Hunger strikes first began in Guantanamo Bay in 2005, while events in California have not gone on long enough to qualify as a strike. Currently, 106 of Guantanamo’s 166 prisoners are refusing food, with 45 being force-fed, while some 30,000 of California’s prison inmates refused food Tuesday. Still, there are notable parallels between the issues in the justice system causing the two protests.
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In both cases, federal judges disapprove of current prison practices. U.S. District of Columbia Judge Gladys Kessler noted that while she had no jurisdiction over the prisoners as enemy combatants, President Obama does. Kessler pointedly requested that Obama take action to end the “painful, humiliating and degrading” force-feedings, writes News.Yahoo.com. For a graphic demonstration, see the video below of Yasiin Bey, also known as rapper Mos Def.
Likewise, federal judges have ordered California to reduce its inmate population by 10,000 this year to ease inhumane crowding, according to Reuters.
In both cases, the complaint regards fundamental rights issues. The Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins Wednesday, and in observation, Muslims fast from sunup to sundown. Force-feeding would prevent that. In California, some inmates complain that being locked in isolation units for up to 23 hours per day denies them social interaction. If proven, this is likely cruel and unusual punishment.