Isolation Already Loosening at Pelican Bay

MIM Distributors,

It is always my pleasure to reach out and re-establish lines of communication. I hope that you all are in the best of God’s care. One can never be too sure in this line of work. I’m well, as i get ready for this July 1 2011 hunger strike for the cruel & unusual treatment we prisoners held in solitary confinement have endured. All the same it is an enduring struggle that we must fight in order to change our reality.

I am writing because i need you all to forward me that issue dated in the month of June 2011 called Under Lock & Key, because I did not receive it. So if it’s possible that I can get a back issue I would sincerely appreciate it.

Now, I look forward to re-opening the lines of communications because although it’s not been my thought that they were cut off we are beginning to track it better, so it’s all good sometimes.

Sincerely,
a California prisoner

MIM(Prisons) adds: This writer hadn’t heard from us in over two years due to censorship in California. But as the hunger strike approached, the staff at Pelican Bay State Prison were on their best behavior. While the strike organizers were already having sit-downs with the Warden’s office before the strike began, censorship has eased for the many organizations that struggle to get their mail to those being held there. A month ago, staff claimed to not even know their own policies in attempts to censor our mail. But the prisoners’ struggle has already had an impact of loosening their attempts to isolate us from each other.