National Day of Action to Support Prison Hunger Strikers!
July 12, 2013 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
30,000 people held in horrible conditions in U.S. prisons have gone on hunger strike to say NO MORE to torture. These prisoners have put their health and lives on the line to assert their humanity and call for an end to long-term solitary confinement and other abuses. We must respond to their heroic stand by finding our own humanity and standing with them in this fight for justice.
As part of doing this, the Stop Mass Incarceration Network (SMIN) is calling for a Day of National Action in Solidarity With the Prisoner Hunger Strike on Friday, July 19—day 12 of the hunger strike. On July 19, people and organizations everywhere need to take to the streets, hold speakouts and rallies, sign banners and statements, hold public programs, organize massive outreach on social media—in every way possible manifest their support for the people in prison who have put their lives on the line to end torture in prison.
Look at the horrors tens of thousands of people in long-term solitary confinement are forced to endure:
- Held in small, windowless and sometimes soundproof cells for 22 and more hours every day;
- Placed in solitary arbitrarily with no channels to challenge the decision to put them there;
- Denied human contact for weeks, months, and even years at a time;
- Held in these conditions indefinitely!
These conditions fit the international definition of torture, and they have been shown to drive people insane. Yet U.S. authorities arrogantly reject calls to limit long-term solitary confinement to no more than 15 days. This is unacceptable, and it must be stopped. Everyone with an ounce of justice in their hearts needs to support the struggle to stop it!
July 19 is the day to take a big leap in this effort, and we must begin right now to build momentum for powerful outpourings on this day. Spread this call to act everywhere—post it on Facebook, tweet about it, distribute flyers about it and more. Plan demonstrations and other forms of activity in your city, neighborhood, church group, organization, etc.
People in prison have put their lives on the line to stop the outrageous treatment being enforced on them. They have issued a call to cease racial hostility inside the prisons and outside as well in order to forge broad unity in this fight for justice. We must respond to their call and mobilize powerful actions in support of their righteous fight to stop torture—July 19 must be a day when that support is made manifest. Take to the streets and act in other ways to say NO MORE to torture and abuse in prison.
Contact the Stop Mass Incarceration Network at [email protected] or 347-979-SMIN (7646). More information at their website: stopmassincarceration.net
by 
Hunger Striker's Blog
U.S. Faster in Solidarity w/Gitmo & Pelican Bay Prisoners
Foreground: EMT prepares the tool for the nasal intubation. Background: U.S. Embassy, Buenos Aires, Argentina Middleground:...agony awaits.
The feeding demo is extremely painful, yet it is done with consent. The long-term solidarity fast continues with nasogastric nourishment in front of U.S. governmental symbols of power. The twice-daily force-feeding of Gitmo hunger strikers is nonconsensual and therefore real torture by the standards sponsored by U.S. taxpayers and authorized by members of Congress who just raised the debt ceiling to nearly $17 trillion. President Obama's actions continue to belie his empty words "Close Guantánamo." As Commander-in-Chief, he could easily order an end to what the Pentagon refuses to call "forced-feeding." The force-feeding is premeditated relentless forced penetration of plastic into their innermost sacred cavities !
Andrés Thomas Conteris - fasted on water and coconut water with vitamin and electrolyte supplements. Solidarity fast began July 8, 2013 with 30,000 hunger striking California prisoners urging fulfillment of 5 Core Demands of the Pelican Bay supermax prisoners. Force-feeding protests began Sept. 6 & Sept. 25 in front of the White House & later in front of the Oakland Office of CA Dept of Corrections and Rehab (CDCR) to depict how prisoners in Guantánamo are tortured with force-feeding twice-daily and how CA prisoners as future hunger strikers have been threatened with a court order authorizing force-feeding. On Oct 4 and Oct 8 he was tube-fed in front of the U.S. Embassies in Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina. On Oct 15 a similar protest took place in Santiago, Chile. On Friday, Oct 18 the feeding protest returns to Washington, DC outside a Federal Court hearing on the lawsuit challenging force-feeding in Guantánamo. He is now on a maintenance fast losing about 1 pound per week, unlike the 5 pounds/week the first 11 weeks. In January 2014 with the anniversary of Guantánamo on Jan. 11, the force feeding protests will recommence. Please spread the word.
U.S. Hunger Strikers who have suspended their fast
Diane Wilson - Water only 58 days (lost 48 lbs). Diane, co-founder of CodePink and member of Veterans for Peace, suspended her hunger strike on June 27, 2013 after detention following her arrest for scaling the White House fence the day before. She faced a jury trial in DC District Court on Sept. 5th, 2013.
S. Brian Willson - Suspended Hunger Strike on June 10, 2013 after 31 days on 300cal/day, when a car accidentally hit him. Supporters continue a vigil with a rolling fast, in Portland, OR.
Elliott Adams - Went 80 days on 300 cal/day from May 18, to August 4, 2013 losing 45 lbs. He is past President of Veterans for Peace.
Tarak Kauff - Ended fast on August 4, 2013 after 58 days on 300 cal/day since June 7. He lost 29 lbs. On Board of Directors for Veterans for Peace.
Cynthia Papermaster - After 84 days on 300 cal/day, Cynthia suspended her hunger strike on Sep. 6 which began June 15, 2013. Code Pink member, lost 35 lbs. The transfer of two Algerian prisoners on Aug. 29, 2013, inspired her to suspend her fast.
Collaborative of CloseGitmo.net Organizations
- Campaign for Alternatives to
- Meta Peace Team: "Pursuing peace
- Metta Center for Nonviolence
- NRCAT
Daily Updates
- Articles: GTMO Clock Marks 250 Days Since President Obama's Promise to Resume Releasing Prisoners from Guantánamo; 77 Cleared Men Still Held January 30, 2014
- Articles: Guantánamo: Where Being Cleared for Release Means Nothing January 26, 2014
- Articles: Video: Washington D.C. Protest on the 12th Anniversary of the Opening of Guantánamo January 16, 2014
