Members of Occupy DC to Begin Hunger Strike for DC Democracy
Strikers demand vote in Congress, budget and legislative freedom for DC
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, Dec. 8, three members of the Occupy DC group will begin a Hunger Strike for DC Democracy aimed at ending the second class citizenship imposed upon the people of the District of Columbia. Adrian Parsons, Sam Jewler and Kelly Meers said they will sustain their strike until Congress and the president take action to grant DC full voting representation in Congress and to free DC from Congressional control over the District government's budget and legislation. A statement outlining their concerns and demands can be found at http://occupythevotedc.tumblr.com/.
DC residents pay federal taxes, die in the defense of freedom and serve on juries, yet they have no voting representative in the House or in the Senate. Furthermore, Congress has the final say in how locally-raised tax dollars are spent and has routinely imposed policies upon DC that the people and their elected leadership do not support.
"We admire the courage and conviction that the DC hunger strikers are displaying," said Ilir Zherka, executive director of DC Vote. "Like so many other Americans, they are sick and tired of DC's second class status. They decided they are not going to accept less democracy for DC, and are demanding action. We call on Congress to respond by freeing DC's budget."
| WHAT: |
Start of Hunger Strike for DC Democracy |
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| WHEN: |
Thursday, Dec. 8, 12:00 p.m. |
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| WHERE: |
McPherson Square Park, 14th and I Streets, NW, Washington, DC |
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| WHO: |
Hunger strikers Adrian Parsons and Sam Jewler will present their grievances and demands. They will then be available to conduct interviews. |
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| MEDIA CONTACT: |
James Jones, DC Vote, 202-462-6000 ext. 12 or 202-557-4864, [email protected] |
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| NOTE: |
The hunger strike is an Occupy DC initiative and is not sponsored by DC Vote. For comment and to schedule interviews, media can contact Corryn Freeman of Occupy DC at 443-538-6615, [email protected]; Adrian Parsons at 202-210-9362, [email protected]; and Sam Jewler at [email protected]. |
SOURCE DC Vote
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