Starting May 20, around 20 community members will join the “Hands Off Our Healthcare” Hunger Fast to raise awareness and demand the protection of Medi-Cal and other essential programs outside Congressmember Valado’s office.
From Central Valley leaders and activists, to parents and students, they are all participating in the 24-, 48-, or 72-hunger fast for various reasons. Here is what some of them have to say.
Brenda Gonzalez
“I have four children, the youngest one is nine years old, and he has autism. He practically depends on his therapies to keep advancing, right now he talks, he didn’t talk before…” said Gonzaelz. “If they cut the Medi-Cal funds, he would practically stay without his therapies and not just the speaking therapies, but to be able to socialize and be able to be an independent person.”
Patricia Recendes
“I am here supporting the hunger strike because we all want them to give us our Medi-Cal. The people really need it because they depend on their medicine, like Medicaid, the older people who also need it, and the food resources. We want them to give it to all of us who need it and for them not to take it away.”
Gema Perez, Executive Director of Greenfield Walking Group
“We are here because we are always working for the community of lower incomes, always fighting for better health, and this is an important topic because if they make cuts to Medical, Medicaid, or programs, illnesses will go up and so will the deaths,” said Parez. “It’s a very delicate topic, and that’s why we’re here doing a three-day hunger strike because we want our representative, Valadeo, to support us and vote no on these cuts.”
Marcilia Diaz, Cal State Bakersfield activist and alumni
“For me, I figured that this was the best way to really set an example to make a statement. When you fast, it’s a human need that’s being taken away,” said Diaz. “It’s kind of similar to our situation here, where there could be a situation where there are cuts to our Medical and Medicaid and lots of other programs that a lot of us use and rely on, especially in Bakersfield.
Audrey Chavez, Member of Bakersfield’s Aids Project and Small Business Owner
“I’m fasting because it’s important to use this opportunity to join in solidarity regarding the seriousness and the crisis that we are in,” said Chavez. “ It’s extremely important to take that time out to reflect on the importance of the decisions that are being made… and to remind them [congress] of the humanity that will be affected in the decision making.”
Rubi Gutierrez, Fresno, CA, community member and community organizer with the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Gutierrez has committed to a 3-day fast.
“It’s really difficult to negate that having hunger is something that’s difficult. It’s something that anyone would question, ‘Why are you doing it voluntarily?’” said Gutierrez. “Three days for me…is not a lot. Other people are going to be hungry all summer… we’re going to see a lot of people freaking out about where to get their next meals… vaccines for the next school year… these things are things that we’re going to be seeing almost become more difficult and impossible [to obtain] with these budget cuts.”
