California’s prison system is serving up a heaping plate of injustice, and inmates are fighting back with nothing but their hunger and determination.

Over the summer, about 500 men at Salinas Valley State Prison went on a two-week hunger strike to protest what they call a “deprivation of rehabilitative and constitutional rights”. These prisoners aren’t just complaining - they’re making a bold statement about systemic oppression within the corrections system.

The Hunger Games of Prison Reform

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) implemented harsh “modified program” restrictions, essentially creating what activists describe as a form of solitary confinement. These restrictions cut off visitation, communication, and movement - effectively isolating prisoners under the guise of safety.

A History of Resistance

This isn’t a new fight. In 2011-2013, prisoners organized massive hunger strikes that forced statewide changes in solitary confinement policies. Minister King X, a key activist, continues to push for justice, describing these actions as a struggle for basic human dignity.

The Ongoing Battle

Despite some reforms, Governor Gavin Newsom has repeatedly blocked legislation like the California Mandela Act, which would have limited solitary confinement and protected vulnerable populations. The fight continues, with advocates like Dolores Canales refusing to back down.

As Steve Brooks, an incarcerated journalist, powerfully stated: “Everything stems from this idea of being treated like a human being, so people are struggling for their humanity in prison”.