Unity between races is going strong; be proud of yourselves!

June 25, 2015

by Kendra Castaneda Perez

Why-We-Ended-Hostilities-art-by-Jose-H.-Villarreal-2015-web-300x200, Unity between races is going strong; be proud of yourselves!, Abolition Now! — Artist Jose Villarreal writes: “Like these birds in the drawing, we prisoners are also held captive by the same oppressor. When a species is hunted, eventually they will turn to that predator and act.” – Art: Jose H. Villarreal, H-84098, PBSP SHU C11-106, P.O. Box 7500, Crescent City CA 95532

The End of Hostilities between races within the California prison system went into effect in 2012. Since that time, I am amazed at how the different races have worked diligently to unify with one another despite a few little hickups here and there.

I want to remind those men within the Level 3 and 4 General Population yards that there will be “infiltrators” placed by CDCr on the yards to create tension between the races so as to turn the peacefulness into a hostile environment.

Please be mindful and aware of this. If a situation does arise between the different races, DO NOT jump into it as a whole fighting one another. If you see something happening, just stand down!

The End of Hostilities between races within the California prison system went into effect in 2012.

I am very proud of the Southern Mexicans and African Americans within the California prison system for how they have been able to put aside their differences and continue to peacefully unite together so strongly.

Also, the violent past of the Southern Mexicans and Northern Mexicans that lasted for decades until the End of Hostilities was implemented in 2012 has shown progress toward unification. CDCr segregated the “Southerners” and “Northerners” away from each other in the years past.

CDCr is now allowing Southern Mexicans and Northern Mexicans into the visiting room together, allowing them to go to the medical unit at the same time and allowing them to be freely on the yards together again.

You all should be proud of yourselves for what you have been able to accomplish in such a very short period of time.

Continue to unify with one another, strengthening communication between the races and within each group because there will come a time when you will have the opportunity as a whole to stand up to the system peacefully.

You all should be proud of yourselves for what you have been able to accomplish in such a very short period of time.

United We Stand!

Kendra Castaneda Perez is a prisoner human rights activist and writer. Her husband is Raymond “Chavo” Perez, one of the 12-man body of representatives responsible for the historic Agreement to End Hostilities. He survived 18 years in the Pelican Bay SHU Short Corridor until January 2014, when he was transferred to General Population in California State Prison Sacramento (New Folsom) on Step 5 of the Step Down Program. Kendra can be reached at kendracperez@gmail.com.