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Occupiers Launch Hunger Strike to Liberate Outdoor Space

@OccupyWallSt | 04.12.2011 09:08 | Occupy Everywhere | Policing | Social Struggles | World

On Saturday, December 3, in Liberty Plaza, we—THE OWS HUNGER STRIKERS—began a hunger strike. We are striking to demand outdoor space for a new occupation. We are holding our strike at Duarte Square on Sixth Avenue and Canal Street in Manhattan as part of a continued effort seeking sanctuary on Trinity Church’s unused land.

This is a call for escalation, in response to the escalated levels of government-enacted violence and repression The Occupy Movement has endured over the last few weeks. In dozens of cities across the nation, Mayors chose to stifle freedom of speech and the right to assemble by evicting peaceful occupations using illegal and and unconstitutional force. Here in New York, on the night of November 14, the City—under orders from Mayor Bloomberg—violently evicted our community from Liberty Square.




For our movement to grow we need new, outdoor space. We need to hear the voices of those who for too long have been voiceless. We recognize the long history of hunger strikes as a radical action that has liberated countries, communities and individuals from repression, slavery and injustice. From colonial India to modern Turkey; from the Northern Ireland H-Block cells to Palestinian prisons; from 1970s Cuba to present-day California, hunger strikes have amplified the voices of the oppressed to declare they have been silenced for far too long.

The 99% has been been oppressed and silenced for far too long. Therefore, THE OWS HUNGER STRIKERS are hunger striking to demand the right to create space for The Occupy Movement to rise up and speak out.

You can help by bringing blankets and warm clothes, as well as hot water, lemon, cayenne pepper and maple syrup to Sixth Avenue and Canal Street. We will live there, day and night, until our movement has unfettered access to this space.

More information at:  http://www.facebook.com/OWS.HUNGER.STRIKERS

@OccupyWallSt
- Homepage: http://occupywallst.org/article/ows-hunger-strike-new-outdoor-occupation/

Comments

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wrong target

04.12.2011 09:37

Folks are already starving as a result of misdirection and corruption within Government. Why not highlight the homeless and malnourished people of America [or elsewhere]? You already had that aspect covered in your protest!
If you want "space", then occupy it. Arrange to meet each other at various places...organise when you get there.
A mass gathering of people encourages demonstrators that other people care enough to motivate themselves, but if you want change then BE that change. Move your money... develop alternative support networks... attend planning committees... but maybe don't sit down in the cold and starve yourselves. Hunger strikes depend on people being emotionally [or at least politically] moved by concern for your welfare. If local "authorities" are prepared to teargas you, shoot pellets at you, beat you, and drag you screaming into a detention centre... will they mind if you permanently damage yourselves by refusing to eat? Will support be gained from sympathetic people whom are aware of less advantaged malnourished victims elsewhere? Will many people want to join in?

I wish you well, my advice is to stay strong and occupy minds.

Healthy Appetite