PRISON HUNGER STRIKE SUCCESS: Death Row Prisoners Win

[Mumia]

INTERNATIONAL CONCERNED FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
Press Contact Numbers: 215-476-8812 and 203-847-6721 - Pam Africa
Fax: 215-476-7551 and 203-846-1937 - Susan Burnett

HUNGER STRIKE SUCCESS
SCI GREENE AGREES TO RESTORE CONDITIONS ON
DEATH ROW TO LEVEL BEFORE THE DOC ORDER OF MARCH 5TH.

DAY 14

WAYNESBURG, PA March 18, 1998. It is over!! The hunger strike is over
and the prisoners on death row have won.

In a prearranged phone call to his lawyers today on another matter.
Mumia confirmed that the DOC and Superintendent Varner have given in on
virtually all the demands of the Death Row Prisoners.

On the thirteenth day after the beginning of the hunger strike on death
row in SCI Greene, super-max prison in south-western Pennsylvania,
officials announced the reversal of most of the March 5th directive.
The men are now eating normally.

On March 5, at 7.45am the death row men experienced a drastic and
massive shakedown. They believe that this was a retaliatory move from
the DOC to respond to many suits brought by inmates.

Pierre Sane, Secretary General of Amnesty International, London
issued a highly pertinent statement ' describing the measures as
'draconian'.

This, along with media and public pressure, has helped to make the
Department of Corrections back down.

Visits have now been reinstated i.e. back to 2 hr personal visiting
including weekends and holidays. (March 5th directive allowed 1 hr and
no weekend or holiday visiting.)

Commissary items have now been restored.

Property: this appears to be still in the negotiation stages, but will
not be so severe a deprivation as the March 5th directive. Many men
have been able to re-assign their property and re-claim items slated
for destruction.

Clothing: The brown inmate clothing may be re-instated, instead of the
coarse pin stripe jumpsuit.

Superintendent Varner is expecting a final directive by Friday from the
head office DOC, Camp Hill. While visiting prisoners on death row and
involved in the hunger strike members of the Bruderhof community were
approached by Superintendent Varner himself and he announced that the
strike was over and all the issues had been settled.

We will bring more facts to you as we know them.

IT IS THE COURAGE AND STRENGTH OF THESE MEN AND THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE
THAT BROUGHT THIS SMALL VICTORY!!

WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE STILL IN HARMS WAY AND
THEIR LIVES ARE STILL IN GREAT DANGER.

ONA MOVE!!!