We received this from the Stop Mass Incarceration Network:
Friday, July 19—National Day of Action to Support Prison Hunger Strikers!
Stop Prison Torture!
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 stopmassincarceration@gmail.com or 347-979-SMIN (7646). More information at their website: stopmassincarceration.net
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