Between 50 and 100 prisoners at the Pelican Bay State Prison in California have announced plans to begin a hunger strike today to protest what they say are cruel and unusual prison conditions. Located in Crescent City, Pelican Bay was California’s first super-maximum security prison. Isaac Ontiveros of the anti-prison group Critical Resistance outlined the prisoners’ demands.

Isaac Ontiveros: “End the use of group punishment and administrative abuse; abolish the debriefing policy and modify active/inactive gang status criteria; comply with the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons 2006 recommendations regarding an end to long-term solitary confinement; provide adequate and nutritious food; and expand and provide constructive programming and privileges for indefinite SHU status inmates.”