For Immediate Release: August 18, 2011

Contact: Samantha Friedman, office: (202) 265-3000 or cell: (202) 215-9260 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The California state prison system has recently received significant press and public attention due to a three-week-long hunger strike by thousands of prison inmates protesting prison conditions, particularly the use of prolonged solitary confinement.  In response to ongoing issues raised regarding the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s use of solitary confinement, the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety has called a public hearing on the matter for 1:30-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 23.

Supporters of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture will join fellow opponents of prolonged solitary confinement at a rally outside the California State Capitol on Tuesday in advance of the hearing.  Additionally, NRCAT members will deliver to Gov. Jerry Brown’s office a packet of more than 600 endorsements by California residents of NRCAT’s statement calling for federal and state governments to end the use of prolonged solitary confinement.  In addition, copies of the packet will be sent to Secretary of Corrections and Rehabilitation Matthew Cate, and the members of the California State Legislature.

“All major religions recognize the inherent dignity of all human beings and their capacity for redemption,” said Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.  “Long-term solitary confinement desecrates a person’s inherent dignity and hinders genuine rehabilitation and redemption.  As people of faith, we have been deeply concerned about California prisoners’ recent hunger strikes to protest prison conditions.

“NRCAT is a national coalition of more than 300 religious organizations committed to ending torture, including torture in U.S. prisons.  One aspect of our work is to support people of faith in particular states in advocating for legislation that would limit the use of extreme isolation in their state prison systems.  NRCAT supports our local state partners in their work to educate the faith community about the use of prolonged solitary confinement and its moral implications. Over 2,000 people of faith nationwide have signed NRCAT’s statement against prolonged solitary confinement.”

A supporter of the Bay Area Religious Campaign Against Torture – a NRCAT affiliate – Rev. Will McGarvey will represent the religious community on the hearing’s slate of speakers.  Long active in human rights issues, McGarvey is Senior Pastor at Pittsburg Community Church in Pittsburg, Calif., and former chairperson of the Justice, Advocacy, and Caring Committee of the San Francisco Presbytery.

Geoffrey Gaskins, also of the Bay Area Religious Campaign Against Torture, is helping to organize Tuesday’s rally.

“As Justice Thurgood Marshall so poignantly stated, ‘When the prison gates slam behind an inmate, he does not lose his human quality,’” Gaskins said. “I believe prolonged solitary confinement constitutes torture, and torture destroys that human quality.  Any practice which promotes that end does not reflect the values and moral principles that ground our nation and the great state of California.  If we continue using prolonged solitary confinement in California prisons, we do so inviting upon ourselves enduring shame.”

More details on Tuesday’s events below:

WHO:        Representatives of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture

WHAT:    Public rally on ending solitary confinement in California

WHERE:    California State Capitol, South steps, Sacramento, CA

WHEN:    11:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 23, 2011

WHAT:    Hearing of the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety

WHERE:    California State Capitol, Room 126, Sacramento, CA

WHEN:    1:30-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 23, 2011

*NOTES:     All times Pacific

The hearing is open to the public and press, but seating capacity is limited. Please find the most up-to-date information at NRCAT’s website: www.nrcat.org/ca_prisons.

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