Hastings-on-Hudson woman to go on hunger strike against gun violence

A Hudson Valley woman says she is going on a hunger strike in an effort to stop gun violence nationwide.

News 12 Staff

Sep 22, 2019, 8:27 PM

Updated 1,769 days ago

Share:

A Hudson Valley woman says she is going on a hunger strike in an effort to stop gun violence nationwide.
The hunger strike comes on the heels of a double shooting in New Windsor that left a 21-year-old woman dead and sent a 20-year-old man to the hospital. The incident happened Saturday morning at the Knox Village Apartments.
There have been 308 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Shai Stephenson, an elementary school teacher in the Bronx, wants to put a cap on that number by going on what she calls a traditional hunger strike.
"Right now, I am eating one meal a day, and in October, it's going to look more like a traditional hunger strike where I will just be taking in fluids," she says.
The Hastings-on-Hudson woman says she’s been hungry for change since the beginning of September, and isn't stopping until she sees it.

"Every time I feel hungry, I am thinking about all of these victims, all of these people whose choices got taken away from them,” she says.

With the guidance of her doctor, she’s slowly easing into a solely liquid diet.
News 12 was in Stephenson’s kitchen where she was cooking up her only meal for the day. On the menu was baked chicken with some yellow rice, cabbage and carrots.
She hopes her efforts will help stir a pot of change.
"What I'm advocating for are meaningful background checks, a ban on assault rifles,” Stephenson says.


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued