will inevitably lead to great risk due to the lack of mediation this time around.  I have great fear in the pit of my stomach because I know all too well the
misery that is about to be confronted by those who choose the path.  Starvation does not lie and I've stressed that to all of those within hearing distance.

You know my stepmother and Pops were supposed to send me a package.  It still has not shown up.  Not sure what is going on but can you do me a favor and call them and tell them not to send it if they have yet to do it as you get this?  I will send them a postcard as well.  I do not want to receive a package at such a time of uncertainty.  I’m also including a postcard for you so you can let me know you received this.  I fear I may be too late on the package...hope I don’t end up having to return it.

I’ve received everything you’ve sent except the 9-5 short letter with 4 cards.  And to answer your question, I did write Fritz back along with all who are kind enough to write. THANK YOU SO MUCH for the two cut-out groups of flowers and short 9-3 letter.  :-)  You’re crazy !  Glad to hear your guy is out of the hospital as well.  And THANK YOU for sending the visiting forms to Pops and Debbie.

I know this is short and not very personal but you will have to forgive me, my friend.  I send you all of my love Julie.  You take care up there in the big city.  November is going to be interesting to say the least.

Love always,
Bryan

Later.... Just received the 5 cards and short letter along with the great picture of the crows.  Thank you!  :-)  Also, as far as being an honest friend, you know I’d never make you cry. So don’t worry, I know how to relay the message of one’s being a jackass without hurting their feelings!  :-)

Samples of Bryan's Artwork

I got a letter from Bryan today, he is doing well...I will post an update here soon to include more information, but for now here are a few samples of Bryan's art.

SHU Inmates are not allowed colored pens, art paper or any other types of art supplies.  They only are allowed to purchase the flexible refill part of an ink pen.  Bryan has to roll up a piece of paper into a little tube and insert the pen refill into it so it is firm enough to write and draw with.  These pieces are done on regular paper with an ink pen.

Click on the picture for a full screen view

 

Mexican Singer V. Villareal

 Bryan's friend Tommy - bass fishing

Celtic Woman