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Prisoner in Corcoran SHU Dies While on Hunger Strike
Prisoner in Corcoran SHU Dies While on Hunger Strike
Fellow Prisoners Mourn, Advocates Raise Questions About His Death
Fellow Prisoners Mourn, Advocates Raise Questions About His Death
Oakand--Mediators working on behalf of hunger striking prisoners have received disturbing news that Billy Sell, known to his friends as Guero, died while on strike at Corcoran State Prison Security Housing Unit (SHU) on Monday, July 22. His death is being ruled a suicide by prison officials. Fellow prisoners have reported that Sell was participating in California's massive statewide hunger strike--now in its 20th day. They further reported that Sell had been requesting medical attention for several days prior to his death. They described Sell as "strong, a good person" and openly questioned the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (CDCR) ruling his death a suicide, saying it was "completely out of character for him." Advocates are outraged at Sell's death, noting that it could have been prevented if CDCR had negotiated with strikers.
Mediators are working to get further accurate information and accountability from the CDCR. "This story is deeply troubling and contradicts the assurances that the hunger-striking prisoners are receiving appropriate medical care," Says Ron Ahnen, of California Prison Focus and the mediation team representing striking prisoners. Mediators have made an official inquiry to the federal receiver overseeing California's prisons. This report come amid growing concern for the medical care strikers are receiving, along with continued condemnation of the CDCR's response to the strike and Gov. Brown's total silence on the issue.
https://www.facebook.com/Occupy4Prisoners
Mediators are working to get further accurate information and accountability from the CDCR. "This story is deeply troubling and contradicts the assurances that the hunger-striking prisoners are receiving appropriate medical care," Says Ron Ahnen, of California Prison Focus and the mediation team representing striking prisoners. Mediators have made an official inquiry to the federal receiver overseeing California's prisons. This report come amid growing concern for the medical care strikers are receiving, along with continued condemnation of the CDCR's response to the strike and Gov. Brown's total silence on the issue.
https://www.facebook.com/Occupy4Prisoners
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All of Us or None posted this from Carol Isaac
It is with a heavy heavy heart I bring you the news that a hunger striker housed in 4B-3L of the Corcorcan SHU, named Billy Michael Sell, more commonly known as 'Guero', died on Monday the 22nd of July. I spoke with several prisoners today about him, some that knew him very well and they were very somber and concerned. The prisoners say, "Billy died because of the Hunger Strike". That he was "strong, was a good person, a good soldier" and that the allegations by CDCR that this was a suicide are, "completely out of character for him and that he wasn't like that" Several guys stated, "No one believes he killed himself" He was supposedly going without water as well as food and may have had other health issues, that is unknown. As stated below, Guero is reported to have started asking for medical attention around the 15th or 16th of July, in which he did not receive and died 4 days later. He is from Riverside but none of the guys knew how to contact his family.
Here is more about him from a letter drafted for the Statewide Medical Executive, Dr. Tharrett:
"We have confirmed that CDCR claims that Billy Sell, P41250, age 32, housed in the Security Housing Unit, allegedly took his own life on July 22, 2013.
According to information we have gathered, Mr. Sell was not under care for mental illness at the time of his death. According to other inmates near his cell, he had been requesting medical attention "for a few days" and had not received it by July 22. The other prisoners who knew Billy confirmed that he was on the hunger strike and said it would be very strange and uncharacteristic of him to take his own life. Inmates said that the guards reported he had hanged himself. The other prisoners doubt the veracity of that story.
So the time has come that we were dreading but also trying to prepare for. No matter how Billy died, his life mattered and I believe that we as a coalition need to respond. I would like to suggest that we do some kind of vigil/press conference/rally at the CDCR building in Oakland, unless that was already being organized. Of course we can talk about this at Mondays meeting but I really think we should start thinking of ideas now.
I know that the mediation team is preparing look into further investigation on the legal front, so we will see what happens with that. In the meantime of any of your loved ones/correspondents/etc. are housed at Corcoran in 4B-3L and they may have some info about this, have known him, heard him requesting medical attention, please let us know.
I hope you all are well and with someone you love
In honor and respect of Billy 'Guero' Sell,
~Dendron
It is with a heavy heavy heart I bring you the news that a hunger striker housed in 4B-3L of the Corcorcan SHU, named Billy Michael Sell, more commonly known as 'Guero', died on Monday the 22nd of July. I spoke with several prisoners today about him, some that knew him very well and they were very somber and concerned. The prisoners say, "Billy died because of the Hunger Strike". That he was "strong, was a good person, a good soldier" and that the allegations by CDCR that this was a suicide are, "completely out of character for him and that he wasn't like that" Several guys stated, "No one believes he killed himself" He was supposedly going without water as well as food and may have had other health issues, that is unknown. As stated below, Guero is reported to have started asking for medical attention around the 15th or 16th of July, in which he did not receive and died 4 days later. He is from Riverside but none of the guys knew how to contact his family.
Here is more about him from a letter drafted for the Statewide Medical Executive, Dr. Tharrett:
"We have confirmed that CDCR claims that Billy Sell, P41250, age 32, housed in the Security Housing Unit, allegedly took his own life on July 22, 2013.
According to information we have gathered, Mr. Sell was not under care for mental illness at the time of his death. According to other inmates near his cell, he had been requesting medical attention "for a few days" and had not received it by July 22. The other prisoners who knew Billy confirmed that he was on the hunger strike and said it would be very strange and uncharacteristic of him to take his own life. Inmates said that the guards reported he had hanged himself. The other prisoners doubt the veracity of that story.
So the time has come that we were dreading but also trying to prepare for. No matter how Billy died, his life mattered and I believe that we as a coalition need to respond. I would like to suggest that we do some kind of vigil/press conference/rally at the CDCR building in Oakland, unless that was already being organized. Of course we can talk about this at Mondays meeting but I really think we should start thinking of ideas now.
I know that the mediation team is preparing look into further investigation on the legal front, so we will see what happens with that. In the meantime of any of your loved ones/correspondents/etc. are housed at Corcoran in 4B-3L and they may have some info about this, have known him, heard him requesting medical attention, please let us know.
I hope you all are well and with someone you love
In honor and respect of Billy 'Guero' Sell,
~Dendron
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