Riverside, CA: Hunger Strike in County Jails begins April 13, 2017

Prisoners in a county level facility yet again take the initiative and organize to press their demands. And in every facility we find demands that are nearly identical, not due to some coordination or conspiracy, but due to the systemic and near uniform disregard for basic living conditions across the state.

CORE DEMANDS

Adequate clothing and food. An end to commissary profiteering by vendors. Behavior based solitary as opposed to arbitrary and indefinite solitary. Educational, self-help and religious programs.

From the Riverside organizers inside:

The following is in regards to a peaceful protest in the form of an organized hunger strike in the Riverside County Jails.  Said hunger strike will begin at breakfast April 13, 2017 and end at breakfast May 1, 2017 a total of 17 days.

First off, allow us to stress the fact that by no means is this to be considered an attempt to promote or benefit any form of gang, nor is this to be considered gang activity. This is a peaceful request/call for action to all, regardless of race, creed, and classification. This pertains to all prisoners held in Riverside County Jails. We all serve to benefit from any success that may transpire as a result of our collective efforts.

With this in mind we are now reaching out to all like-minded prisoners who are willing and interested in banding together in a united stance of solidarity in order to bring about meaningful forms of change. We respectfully ask anybody that is not taking part in the strike to respect our efforts and show other forms of support by not accepting extra county food. We all have a stake and common interest. In preparation we encourage you to inform and involve your friends and family, have them show their support by calling the jail during our hunger strike to voice their concerns, ask that they get our message out to social media and traditional media and by reaching out to prisoners support organizations to help further push and inspire our efforts.

For their full statement and demands: https://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/hunger-strike-in-riverside-county-jails-begins-april-13-2017/