On May 23rd, community members around Kern County, who participated on a hunger fast that symbolized the significant impacts of eliminating Medi-care/Medi-cal that many depend on for broke their fast Friday morning in front of David Valado’s office.  A day after he signed the bill to cut these services,  despite informing his constituents that he would protect these services from being cut. 

Fasters and organizers explained the significance of participating in this hunger strike and calling out to elected officials to keep them accountable for passing laws that would have a drastic impact on District 22. 

Noe Garcia, policy coordinator with the Dolores Huerta Foundation partnered with  Power California Action in planning the Hands off Healthcare Hunger Fast because they understood that this would mark an important week in the House of Representatives.

“ A crucial week of action to get David Valado to vote no on this federal budget that would cut millions off their access to Medi-cal and food assistance programs like SNAP and EBT” said Garcia. 

The federal budget which planned to cut millions of spending on healthcare initiatives was passed Wednesday night. According to the California Health Care Foundation, two-thirds of residents are enrolled in Medi-cal in Kern and Tulare County meaning that these cuts will leave devastating impacts. 

Garcia explains that this hunger strike was “our way … to escalate the pressure, escalate the attention and awareness around this bill to David Valado in hopes that he would vote no, ultimately last night Valado was one of those who voted yes in support of this bill.” 

He mentioned that if  at least one or two members of congress voted no against the passing of this bill, it would have delayed or even stopped this bill. Only two republican representatives joined the Democratic party in voting against the budget cuts made on Healthcare, the voting resulted in a 215-214 vote. 

Garcia also highlighted the admiration for the fasters in the community, “a ton of love and pride in our folks who fasted for 72 hours, 48 hours, or even 24 hours in solidarity. This could’ve not have been done without them and we’re going to be honoring them as they break their fast.’’

In a press conference lead by Marisa Morasa from PowerCA Action, she explains that they began this demonstration on Tuesday morning with a mock funeral presssion in front of Valado’s office. 

“We wanted to call attention to the severity of passing a federal budget that included cuts to healthcare, food assistance, education assistance, really impacting our families, children, veterans, seniors, and more,” said Morasa. 

Dismantling  these programs will eliminate affordable access to all for individuals who are living with disabilities, chronic pain, mental health services, and more that help live a more sustainable life. 

Jose Galinado completed  the 72 hour fast in solidarity for individuals who would have their Medi-cal services cut from them. Galinado mentioned that standing alongside other solidarity fasters and the welcoming from other members of the community was “eye opening to see that there are still people in this department fighting for natural human rights.” 

Galinado also noted that he and other fasters are “ending their fast, a good fast” and are “looking forward to getting back to the battle they see in the foreseeable future.” 

Guest Speaker,  Bryan Osorio, a member of BHC-Kern also known as Building Healthy Communities-Kern spoke on the organization’s behalf. Osorio was among the few to fast in solidarity. 

“As of yesterday, the stakes just got higher. The House of Representatives has voted to move forward with a bill that will strip critical protections from millions of people.” said Osorio 

He also mentioned how the passing of this bill is a “direct attack on our health and our communities…It keeps people fed and keeps people treated with dignity, if this bill becomes a law, it will, it will strip medicaid from over 8 million people…just to benefit the ultra rich” Osorio continued on. 

Rudy Morales, a Pixley resident, member of PowerCA Action and student at the College of the Sequoias spoke to the public how cuts to Medi-cal will impact the 3,800 residents in Pixley. Morales noted during his speech that living in the Central Valley people are exposed to poor air quality, pollution, etc. 

“I grew up having asthma so to afford regular doctor visits for my inhalers my parents needed medical care and without it. I do not think I could have survived” said Morales.