In Their Distress They Cry Out

Several detainees at the detention camp in the Everglades have gone on hunger strike. There are allegations of medical neglect, verbal abuse, and substandard food conditions in the camp. Now entering its third week, the hunger strike is protesting the conditions of the camp. DHS denies that a hunger strike is underway. Since lawyers and oversight groups are not allowed in, it is difficult to confirm or deny for sure.

Hunger strikes as a form of nonviolent protest goes back to pre-Christian Ireland. A protester would fast, sitting by the doorstep of the offender. This often shamed the offender and led them to reconciliation. A similar practice happened in India (if this was brought over from British imperialism, I’m not sure). It seems to have been prevalent enough that the British banned the practice in India in 1861.

Hunger strikes have taken place as political protests for various causes as well. Suffragists in the early 20th century in the UK and US went on hunger strikes while imprisoned. Many suffered from brutal force-feedings. Gandhi and other members of the Indian independence movement engaged in several hunger strikes protesting British occupation in India. Irish republican prisoners went on hunger strikes throughout the 20th century, protesting the British occupation in Ireland/Northern Ireland. Several men died while striking, going without food for more than 60 days. Probably the most famous of these was Bobby Sands, who died after 66 days during the 1981 hunger strike, in which paramilitary prisoners were protesting to be classified as political prisoners. In the later half of the 20th century, several Cuban dissidents engaged in hunger strikes to protest censorship and oppression in Cuba.

While the initial motivator of a hunger strike is to strike shame on the offender, that no longer seems an effective means. There is less shame in the world, and a government is not as likely to feel shame over a prisoner’s decision to stop eating. People will let others starve, right at their doorstep. Rather, hunger strikes often gain power from drawing attention to the situation—the media and public follow the hunger strike because it is so drastic, and thus the political situation is discussed and pressure is put on the offender/government to make concessions.

Still, many strikers die from their protest. Entering a hunger strike is a hallow gesture unless one is willing to see it through—willing to die for the cause. Medical associations have declared forced-feeding inhumane. Though the U.S. government still maintains that forced-feeding is an option, the American Medical Association has publicly stated its opposition to it.

Thousands of people starve to death everyday, and it rarely rouses much sympathy (or at least, not enough). Why are we willing to let our neighbors starve? Are we not ashamed? But when someone chooses to starve, when they willing take on that sacrifice for a cause, we can see the seriousness of it. While the effectiveness can be debated, there is little doubt that hunger strikes draw attention because that level of sacrifice and determination is so rarely seen. 

As far as nonviolent protests go, to me hunger strikes take the most dedication. They are often long-lasting, physically demanding, and risk a slow death. Those that undertake them are willing to endure a great amount of suffering to bring attention to injustice and the suffering of others. For prisoners, they often don’t have many rights or options when it comes to protesting; they are already limited in movement, association, and resources. By engaging in hunger strikes, they are utilizing one of the few things they still can control (barring forced-feeding).

I doubt I have the faith or fortitude to endure a hunger strike. I can’t imagine the anguish, injustice, and determination that goes into it. I pray that those who are striking receive better conditions and arouse the nation’s consciousness to demand justice. I pray they are successful without having to sacrifice their lives.

“They were hungry and thirsty; their life was ebbing away. In their distress they cried to the Lord, who rescued them in their peril.” -Psalm 107:5-6