Dear Citizens
8-28-13

As some know and most not, that in California prisoners throughout seven prisons are going on their 52 plus day of hunger strike.

Do you not know about this? Are they not giving this story air time throughout all the news channels? It seems not and what seems even more is that the majority of citizens either turn their back to prisoners' plight or they don't even want to harbor the thought of fighting for prisoners' rights?

But why? Is not 220 or so prisoners starving themselves worthy of being in the news? Doesn't this story attest to the inhumane and torturous conditions prisoners face in solitary confinement? What's daunting even more, fellow citizens, is that you do nothing to help out and sit back as if this doesn't or won't have an effect on you. Do you not see humans when you look at prisoners? Do you not feel a burning sensation to help out those who most need it? Do you idly sit back and watch as humans starve themselves to death where they have no other remedy but to put themselves in physical harm and risk death to prove a point?

I ask you, dear citizen, when one fights for rights (in any form) does not that person also help out those around him? Doesn't that lift up the humanity of all people? Doesn't that lower the bar of tolerance when looking at oppression and not acting? Doesn't that, the will to fight, give those who witness it hope? Doesn't it beckon them to have the courage to fight too?

I am only one man but that doesn't discourage me to try to help out and shine light to the struggle. Public opinion accounts for much and I can't help but ask why are not more citizens outraged that the people who they 'choose' and 'elect' to run government positions are not being held accountable for their misdeeds? And if government officials are not held accountable, at what point will their actions deem it necessary?