Hunger for Justice – July 31 2013 in Philadelphia
A multi-racial crowd of 40 women and men gathered outside the Byrne Federal Courthouse in Philadelphia as part of the July 31 Hunger for Justice national/international action in support of the California Prisoner Hunger Strikers and for justice for Trayvon Martin.
Some of the crowd gathered at the end to shout out for justice.  Many were fasting for the day to mark the 24 days the hunger strikers had been refusing food.  Some fasted 23 hours to mark the number of hours per day people are held in solitary confinement.
Theresa Shoatz – daughter of Russell Maroon Shoatz, a political prisoner who has been in solitary confinement for over 30 years – spoke about ending prison torture, and how we and our families are all targets of mass injustice.
Phoebe Jones of the Global Women’s Strike which helped initiate the action reads the demands of the hunger strikers and spoke of the mothers, daughters, sisters, wives who everyday fight for justice and their loved ones lives.
Pam Africa, representing International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu Jamal, The Innocence Project, and the MOVE organization, spoke from experience about what the hunger strikers are up against and called on everyone to support them.		Carolyn Hill, whose nieces were removed from her care by the Department of Human Services because she does not have a GED, says she is supporting the prisoners – her nieces are also being held in a sort of prison.
Bob Smith from Brandywine Peace Community told the crowd that there is "no war on poverty, just a war on poor people."		Pat Albright, from Every Mother is a Working Mother Network, spoke about her concern for her son who is Black and how people end up in prison due to cuts in welfare, especially women who are the fastest growing inmate population.
Matt Graber, working with the Campaign to Free Maroon Shoatz, stood in solidarity with all prisoners and oppressed people world-wide and tied in the issues of Israel's apartheid treatment of Palestinians and the historical and on-going colonialism against Indigenous peoples in the US and around the globe.	People signing the Pledge of Resistance to support the hunger strikers.   The “Truth” t-shirts are worn by people supporting gay whistleblower Bradley Manning who has been imprisoned for over 1000 days, nine months of it in solitary confinement, before his trial even began in June. He faces up to 90 years in prison for telling us the truth.
The action was covered in The Philadelphia Metro.