TERRY EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY

 HUNGER STRIKERS FOR SOUTH EAST SIDE

That the General Iron relocation from Lincoln Park to the South East Side was able to get close to approval before a serious reckoning with the cumulative pollution burdens borne by southeast side residents is sobering proof of the systemic environmental injustice that plagues Chicago.

Three committed activists went on a Hunger Strike on Feb 4th and as the days went on the numbers grew to a dozen people refusing to eat in order to bring attention to the lack of transparency, participation and fairness of the City of Chicago's permitting process for the relocation of General Iron. Hunger strikers were willing to risk their wellbeing during a global pandemic to put an end to racist zoning policies that have continued for decades. The hunger strike is over now - after 30 long days. The campaign however continues resisting the proposed site for the massive industrial metal shredder that would be next to residential areas, schools, parks, and the Calumet River.

By Olga Bautista, obautista58@gmail.com

“It was physically demanding but I wasn’t prepared for the emotional pain, questioning if I was doing enough, pushing my health and that’s what these systems cause; make us question our worth. It was nights of no sleep, falling asleep in the bath, worried faces around me when I couldn’t remember yesterday’s events. But we made it through because of the love from our community helping us endure this trauma.”

Oscar Sanchez

Hunger Striker, Activist

AUDREY HARDING

 1. I was on hunger strike for 18days

2. I am 38 years old.

3. Why?

 I was introduced to the fight against environmental racism and General Iron as a member of the United Neighbors of the 10th Ward. Having lived on the south side of Chicago for years and being a severe asthma sufferer, having a father who suffered from diabetes and died of cancer, having a grandmother who died from heart disease, ALL chronic diseases.This fight hit home in a profound and devastating way. I connected to this fight and felt compelled to join the hunger strike to AMPLIFY the voices of the disenfranchised, the marginalized, the often overlooked, ignored, and unheard.This is a fight for the ignored Black and brown communities in Chicago and particularly the Southeast side of Chicago who already disproportionately shoulder the burden of environmentally deadly industrial sites.But this fight against environmental racism is not just exclusive to the Southeast side of Chicago. This is a national issue. This is the same tragedy that we witnessed in Flint, Michigan with their water. That is a fight that continues to this day. This is the same tragedy as Cancer Alley in Louisiana, which is home to over 200 chemical plants and as a result it’s Black citizens experience 2 times the cancer rate of the national average.This is not a battle we can afford to lose and it’s NOT a battle that we will lose. The fight continues!

4. Who do I seek to protect?

I seek to protect my ENTIRE community, but particularly the Black and brown people who are often disenfranchised, marginalized, overlooked, ignored, and unheard.

CHUCK STARK

How long did you strike?

20 days

Your age?

37

Why ?

I felt called to do this. In all of my experiences speaking at official hearings and town halls, and hearing other people from the community say how much they did not want this type of development, I kept seeing voices of the people being ignored. How else can a community be heard? This was one way. 

Whom do you seek to protect? 

I want the students I teach, at George Washington High School, their families, and their neighbors to have a future that includes clean air, soil, and water

JADE MAZON

Growing up in the shadows of Wisconsin Steel Mill, I was always aware that my neighborhood had an inordinate amount of harmful pollutants dumped on us.  I was taught that there was nothing that anybody could do about it.  As I raised my daughters, I realized that complacency is as unacceptable as the 10th Ward being zoned for Hazardous Waste AND families, schools and parks.  Working with the Rebel Bells Collective and other EJ organizations allowed me the opportunity to stand in the gap for my community and confront the environmental racism that has been going on for generations.  The worldwide solidarity is incredibly humbling. At the same time, I feel empowered and grateful to be able to fight and make a difference. 

BYRON SIGCHO 

Name: Byron Sigcho Lopez 

Age: 37 

Days of hunger strike: 9

What made you feel motivated to participate in the hunger strike?

After seeing hunger strikers on their 21st day of strike and no response from the Mayor, I thought it was critical to stand in solidarity with this courageous effort to protect the lives and well being of people across the city. The fight for environmental justice is a fight that we can not afford to lose, there are children, seniors, families who are suffering in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and we all need and deserve to live in a community with clean air and water. Pollution is the southeast side has affected generations of families who are demanding to be heard and to respect their right to clean air and water for the community. 

Who are you looking to protect?

All of us, the fight in the southeast side it is a fight that we all must take, this is the fight for better days and environmental justice that will ultimately protect our lives and the planet that are all part of. Each community has the right to be protected and we will fight for our lives because we keep each other safe.

BREANNA BERTACCHI

Name: Breanna Bertacchi

Age: 28

Days of hunger strike: 30

What made you feel motivated to participate in the hunger strike?: 

I felt like in the weeks coming up to the hunger strike, multiple organizations and individuals expressed the various ways that they would provide immediate support for those choosing to strike. We knew from internal planning that this would be an effective (and necessary) means of escalation; and for myself I could identify that I had the capacity to commit to this action because of the immense support that was coming in. As difficult as this was, the constant motivating factor was that as more people learned of this cause, our efforts and concerns became increasingly more validated - both state and nation-wide. We know this was an ethical battle against our elected leaders; those on platforms that have benefitted from the image of 'progressive' initiatives, but that have truthfully upheld racist and harmful policies - this attempt with General Iron being just one of many examples. It feels necessary to hold our leaders accountable for their attempts to skirt responsibility to ethical planning.

Who are you looking to protect?:

Any person in this ward that wants to enjoy and learn more about their outdoor spaces. The lower lake Michigan Basin area is home to so many unique landscapes and transient geographies - adults and children together should be able to access these spaces without concern of pollution. Outdoor activities can do so much to alleviate workplace, academic or social stressors - but if the outdoor space isn't safe to access then this creates a further barrier from potential release/rejuvination. We know this ward still has much to improve on regarding the existing 70 industrial sites here. But if this permit is denied, that is one step closer to clean air that everyone in this community can enjoy.