Hunger Strikers at Gallaudet University
Tuesday October 24, 2006
A small group of protestors (students and alumni) have been on a hunger strike at Gallaudet University for eight days (some, for 11 days as of Tuesday, October 24). Blogs have reported that the health of the hunger strikers is clearly suffering - they are weak and pale. They are not eating solid food. Some have declared they are ready to die.
The hunger strike must stop. As serious as the issues are in the Gallaudet protests, they are not worth giving your life for.
Hunger striking is not an effective tool of protest. It may get attention, but it may not accomplish anything in the end. Likewise, blocking gates may get attention but may not accomplish anything in the end. Tent cities are fine because they do not hurt anyone, and they do get media attention. However, in this protest, the most powerful and effective tool has been the internet, and the sharing of experiences and opinions on deaf blogs.
Comments
Thanks for sharing your pleading… I totally agree with you! I’m scared for them, the protestors and their families. Why cannot someone intervene, treating their hunger strike like a slow suicidal action? Is anyone doing something about that??!!
Today deaf Gallaudet protesters got hurt real bad.
Thats the cost of the old deaf guard’s war against changes in deaf culture and the future of deaf society.
I’m still boggled by the old deaf guards zeal to preserve a dependency gulag when the future of the deaf society is as beautiful as paradise.
Richard Roehm
I entirely agree.
I know one of hunger striker from Seattle, HIV+ and at the time I’m typing this, she is at her 7th day without eating.
I gather that other hunger strikers have other medical conditions and even if they stop their hunger strike now, they’ll probably have permanent sequels for the rest of their lives, because of the hunger strike they did.
It’s not worth taxing one’s life, nor hunger strike been an effective tool.
But in these groups, there are hardliners and sadly, openly encouraging these hunger strikers to continue.
It’s almost criminal.
I’m worried, deeply worried for all of them.
I wish that authorities would rush in, and save these hunger strikers and pull them out of harms way.