California Prison Inmates Stage Hunger Strike
By: Brian Thompson
Updated: October 5, 2011
LOS ANGELES -- Thousands of California prison inmates are involved in a hunger strike demanding an end to what they've dubbed intolerable conditions.
The Golden State's Department of Corrections reports nearly 1,200 inmates at four prisons were taking part in the hunger strike on Tuesday. At one point the state says there were over 4,200 inmates at eight prisons taking part. A prisoner rights group begs to differ, claiming up to 12,000 inmates had participated at some point.
The hunger strike began in July when prisoners at the supermax Pelican Bay State Prison issued several demands ranging from an end to group punishments to better privileges for those confined to indefinite isolation. That strike ended when prison management promised some changes but started again in late September when prisoners said their concerns hadn't been addressed.
(Copyright 2011 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)
The Golden State's Department of Corrections reports nearly 1,200 inmates at four prisons were taking part in the hunger strike on Tuesday. At one point the state says there were over 4,200 inmates at eight prisons taking part. A prisoner rights group begs to differ, claiming up to 12,000 inmates had participated at some point.
The hunger strike began in July when prisoners at the supermax Pelican Bay State Prison issued several demands ranging from an end to group punishments to better privileges for those confined to indefinite isolation. That strike ended when prison management promised some changes but started again in late September when prisoners said their concerns hadn't been addressed.
(Copyright 2011 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)
