Friday, July 15, 2011

Prison Hunger Strikers Weaken

Leaders of the Pelican Bay Hunger Strike have unanimously rejected a proposal from the California Department of Corrections and rehabilitation, which the prisoners say doesn’t meet their demands. The strike, with coordinated actions in five separate prisons, is now the largest in California’s history. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has confirmed that roughly 6600 prisoners across the state participated during the beginning of the strike. Several hundred are still refusing food as the strike enters its third week—some have been so weakened they need I.V. drips in order to stay hydrated. Brian Edwards-Tiekert has more.