Crime & Safety
Hunger Strike: Santa Rita Inmates Rebel Over 'Poor Conditions'
Inmates began a hunger strike Wednesday, alleging insects and vermin droppings in their food and mistreatment of drug-addicted inmates.
DUBLIN, CA — Inmates at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin announced a hunger strike on Wednesday, citing unsanitary food conditions and mistreatment of inmates with drug addictions, the East Bay Times reported.
An attorney representing the inmates, all of whom are men, announced the strike outside the Alameda County jail Wednesday.
One precipitating factor was an incident on Oct. 18 when some inmates didn't receive any food until 5 p.m., the Times reported.
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An inmate died at the jail from an opioid overdose on Friday, and inmates allege that the jail puts inmates with serious addictions — including those going through withdrawal — in general housing, even though those inmates often get sick and create unsanitary conditions inside the cells
The strike could last until at least Friday. An Alameda County Sheriff’s spokesman told the Times he was unsure how many inmates were taking part.
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