Rally to support Hunger Strikers at State House last night

There was a rally at the State House last night for the Hunger Strikers urging Governor Chafee to veto the budget that features an item that would ban cities and towns in Rhode Island from raising the minimum wage, a direct attack on Providence hotel workers seeking to have a vote in November on a proposed $15 minimum wage. Shelby Maldonado,  Santa Brito, Mirjaam Parada and Yilenny Ferreras are entering Day Three of their hunger strike this morning, pending a meeting with the Governor.

Last night each of the hunger strikers addressed the crowd of over 110 supporters, except for Santa Brito, who was suffering from a headache brought on by a lack of food. The women were all seated, shaded with umbrellas and hats in the hot sun, and subsisting on water.

Defending democracy is hungry work.