FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, September 5, 2013

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National interfaith anti-torture group applauds historic prisoner hunger strike now suspended in its 60th day
Interfaith group calls on California legislators to take swift action to address the human rights abuses raised by the hunger strike, including prolonged solitary confinement

WASHINGTON – Today, the 60th day of the hunger strike in California prisons, the hunger strike has been suspended.  Since the historic prisoner hunger strike began on July 8, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture has joined with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement, the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition and its allies, in calling on Governor Edmund G. Brown of California and Dr. Jeffrey A. Beard, Secretary for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to bring the hunger strike to a humane and just end.

Nationally, religious leaders have expressed strong support for the reasonable core demands of the California state prison inmates on their third peaceful hunger strike, demands related to solitary confinement – a practice in which prisoners are confined to a small, windowless cell for 23 to 24 hours a day, without sunlight, fresh air, meaningful human contact or constructive activity for years, even decades.  In California, nearly 12,000 imprisoned people are held in solitary confinement.  More than 1,000 clergy and religious leaders in California and throughout the United States joined in “A Religious Call for a Just and Humane End to the Hunger Strike in California Prisons” by signing an open letter delivered to Gov. Brown within the first month of the hunger strike. 

“As the historic prisoner hunger strike is suspended today, we honor the courageous witness of those who have risked their lives to call for an end to torture.  We urge California legislators and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to take immediate action to concretely address the indignity of long term solitary confinement in California prisons,” said Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. “That thousands of prisoners in California must risk their lives to call for an end to torture is a reality the faith community cannot abide. Long-term solitary confinement is not rehabilitative and is of grave concern to the faith community. Such conditions of confinement violate basic human rights and impact not only prisoners, but also their families and loved ones.”

“What lies before the leadership of California today is a critical opportunity to address the concerns raised by those who have risked their lives on hunger strike in the past 60 days.  We applaud the recent announcement from Assemblymember Tom Ammiano and State Senator Loni Hancock to host hearings in the coming weeks to address the concerns raised by those on hunger strike.  We cannot return to business as usual,” said Rev. Killmer.  “The religious community stands poised to support all who move with resolve to address these concerns.”  The National Religious Campaign Against Torture is comprised of more than 320 diverse faith-based organizational members across the United States.  Our various faith traditions hold in common a belief in the dignity and worth of each human person. Prolonged solitary confinement violates the basic religious values of justice, compassion, and healing which we share.

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, more than 320 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.

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