Prison Hunger Strikers Suspend Action After 11 Days, May Resume However

Eleven days after 200 prisoners started a hunger strike to demand better treatment, members of Prisoners United were able to meet with Santa Clara County jail administrative representatives. The administration stated that due to the Chavez lawsuit litigations they are unable to address a large part of the prisoners' concerns, as the complaints are being addressed within the Chavez litigation.

However, administration did agree to small but meaningful changes. The fourth floor population will receive its full 3 hours of out of cell time every other day, which was not happening prior to the strike. Daily cleaning done by prisoners will not cut into their out-of-cell program time. Both of these concessions on the part of jail administration were, in fact, already existing policies that were not being honored.

Prisoners United said in a recorded statement that, "...we understand these gains can be seen as small tokens in comparison to ours and our supporters sacrifices, but for the time being we are willing to accept these gains in good faith." They suspended the hunger strike as of the last meal on April 26, but said that they would possibly reinstate the strike, "depending on the outcome of the Chavez case or if and when a need should arise."