PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Progressive activists from the Sunrise Movement are taking some aggressive and unconventional steps to promote their demands for the Philadelphia budget.
“I’m on hunger strike because Mayor [Cherelle] Parker must make Philly affordable,” said Erica Brown.
She stopped eating last Thursday, May 21, and said she won’t start again until the city budget includes an additional $400 million for housing, schools, transit, libraries, rec centers, renewable energy and a food assistance program.
For the first five days, fellow Sunrise member Giovanna Troilo was also on a hunger strike, but she shifted tactics and tried to get a meeting with Parker. Troilo and another member showed up outside the mayor’s office on Tuesday.
They were taken away in handcuffs.
“We’re here to make Philly affordable. We’re asking Mayor Parker to fund working Philadelphians’ lives,” she said.
A spokesperson for the mayor declined to comment on the demands but said the arrest was made because Troilo and another activist were obstructing government employees’ ability to do their jobs.
The mayor is in the middle of budget negotiations with City Council, which will determine if any of the spending demands are met. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier said she sees common ground.
“I fully believe in the housing recommendation being pushed by the hunger strikers,” she said.
Decisions about spending will be made in the next two weeks between City Council and the mayor.
Activists on hunger strike want mayor to consider housing, schools, other issues in spending plan
Activists on hunger strike want mayor to consider housing, schools, other issues in spending plan
