On December 26th prisoners at Red Onion State Prison located in Pound, Virginia launched a hunger strike after being subjected to long term solitary confinement. Since then more than fourteen prisoners have maintained the strike demanding an end to the practice. The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) has not answered our questions. The following interview is with the prisoners’ liason Shapavu Wa Karima – General Secretary of the Revolutionary Intercommunal Black Panther Party.
The Virginia Worker: Could you provide more background information on the hunger strike at Red Onion Strate Prison(ROSP)? What triggered it, did prisoners do preparatory work for it?
RIBPP: There’s a very small amount of information that’s been able to get out because they’ve taken away the use of phones or emails for prisoners. The hunger strike began after Christmas on Dec 26th. What precipitated this strike was VADOC’s continued use of long term solitary confinement. The VADOC now calls it “restorative housing”. Kevin “Rashid” Johnson mobilized prisoners around this issue. Rashid specifically was transferred from Sussex I Prison after prison guards planted a weapon in his cell as an excuse to stop treatment for his cancer and congestive heart failure.
VW: What is the current VADOC policy on the use of long term solitary confinement?
RIBPP: There was a recent reform passed in Virginia to restrict long term solitary confinement. Prisoners were supposed to be provided with more time outside of their cells and in solitary confinement, but the VADOC just changed the name of the practice as a way to skirt the new law. Visitation has been restricted, letters are being censored, emails are not being transmitted, video visits are being denied. The VADOC moves prisoners to the medical wing once they refuse three consecutive meals. We haven’t heard anything from prisoners for a week now.
VW: What legal recourse do prisoners have to get the change they want over the issues they are striking over? Have they used those channels first before striking?
RIBPP: Rashid has several cases in court right now against the VADOC and has exhausted all grievance procedures available to him as well as assisting other prisoners do the same.
VW: Is the hunger strike a last resort for prisoners?
RIBPP: Absolutely, the grievance process is meant to cause prisoners to give up. Prisoners have been told the VADOC won’t even read their grievances anymore.
VW: What are the demands of the hunger strikers?
RIBPP: Release prisoners from “restorative housing”. Restore visitation rights of prisoners so families may check on them. Access for families to inspect conditions of prisoners. The transfer of Rashid Johnson back to Sussex I prison for proper medical treatment for cancer and congestive heart failure.
VW: How many prisoners are currently on hunger strike?
RIBPP: It started with 6 or 7 prisoners, and another 7 more have joined since.
VW: How long are they willing to continue the strike?
RIBPP: I’ve been told until I hear from someone, they are still striking. They will not stop until their demands are met.
VW: Have they received any official response from the VADOC since starting the strike?
RIBPP: No, no negotiations.
VW: What would you say to some members of the public who think it’s none of their concern how prisoners are treated and view them as criminals deserving of whatever treatment they get?
RIBPP: We should care because as working class people, Black people we understand laws are designed to promote criminality. The pathway to what is considered crime is poverty. Many people we’ve worked with first were criminalized because they may have been hungry. We live in a country where any one of us could end up in the same position these prisoners are in.
People should also understand that if we allow this to happen to anyone, especially the least of us, we all lose our humanity. We really have to educate the masses what crime really is in this country and how precarious all of our positions are. What many people don’t understand is how privatized the prison system is. It’s not about rehabilitating people, giving them skills, etc. All of this is tied into capitalism, it’s a business. The system has to produce crime to fill the prisons, it’s big business.
VW: What would you say to those who think prisoners should just do their time, be model inmates and leave policy change to lawmakers?
RIBPP: In many cases there’s no way to behave yourself as a prisoner. One prisoner I talk to says until you are released, you are in for life. You can go in for anything, but things happen in prison, it’s not like a dormitory. Once you enter into that system it’s a fight for your life, a fight for survival.
It’s not simply behaving yourself and being a model prisoner, there are situations where you are forced to defend yourself, you may have a prison guard who may dislike you and set you up. It’s not realistic to say “be a model prisoner”. I would say to anyone who has that view to go educate yourself, meet others who’ve experienced it and listen.
VW: This would be at least the 2nd hunger strike to happen at ROSP in several years, why do you think this keeps happening?
RIBPP: The conditions haven’t changed. The only thing the VADOC cares about is being exposed and until we can get more of the public to understand and care about what’s going on it will continue to happen. The people have to decide in order for things to change. We need to organize and educate to get people to decide and take action.
VW: In the last hunger strike many participants were shipped out of state as a result, is that a fear for current hunger strikers?
RIBPP: It’s always been on the table, it’s not a fear, they know it can happen. But this is why we need to build a real mass movement, not just in Virginia, but nationwide to be able to address these things and keep the spotlight on the issues.
VW: What do you think it will take for the hunger strikers to win their demands?
RIBPP: It’s going to take not letting our feet off the gas. We have to write letters, we have to call the VADOC, the Governor’s office. Get your friends together, get neighbors together. Make it a group effort, get creative with it and do something.
VW: What can the public do to help the hunger strikers?
RIBPP: Again I cannot stress enough the importance of calling the VADOC and letting them know your concerns. I know it’s intimidating, but there’s nothing to be fearful of. As long as you know what the demands are just call and as authentically as possible make your voice heard. The important thing is to speak out and be heard. Understand these are peoples’ lives on the line. We need to understand the power we really have collectively to make change.
Blue Ridge Industrial Workers of the World
Virginia Prison Justice Network
Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee
Organizers in the Land of Enchantment
Millions for Prisoners New Mexico
The Virginia Worker 
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