Jun 2, 2008 11:18 pm US/Eastern
Some Baltimore Teens Go On Hunger Strike
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
More than a dozen Baltimore City teenagers are on a hunger strike, determined to refuse food until the mayor gives them the $3 million they need for youth-based programs.
Kathryn Brown has their message and how Mayor Dixon is responding.
The teens chose to protest outside a "Mayor's Night In," which is designed to promote youth programs.
They call themselves the Hungry 13, a group of Baltimore teens vowing to give up food until the city gives them $3 million for youth-based programs.
"My stomach hurts. My head feels light. I'm losing a lot of weight. So far I've lost 15 pounds after four days," said Charles Waters.
It's been four days since the teens have eaten anything but water and fruit juice.
"I lost four pounds. I'm a little weak," said Cherdaya Allen.
"They're representing that they're not just hungry, they're hungry for education. They're just representing all the other peers that's already starving in lack of education," said Abeni Nazeer with Peer 2 Peer.
The teens are pledging to use the money for a program called Peer 2 Peer. It's a patchwork of nearly two dozen independent youth programs, dedicated to allow students to teach other students life skills.
"This will take a thousand young people off the street. This will take them away from the violence, the drugs, the downfalls of Baltimore City and put them in a knowledge-based economy where they can actually learn something, rather than working at Burger King or McDonald's, where you learn nothing," Waters said.
Mayor Dixon points instead to a highly successful program, Youth Works, which is offering a job to every teen in the city who wants to work this summer.
"What they want to do is create something different and take $3 million from that pot. That money has been allocated. I'm gonna sit with them, but they've gotta be open for compromise. We don't have $3 million," Dixon said.
But until they find it, the Hungry 13 are vowing to stay that way.
"People keep asking `When you gonna stop? Do y'all have a limit?' No, we're not gonna stop until we get the $3 million," Allen said.
"I keep telling myself that this is a positive thing. It will change and I'm willing to fight this struggle," said Michaela Brown.
Some on the City Council have proposed taking the money from interest from the rainy day fund, but the majority voted it down, as did Mayor Dixon.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
WJZ.COM's Most Popular Slideshows
