Since August 2012, at least four people have died inside the Santa Cruz County Jail from lack of medical care: Christy Sanders, Rick Prichard, Brant Monnet, and Bradley Gordon Dreher. In July 2012, the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors voted to outsource county jail medical care to Monterey-based California Forensic Medical Group. CFMG provides services for 25 California counties and has an extensive history of lawsuits against them related to inadequate care, inmate abuse, and neglect.

Sin Barras, a community-based group that works to build coalitions to eradicate the prison industrial-complex, has organized a rally and march on Saturday, April 6, at 4 p.m. at the clocktower in downtown Santa Cruz. Sin Barras demands that, "Santa Cruz County officials provide real healthcare within the county jail, eliminate pretrial detention, and reallocate jail funding to create drug treatment centers and welfare programs outside of Santa Cruz County Jail."

Penny, an activist with Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity, will speak on the inhumane conditions at Pelican Bay and the continued struggle to end solitary confinement in California.

April 6: Speakout + March | Zine: Sin Barras vol. 1 | Sin Barras

Previous Coverage: Protesting the Living Hell in Pelican Bay State Prison || Hunger Strike Carries On After Reaching 6,600 Prisoners || Prisoners' Hunger Strike Solidarity March in Santa Cruz