Support prisoners on hunger strike

Dear family, friends and supporters of the Lucasville uprising prisoners,

I am not aware of all of the factors that went into their decisions, but I have been informed that rather than waiting as previously planned, Hasan and Jason Robb have joined the hunger strike. I received a letter from Hasan today stating that the warden and deputy warden of OSP were questioning him about his plans to go on the hunger strike based on information they had gleaned from the internet, and that may have influenced their decisions. I think the tremendous outpouring of support from all corners of the globe and all across this country has strengthened their resolve. There has also been phenomenal media interest with an op-ed piece by Denis O'Hearn in the Youngstown Vindicator, interviews of Staughton Lynd by Amy Goodman of Democracy Now and by KPFA, and an interview of Denis O'Hearn by WBAI. Both Denis and Staughton are frequent visitors of the prisoners. Denis wrote the biography of Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands entitled, "Nothing But an Unfinished Song." Staughton wrote the definitive book on the 1993 rebellion entitled, "Lucasville: The Untold Story of a Prison Uprising." He and his wife Alice were the attorneys in a class action lawsuit against OSP.

Please keep putting the word out about the rally at the entrance gates to OSP in Youngstown at 1:00 on Saturday, Jan.15, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. We are trying to coordinate car pools and a car caravan from Cleveland. The 7-person van is filling up fast. We need other people with cars who know they are going to this rally and who have space in their car to contact us because lots of people need rides. Contact lucasvillefreedom@gmail.com or call 216-571-2518. Send the attached flyer around to everyone you think might be interested and print it out and post it in coffee shops, barber shops, laudromats, libraries, supermarkets, you name it. Buy poster board and markers and start making signs. If we have enough signs and banners, the prisoners will be able to see us from their windows and they will be so thrilled. Carloads of supporters are planning to drive in from other states. Let's show them what Ohio activists can do! Let's mobilize and make it big!

Sharon Danann

for the Lucasville Uprising Freedom Network