Hunger Strikers Relocate to Christ Advocate Medical Center: We will Occupy Until you Meet our Demands!

[José G. Herrera]

Hunger Strikers Relocate to Christ Advocate Medical Center: We will Occupy Until you Meet our Demands!
 
A group of immigrants in the second week of a hunger strike against discriminatory health care practices that deny undocumented and uninsured patients a place on organ transplant waiting lists. Due to pressure from the hunger strikers, University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center and Northwestern Memorial Hospital agreed to begin negotiations. Now, Hunger Strikers turn their attention to the next target, Christ Medical Center. They will move their camp and occupy the public space in front of Christ Advocate Medical Center until the hospital agrees to a meeting and begins a negotiation process.
 
"We will not allow Christ Medical Center to continue their unethical and immoral operation by rejecting people without documents and the poor" stated Father Landaverde, one of the hunger strikers.
 
Christ Advocate has a history of discriminatory practices against poor and undocumented immigrants. This goes far beyond denying life-saving treatment based on immigration status or ability to pay. In 2010, Christ Advocate forcefully "repatriated" to Mexico Quelino Ojeda Jimenez, a quadriplegic patient. "When a supposedly Christian Hospital is responsible for deporting the undocumented and leaving the poor to die, all our communities should unite to hold them accountable" added Landaverde.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Wednesday, August 7 at 12 noon
Christ Advocate Hospital
4440 West 95th Street, Oak Lawn
PLEASE NOTE: THE HUNGER STRIKERS are deciding this evening WHAT TIME THEY WILL ARRIVE AT CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER ON WEDNESDAY; the occupation may begin at noon or later; but will certainly be overnight on Wednesday night.

Fourteen people have been on hunger strike for over a week because hospitals refuse to put patients on transplant waiting lists simply because they are undocumented and uninsured. After escalated protests at Northwestern Memorial Hospital were successful, the hunger strikers plan to occupy the public space outside Christ Advocate Hospital. JOIN THEM!!!! 

They will refuse to leave until they secure a meeting with a hospital executive, to ensure that patients in need of a transplant are placed on transplant waiting lists based on need, NOT based on immigration status or ability to pay. Christ Advocate is one of the many area hospitals that routinely turn away patients who are undocumented and uninsured, as well as patients from other marginalized groups such as the poor and the elderly. Hunger Strikers include patients and loved ones.

SUPPORT THE HUNGER STRIKERS
- Join the strikers for an hour, or more! stay overnight!
- bring water, gatorade; blankets or sleeping pads; sign-making supplies
- check the event page often for updates, especially for a call-in campaign
see solidarity pages here:
www.tinyurl.com/strike4care
www.tinyurl.com/strike4health

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José G. Herrera

(773) 632-9992