- published: 17 Aug 2020
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A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not solid food.
In cases where an entity (usually the state) has or is able to obtain custody of the hunger striker (such as a prisoner), the hunger strike is often terminated by the custodial entity through the use of force-feeding.
Fasting was used as a method of protesting injustice in pre-Christian Ireland, where it was known as Troscadh or Cealachan. It was detailed in the contemporary civic codes, and had specific rules by which it could be used. The fast was often carried out on the doorstep of the home of the offender. Scholars speculate this was due to the high importance the culture placed on hospitality. Allowing a person to die at one's doorstep, for a wrong of which one was accused, was considered a great dishonor. Others say that the practice was to fast for one whole night, as there is no evidence of people fasting to death in pre-Christian Ireland. The fasts were primarily undertaken to recover debts or get justice for a perceived wrong. There are legends of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, using the hunger strike as well.
Guantanamo Bay hunger strikes began during the middle of 2005, when detainees held by the United States at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp initiated two hunger strikes. The detainees organized several widespread hunger strikes to protest their innocence, and the conditions of their confinement. Other captives, such as the men camp authorities asserted committed suicide in June 2006, had committed themselves to long-term hunger strikes, which were not shared by the other captives. Widespread hunger strikes recurred in 2013.
According to Andy Worthington, the weight of at least eighty captives dropped to below 100 pounds (45 kg) each.
Camp authorities responded by force-feeding captives, according to the camp's Standard Operating Procedures. They had started isolated cases of force-feeding, called "re-feeding", early in the camp's history. Human rights workers, and Physicians' professional associations, have criticized the use of force-feeding on mentally competent patients at Guantanamo.
The 1981 Irish hunger strike was the culmination of a five-year protest during "the Troubles" by Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland. The protest began as the blanket protest in 1976, when the British government withdrew Special Category Status for convicted paramilitary prisoners. In 1978, after a number of attacks on prisoners leaving their cells to "slop out", the dispute escalated into the dirty protest, where prisoners refused to leave their cells to wash and covered the walls of their cells with excrement. In 1980, seven prisoners participated in the first hunger strike, which ended after 53 days.
The second hunger strike took place in 1981 and was a showdown between the prisoners and the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. One hunger striker, Bobby Sands, was elected as a Member of Parliament during the strike, prompting media interest from around the world. The strike was called off after ten prisoners had starved themselves to death—including Sands, whose funeral was attended by 100,000 people. The strike radicalised Irish nationalist politics, and was the driving force that enabled Sinn Féin to become a mainstream political party.
Footage of International Reactions to the 1981 Irish Hunger Strikes
'TV Eye' is in Northern Ireland as Hunger Striker Bobby Sands enters the 61st day of his hunger strike campaign, and how would his death affect politics and communities on both side of the divide. Reporter: Peter Gill First shown: 30/04/1981 To license a clip please e mail: archive@fremantle.com Quote: VT24702
A short history of the 1981 Hunger Strike and the events that culminated in the deaths of 10 Irish republican political prisoners on hunger strike in Long Kesh
In 1981 the world watched as 10 young Irishmen gave their lives on hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh in their struggle against the British governments brutal attempt to deny Irish Republican POWs political status. On Sunday 4th August, thousands of republicans from across Ireland will mark the 38th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike at a national rally in Strabane, Co. Tyrone. The main speaker will be Martina Anderson MEP. Remember Ireland's hunger strike martyrs. Bígí Linn.
(15 May 1981) RR8120B NORTHERN IRELAND THE HUNGER STRIKERS Background to story: The IRA members Bobby Sands and Francis Hughes have died after a hunger strike in a Northern Ireland prison. Other IRA inmates are also fasting, and they seem determined to die too. All have been demanding the equivalent of political status as prisoners. This report examines the importance of political status in Northern Ireland, and the prospects for a solution to the present conflict. Film: Rev – Sound: Mag/SOF – Colour– Available in HD Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://w...
Republicans mark the 35th anniversary of the commencement by Bobby Sands of the 1981 hunger strike in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh.
1981 hunger striker and Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast Pat Sheehan who was close to death as the hunger strike came to an end on the 3rd October 1981 talks to Danny Morrison about his final days on the hunger strike and of its legacy.
The 5th May marks the anniversary of the death of Bobby Sands on Hunger Strike. He was the first of ten republican prisoners to die that terrible summer. The determination of the men in the H Blocks and the women prisoners in Armagh ultimately defeated the British government's criminalisation strategy. The enduring legacy of the hunger strikers is to be found all around us. For everyone interested in freedom and justice and peace in Ireland it is a time to reflect on the lessons of the past and to commit to continuing the struggle to achieve a just, fair and equal united Ireland
'On This Day 1981: IRA Hunger Striker Bobby Sands Died in Maze Prison' After 66 days without food, the IRA member and MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone died, prompting riots in Belfast. He had been protesting the removal of Special Category Status for political prisoners like him by the British government and was one of 10 hunger strikers who died as part of the protest. #BobbySands #NorthernIreland #IRA #Riots #HungerStrike 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel (tap the bell icon and stay up to date with all the latest On This Day videos!) - https://www.youtube.com/c/OnThisDayITNP 🎥 Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/OnThisDayITNP 🎥 Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OnThisDayITNP 🎥 Check out our TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@onthisdayitnp
Hunger Striker Pat Sheehan relives the days leading up to the end of the 1981 hunger strike as he lay on his prison bed almost blind and close to death.
A hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance or pressure in which participants fast as an act of political protest, or to provoke feelings of guilt in others, usually with the objective to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change. Most hunger strikers will take liquids but not solid food.
In cases where an entity (usually the state) has or is able to obtain custody of the hunger striker (such as a prisoner), the hunger strike is often terminated by the custodial entity through the use of force-feeding.
Fasting was used as a method of protesting injustice in pre-Christian Ireland, where it was known as Troscadh or Cealachan. It was detailed in the contemporary civic codes, and had specific rules by which it could be used. The fast was often carried out on the doorstep of the home of the offender. Scholars speculate this was due to the high importance the culture placed on hospitality. Allowing a person to die at one's doorstep, for a wrong of which one was accused, was considered a great dishonor. Others say that the practice was to fast for one whole night, as there is no evidence of people fasting to death in pre-Christian Ireland. The fasts were primarily undertaken to recover debts or get justice for a perceived wrong. There are legends of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, using the hunger strike as well.
I don't mind stealing bread
From the mouths of decadence
But I can't feed on the powerless
When my cup's already overfilled
But it's on the table
The fire is cooking
And they're farming babies
While the slaves are working
Blood is on the table
And the mouths are choking
I'm growing hungry
Yeah
I don't mind stealing bread
From the mouths of decadence
But I can't feed on the powerless
When my cup's already overfilled
But it's on the table
The fires cooking
And they're farming babies
While the slaves are all working
Blood it's on the table
The mouths are choking
I'm growing hungry
(I'm going hungry)
I'm going hungry
(I'm going hungry)
I'm going hungry
(I'm going hungry yeah)
I'm going hungry
(I'm going hungry yeahh! )
Ohh yeah
Oohh
Yeahhh!
Yeahhh!
I'm going hungry
I'm going hungryyy!
I'm going hungry
I'm going hungryyy! Yeahhh!
Oooh!
Ooh yeahhh!
Ohh yeahh!
Ohhh!
I don't mind stealing bread!
Oooh!
I don't mind stealing bread!
Yeahh!
I'm going hungry
I'm going hungryyy yeahh!
I'm going hungry
I'm going hungryyy yeahh!