Undocumented and formerly incarcerated Americans have been left out of federal pandemic relief payments. New York is home to about half a million undocumented residents, many of whom are essential workers. One year in, they’re going on a hunger strike. 

On Tuesday, March 16th protestors gathered at St. John The Divine in Manhattan on the first day of the "Fast for the Forgotten''. Demonstrators are calling for government relief for New Yorkers passed over by federal pandemic relief. Jessica Fu published a story for The Counter after visiting the strike and speaking with participants and organizers. In this episode, she and HRN’s Hannah Fordin discuss the strike, its implications, and what New York State is doing to support these excluded workers. 

To read Jessica Fu’s coverage of the strike for The Counter, click here. 

Additional Links / Bibliography:

Make The Road NY

Fund Excluded Workers

Street Vendor Project

An Economic Profile of Immigrants in New York City 2017

“How Long Can You Go Without Food?” Hunger Strikes 101 from Slate

Have a question you want answered? Email us at [email protected]

This project is funded in part by a Humanities New York CARES Grant with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the federal CARES Act. 

This program is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

The Big Food Question is powered by Simplecast.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.