In protest to the eviction from Liberty Square after a two month protest, Occupy Wall Street protesters have just launched a hunger strike with demands to a new campsite in an unused lot.
Their goal is to use a vacant lot owned by Trinity Church on the corner of Wall Street and Broadway.
ABC reports:
“The is a chance for Trinity to definitely decide whether they’re a church or real estate company,” protester Diego Ibanez said.
The strike will be held at Duarte Square on Sixth Avenue and Canal Street in lower Manhattan, and the protest organizers said the hunger strike would be continued in jail if demonstrators are arrested.
“If we do get arrested, which seems most likely like we will be, we will continue the strike in jail,” Ibanez said.
Protest organizers say the hunger strike will be continued in jails if demonstrators are arrested.
The Occupiers state they are prepared for the cold.
They are in hopes that other Occupy groups around the country also forced out of their encampments will join them in the hunger strike, to make that a national movement as well.
“We’re definitely going to call for more people to join us throughout the week, with solidarity hunger strikes,” Ibanez said.
After attempts at silencing the movement across the country, OWSers hope to keep the movement alive in the face of “government-enacted violence and repression.”
“I am definitely worried about being hungry and being sick, that’s definitely crossing my mind but I am more worried about people being apathetic,” Ibanez said.
Despite police harassment, brutality and mass arrests, the Occupy protests have spread Globally, thus bringing credibility to the words, “Arrest one and two more will appear.”
Those taking umbrage against the movement, should be aware that historically many hunger strikes have garnered mass support, thus bringing a successful conclusion to their cause. With support increasing around the Globe, and protesters now on a hunger strike, the only accomplishment by police using force, will be even more publicity for the movement.
