Revolution #240, July 24, 2011


Response to Susan Estrich

As the prisoners inside the Pelican Bay Secure Housing Unit (SHU) entered the 15th day of a hunger strike, prepared to give their lives if necessary to put an end to conditions of long-term isolation and sensory deprivation, growing numbers of people were learning about the conditions inside the SHUs at Pelican Bay, Corcoran, and other maximum security prisons. As actress Susan Sarandon succinctly put it, “I support the inmates of Corcoran State prison, pelican bay, and other prisons in their demands to end the inhumane policies of SECURITY HOUSING UNITS. I recognize their humanity and stand with them.”

On the other hand, legal commentator Susan Estrich chose to use her influence to insist that these prisoners deserve whatever is being done to them.  Estrich is a USC law professor, longtime prominent Democratic Party operative, and legal and political analyst for Fox News. She published a vicious attack on these prisoners and their demands to be treated as human beings in an opinion piece with the misleading title, “Our Prison System Needs Radical Changes.” Susan Estrich writes, “I’m sorry, but does anyone care?”

See a response at revcom.us coming this week.

 

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