For Immediate Release: September 28, 2011

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New inmate hunger strike in California leads religious coalition to again call for end to prolonged solitary confinement

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the second time this year, hundreds of state prison inmates in California have undertaken a hunger strike to bring attention to inhumane confinement conditions.

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture has been vocal in its opposition to the controversial and frequent use of prolonged solitary confinement in California prisons, including through sending representative Rev. Will McGarvey of Pittsburg, Calif., to present public testimony at the California State Assembly’s Committee Policy Review August 23, which focused on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Secure Housing Units.

Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, released the following statement today, calling for renewed attention to the use of prolonged solitary confinement at both the state and federal level:

“Hunger strikes are the last resort of prisoners protesting inhumane conditions – and it is unfortunate, sad and eye-opening that twice in just two months, hundreds of people in California have found such a drastic tactic the only way to make themselves heard.  The California state prison system is notorious for its use of prolonged solitary confinement, a practice that qualifies as torture due to its destructive physical and psychological effects, which are well-known by prison officials.  Like the hundreds of prisoners and their families who are protesting these inhumane conditions – often escapable only through informing on a fellow prisoner – the National Religious Campaign Against Torture objects on moral grounds to such treatment, even of people convicted of crimes.

With the resumption of the hunger strike, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture again vows to work with our partners in California to continue urging California state prison officials to take real steps to end the use of prolonged solitary confinement.

No matter how long the hunger strike lasts in California, the fight to end prolonged solitary confinement will continue across the country.  More than 36,000 people in U.S. state and federal prisons are currently being held in prolonged solitary confinement.  These prisoners are held in cells by themselves for up to 23 hours a day.  Some are kept isolated for months, years, or even decades.

NRCAT is a coalition of religious organizations committed to ending torture sponsored or enabled by federal or state government in the United States.  As people of faith, we believe that our country has an obligation to respect the inherent God-given dignity of all human beings.  Holding people in solitary confinement for years and decades until they become mentally broken is immoral.  We call upon fellow people of faith to join us in demanding that officials at both the federal and state levels work to end prolonged solitary confinement.”

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture asks people of faith to sign its statement calling for an end to prolonged solitary confinement across the nation.  The statement is available at www.nrcat.org/end-solitary.  Earlier this month, the religious coalition delivered the statement, along with endorsements from nearly 700 Californians of faith, to every member of the California legislature. 

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a growing membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, more than 300 religious organizations have joined NRCAT, including representatives from the Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. Members include national denominations and faith groups, regional organizations and local congregations.  More information is available at www.nrcat.org.