[IMC] PRESS RELEASE: HUNGER STRIKE IS OVER

[Cameron Whitten]

PRESS RELEASE

contact: Cameron Whitten, sidewalk outside of City Hall, AKA “the Hunger
Stump”
email: certifiedoregonic at riseup.net - katelore at gmail.com
phone: 503-890-5716
twitter: @cameronwhitten

SUMMARY: After 55 days, Cameron Whitten ends his hunger protest with a
press conference outside City Hall @ 10AM on July 26.

HEADLINE: CAMERON WHITTEN ANNOUNCES VICTORY IN HUNGER STRIKE

Commemorating the birthday of social critic and award-winning author Aldous
Huxley, Portland activist Cameron Whitten has declared a determined end
date for his Hunger Strike at City Hall. The 24/7 camping demonstration was
launched on June 2nd, and has been fairly reminiscent of last Fall's
Occupation of Downtown Public Squares. After 55 Days, Whitten's weight has
dropped to 159 of an initial 193.7 pounds: shedding 34.7 pounds in total.

Whitten, a former Mayoral Candidate, student, and active volunteer, said he
felt the exponentially growing housing crisis was not receiving enough
visibility, “There are less safe places for Portlanders to sleep, which
contributes to crime, mental health issues, lower quality of living, and
death.”
The statistics of homelessness in Multnomah County are staggering.


   - 2,727 people are experiencing homelessness
   - 1,928 are sleeping in transitional housing
   - 35% are unsheltered families with children
   - 46% are people of color
   - 12% are U.S. military veterans

Total 4,655 people as identified by the Portland/Multnomah County “Point-In
Time Study,” 2011

Whitten launched his campaign with three resolutions: petitioning Bureau of
Development Services to waive fines levied on the property owners of lot
323, where Right 2 Dream Too shelters over 80 houseless individuals per
night without governmental aid, for County Sheriff to issue a one-year
moratorium on foreclosure evictions for homeowners, and for City Council to
add a housing levy measure to the November 2012 General Election ballot.

Many City Officials, including the Mayor, had conversations with Whitten
during the 55 Day protest. Although they acknowledged the merit of the
requests, each was denied as an immediate course of action. Tensions came
to a boil when Whitten, surrounded by supporters at his 30 Day rally,
announced he was switching to a more dangerous water-only fast, prompting a
few City Commissioners to cease communications with him, save for
Commissioner Fritz, who spent time outside the campaign trail to check his
health and exchange ideas. He continued to organize within the community
and build public support, gaining the attention of both Mayoral Candidates,
Jefferson Smith and Charlie Hales. For weeks, local media was in the air
about how the end game would turn out.

Tuesday Morning, Whitten tweeted that he was returning to the liquid diet
he had adopted in the first 30 days of his protest, which was retweeted by
Mayor Adams and received strong approval from supporters. Both parties were
nothing more than ambiguous about claims of a negotiation being hammered
out.

One of his most active, and inspired supporters has been Kate Lore of First
Unitarian Church, which Whitten attends. “...I am profoundly moved by all
that Cameron has managed to do...As a result, he brought together a
powerful coalition of government, faith, and community leaders to
collaboratively address this crisis. I am so impressed by his passion for
justice and his resolve to make a difference.”

Whitten notes a number of groundbreaking victories for Housing Justice have
occurred over the past 55 Days:


   - Renewed visibility to the housing crisis, promotion of “Housing First”
   policy.
   - Located services for various houseless individuals.
   - July 1 Slumber Party, where over 70 housing advocates slept outside
   City Hall.
   - July 20 Rally at Terry Schrunk Park, with over 200 attendees.
   - Initiation of legal procedures on behalf of Right 2 Dream Too.
   - New Dialogue on Housing Reform, such as Steve Novick's Eminent Domain
   proposal (which Whitten promoted during his Primary campaign).
   - Public Letter from Mayor Sam Adams, announcing an Annual Regional
   Housing Summit, TBA.


Over the weeks, he has been visited by hundreds of well-wishers, provided
interviews and background information to a diversity of news outlets, and
attended classes at Portland Community College, Cascade Campus. When asked
what his favorite experience over his 8 week journey was, he wittingly
responded, “Not starving to death.”

Whitten states that he couldn't have made this much progress on the Hunger
Strike by himself. He gives credits and many thanks to supporters in a long
list, including:

Israel Bayer, Street Roots
Amy Ruiz, Office of Mayor Sam Adams
Ibrahim Mubarak and Mark Kramer, R2D2 Advocates
Mayoral Candidates Jefferson Smith and Charlie Hales,
Commissioner Amanada Fritz,
Midge Purcell, Urban League of Portland
Billy Scheibner, Co-Striker
Jobs With Justice, KBOO, KGW News, PQ Monthly, and the Portland Mercury
Kate Lore, First Unitarian Church of Portland
Jason Renauld, Mental Health Association
Jim Flanagan, Overseeing Physician
Phiamma Elias, RADIANTFLUXproductions
Gardner Mein, PCC Creative Writing Professor
And his list goes on at: http://www.cameronwhitten.com/honors-and-thanks/

Whitten is planning an open Press Conference to declare his victory, on the
steps of City Hall. Thursday, July 26th at 10AM, supporters will be able to
observe him scarf down his first solid food in the past 55 Days. He hasn't
clued anyone in on what it will be, but you can be sure it will be vegan.

For more information, visit: www.cameronwhitten.com

- END -
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.chambana.net/pipermail/imc/attachments/20120725/527d2f56/attachment.html>