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Vol. 81/No. 24 June 19, 2017
Folsom prison hunger strike protests indignities, abuse
BY BETSEY STONE
FOLSOM, Calif. — More than 75 people rallied near the old Folsom State
Prison here June 4 to support prisoners who began a hunger strike in the
Administrative Segregation Unit May 25. The nine demands put forward by
the prisoners in Building 4 of the unit speak volumes about the
indignities they face.
Among their demands: “adequate access to the courts and legal
assistance”; “meaningful education, self-help courses and rehabilitative
programs”; adequate exercise equipment; keeping food they buy from the
commissary in proper packaging; “adequate and appropriate clothing and
shoes”; and provision of a “food bowl and cup.”
In a detailed written statement the prisoners say they are forced to eat
out of “recycled (‘washed’) trash bags, old ziplock bags and milk
cartons.” Even toothpaste and deodorant is given to them in plastic
bags. In addition, “prisoners are forced to walk around in their boxer
underwear and state-issued T-shirts, which are normally extremely used
and too large or too small,” the statement said.
The prisoners are also demanding to be allowed to have TVs in their
cells, and an end to the practice of requiring prisoners to inform on
fellow prisoners if they want to get out of the units.
Prison authorities retaliated by transferring Anthony Estrada, one of
the leaders of the strike, to a prison in Tracy. They gave him a “115”
write-up — accusing him of a serious disciplinary violation for
participating in a “mass disturbance.”
“After months of their demands being ignored, they decided to go on a
peaceful hunger strike to shed light on their horrendous living
conditions,” Raquel Estrada, Anthony Estrada’s wife, told the rally. She
is a hospital surgical aide and member of the Service Employees
International Union in Salinas.
“It’s important to be out here, for people inside to know we are
spreading the message,” said Abdullah Puckett, a participant in the
Underground Scholars Initiative, a University of California program for
students who have done jail time.
Members of the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition, which built
support for a 2013 strike of 30,000 California prisoners against
solitary confinement and other abuses, also spoke.
“The leaders of the hunger strikes in 2013 stood together for 60 days in
courageous action and succeeded in bringing 2,000 plus prisoners out of
solitary confinement,” said Attorney Anne Weills, about a suit brought
by prisoners at Pelican Bay State Prison, a stronghold of that strike.
The Administrative Segregation Units are more oppressive than the SHU
(Security Housing Units), the solitary confinement units the Pelican Bay
leaders were protesting against, Weills said.
Prison officials claim the hunger strike ended June 1, but family
members say nine inmates are still refusing food.
Supporters of improving prison conditions are urged to contact the
following officials to press them to agree to the prisoners’ demands:
Folsom Prison Warden Ron Rackley: (916) 985-2561 or
ronald.rackley@xxxxxxxxxxx; Chief Deputy Inspector General Roy Wesley:
(916) 255-1102; Ombudsman Sara L. Smith: (916) 324-5458 or
smith@xxxxxxxxxxx; and CDCR Secretary Scott Kernan:
scott.kernan@xxxxxxxxxxx.
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