Pelican Bay Emergency Alert! Take action to help prisoners now!

Pelican Bay Emergency Alert! Take action to help prisoners now!

On July 8, 2013 30,000 prisoners refused to eat as a nonviolent protest with 5 core demands. Hundreds of media outlets have been covering this historic event.

The California Department of Corrections and ‘Rehabilitation’ (CDCr) began to retaliate against the vocal spokespeople for the hunger strikers, in Pelican Bay and Corcoran State Prisons.  Our Pledge of Resistance Alert today will focus on the extreme brutality of prison authorities against the Representatives of the hunger strikers in Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, California.

The CDCr is also trying to undermine legal and community support of the hunger strikers. They have just issued ‘banning’ orders to Marilyn McMahon, an attorney for many of the Reps in Pelican Bay, denying her access to her clients.

Please be determined and polite in trying to send your phone and email messages. Whether you get a voice or a voice mail, they will know you are watching them, and want them to Stop the Torture.

RETALIATION AGAINST PELICAN BAY PRISONER REPRESENTATIVES:
On July 11, PBSP prison authorities removed 14 prisoner Representatives from their solitary confinement (SHU) cells and placed them in Administrative Segregation (Ad Seg) cells which are even worse than the SHU. The hunger strikers, many of whom are elder men and have severe chronic illnesses, are dressed in summer clothing, but the CDC has turned on air conditioning full blast, leaving some of the men sick and freezing.

Meanwhile, the prison officials have raided their SHU cells and confiscated their legal materials, including attorney-client protected documents pertaining to their highly publicized federal class action lawsuit against the state of California (Ruiz v. Brown).

RESPONSE OF THE HUNGER STRIKE REPRESENTATIVES:
“On July 11, 2013, we were placed in Administrative Segregation (Ad-Seg), where we
are subjected to more tortuous conditions than in the SHU. Despite this diabolical act on the part of CDCR intended to break our resolve and hasten our deaths, we remain strong and united!  We are 100% committed to our cause and will end our peaceful action when the CDCR signs a legally binding agreement meeting our demands.”

NON-ACTION OF GOVERNOR BROWN
Governor Brown has been completely silent on the hunger strike while it has gained international news attention.  He is now taking a vacation in Europe, visiting, among other places, Dachau concentration camp in Germany, and promoting California’s environmental advancements to selected European audiences.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP STOP THE TORTURE:
Tell the PBSP prison authorities to return the 14 prisoner Representatives to their cells. (Their names and prison numbers are at the end of this email.)
Return all their property, especially the legal documents guards have confiscated.
Lift the ban on their attorney, Marilyn McMahon, so that she can again access her clients.
Medically monitor the men to ensure that the prison has not destroyed their health!

1. Contact Pelican Bay Warden Gregory Lewis:
*** phone:       707-465-1000 x5001
*** email:              [email protected]

2. Copy to Dr. Jeffrey Beard, Secretary of CDCR
*** phone:      916-323-6001 (alternatively 916-445-5073)
*** fax:                916-442-2637
*** letter:     Dr. Jeffrey Beard, Secretary CDCR, 1515 S Street, 5th Floor;
Sacramento, California 94283

3. Copy to Assistant Warden at Pelican Bay, Rawland Swift
*** phone:      465-1000  x6254
*** email:              [email protected]

4. Back up:  Public Information Officer at PBSP Christopher Acosta
*** office phone:       707-465-9040
*** cell phone:         707-951-0350

THE 14 PRISONER REPRESENTATIVES:
1. Todd Ashker  C58191                  2. Arturo Castellanos      C17275
3. Sitawa/ R.N Dewberry   C35671                4. Antonio Guillen              P81948
5. Danny Troxell        B76578                  6. George Franco                D46556
7. Ronnie Yandell       V27927                  8. Paul Redd, Jr.               B72683
9. James Baridi Williamson  D34288      10. Alfred Sandoval             D61000
11. Louis Powell        B59864                  12. Alex Yrigollen              H32421
13. Gabriel Huerta      C80766                  14. Frank Clement               D07919

Please write to the Reps.*  Include one sheet of paper, one envelope and one
loose stamp so they can write someone outside the walls.
You can address your letter with the person’s name & prison number;  Pelican Bay State Prison/SHU;
PO Box 7500.  Crescent City, 95532.

*Mr. Arturo Castellanos may not be able to receive your letter. He’s on ‘restricted mail,’ by the prison authorities.

Thank you so much for your solidarity,
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition: Pledge of Resistance work group
(for more info, www.prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com)

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