Hungerstrike in Corcoran 3C Against Indefinite Lockdown and Group Punishment

Since January 9, 2019 an estimated 250 prisoners are on hungerstrike within California State Prison – Corcoran’s 3C facility in response to an indefinite lockdown. They have asked that this info be made public and that their demands be heard.

BACKGROUND

They and another unit within 3C have been on “modified program” for a three and a half months. Here this essentially means a “lockdown” in all meaningful aspects – no visitation, no canteen, no packages, no educational, rehab or vocational programming, and little yard time. The pretext for this indefinite lockdown by CDCr of hundreds of prisoners for months on end is an altercation on Sept 28th which saw three prisoners from their unit attacked and put into the infirmary. Group punishments and indefinite isolation are standard practices by CDCr and must stop. These practices only escalate trauma and conflict, and ultimately only promote violence and destabilization within facilities. This effects are not an accident or “regrettable by-products”. This is how CDCr interprets its mission: control by brutalization and division.

Representatives of the unit have composed and relayed their demands to the outside as follows:

“Corcoran State Prison (3C YRD)

6 Core Demands Are As Follows:

1. Lift Lock-Down.
2. Allow Visits.
3. Allow Us To Attend Educational Vocational & Rehabilitation Programs That We’re Enrolled In
4. Allow us to Receive Commissary & Packages
5. That We Be Given Our Weekly 10 hrs Mandated Of Outdoor Exercise Yard
6. That We Are Treated Fairly

***WE’VE BEEN ON THIS PEACEFUL HUNGER STRIKE SINCE JANUARY 9TH, 2019 AND HAVE YET TO SEE CHANGE…
WE WILL CONTINUE THIS HUNGER STRIKE UNTIL OUR VOICES ARE HEARD.”

PHONEZAP THIS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, 1/23-24

The hungerstrike representatives have requested phonecalls be made to both the warden and headquarters in Sacramento to amplify the demands. Put aside some time this Wednesday and Thursday, 1/23-24, to make some calls!

SAMPLE SCRIPT and PHONE NUMBERS

“Hello, my name is ***_________. I’m calling to insist that you meet the demands of hunger strikers in Facility 3C at Corcoran State Prison. I understand that this strike is the result of at least three months of an effective lockdown which must end. I demand that you lift the lock-down, and reinstate visits, educational, vocational, and rehabilitative programs, as well as yard time. Reinstate access to commissary, packages, and their allotted 10 hrs of yard time. This is the MINIMUM level of fairness that you are required to provide to people in your care. Thank you.”

PHONE NUMBERS

1) Corcoran State Prison (COR) Warden Ken Clark (559) 992-8800 ext.5000

2) CDCr Division of Adult Institutions – (916) 445-7688

Don’t worry about staff or representatives giving you the runaround or denying that anything is happening at Corcoran. Denial and obstruction are standard operating procedure for them.

Please reportback in comments right here!

*** You aren’t obligated to give your name if you don’t wish.