2016 National Prison Strike: Merced, California

Merced, California September 9 – October, 2016 Prisoners at two county jails in Merced engage in a mass hunger strike and work stoppage. Family members outside go on hunger strike and organize support via the FB group Live Free Merced. The hunger strike goes through a series of stops and starts through October. The prisoners demands include improved food and conditions and an end to the practice of requiring suspected gang members and racial groups to wear color-coded uniforms. On October 15, Oakland IWOC and the CA Hunger Strike support group caravan to Merced for a rally to support the hunger strike. Supporters report correctional staff threatening hunger strikers with shotguns and dogs.

Citations:

“Merced County Jail Conditions Exact a Heavy Price on Local Families”, Medium, September 27, 2016. “Oct. 15 Merced, CA: Day of Action in Support of Hunger Strikers”, PrisonerHungerStrikeSolidarity.wordpress.com, October 13, 2016. “Why US inmates launched a nationwide strike”, CNN, October 31, 2016. “How Some Prisons Swiftly Moved To Undermine National Prison Strike”, Shadowproof, October 6, 2016.