Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCalifornia Inmate Dies In Solitary Confinement During Hunger Strike
California Inmate Dies In Solitary Confinement During Hunger Strike
By Aviva Shen
A man being held in solitary confinement has died at one of the California state prisons where thousands of inmates are refusing food to protest the practice of indefinite solitary confinement. Prison officials are insisting Billy Guero Sell was not part of the hunger strike when he died. Advocates and inmates, however, say that he was not only participating but had requested medical treatment for several days before his death.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation maintain that Sells death is being investigated as a suicide, unrelated to the hunger strike. Inmates rejected this explanation, saying a suicide would be completely out of character for him. According to a letter from hunger strikers, several men said, No one believes he killed himself.
The hunger strike began with 30,000 individuals on July 8 and has dwindled to about 1,000 participants in 11 prisons. Prison infirmaries have been swamped with fasting inmates in critical condition.
<...>
At Pelican Bay, Californias maximum security prison, many inmates are kept in solitary confinement for 10 to 28 years even though the psychological trauma of being locked in a windowless room for 23 hours a day begins to kick in after just ten days.. Officials often justify this living death, by using race or political reading materials as evidence the confined inmate may have a gang affiliation. Mentally ill prisoners also make up a substantial proportion of solitary cells in several states. In their third hunger strike since 2011, inmates are calling for an end to solitary confinement, a more humane review process for inmate punishment, as well as access to health care and education.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/07/28/2366641/california-inmate-dies-in-solitary-confinement-during-hunger-strike/
By Aviva Shen
A man being held in solitary confinement has died at one of the California state prisons where thousands of inmates are refusing food to protest the practice of indefinite solitary confinement. Prison officials are insisting Billy Guero Sell was not part of the hunger strike when he died. Advocates and inmates, however, say that he was not only participating but had requested medical treatment for several days before his death.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation maintain that Sells death is being investigated as a suicide, unrelated to the hunger strike. Inmates rejected this explanation, saying a suicide would be completely out of character for him. According to a letter from hunger strikers, several men said, No one believes he killed himself.
The hunger strike began with 30,000 individuals on July 8 and has dwindled to about 1,000 participants in 11 prisons. Prison infirmaries have been swamped with fasting inmates in critical condition.
<...>
At Pelican Bay, Californias maximum security prison, many inmates are kept in solitary confinement for 10 to 28 years even though the psychological trauma of being locked in a windowless room for 23 hours a day begins to kick in after just ten days.. Officials often justify this living death, by using race or political reading materials as evidence the confined inmate may have a gang affiliation. Mentally ill prisoners also make up a substantial proportion of solitary cells in several states. In their third hunger strike since 2011, inmates are calling for an end to solitary confinement, a more humane review process for inmate punishment, as well as access to health care and education.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/07/28/2366641/california-inmate-dies-in-solitary-confinement-during-hunger-strike/
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 896 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (6)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
California Inmate Dies In Solitary Confinement During Hunger Strike (Original Post)
ProSense
Jul 2013
OP
Now watch a lot of posts about our government torturing prisoners and why Snowden should not
kelliekat44
Jul 2013
#3
ProSense
(116,464 posts)1. Kick! n/t
ProSense
(116,464 posts)2. Another. n/t
kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)3. Now watch a lot of posts about our government torturing prisoners and why Snowden should not
come back to the US...even though this is a STATE PRISON...no Federal.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)4. No, this OP will be ignored because
of the reason I stated here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023345900#post79
davidn3600
(6,342 posts)5. Are you suggesting that federal prison is easy?
Snowden is facing 30+ years.