Anchorage activist Kokayi Nosakhere took his hunger protest to the corner of 10th and Egan Saturday afternoon. Sitting in a chair with a sign with about a half-a-dozen supporters
facing those driving down off the bridge, Nosakhere could not tolerate the chilly winds for more than a few hours.
Nosakhere is trying to prompt movement of Senate Bill 3, the school meals legislation, which has been languishing in the House Finance Committee for the last year.
Nosakhere says he put in what he says was his fourth request to meet with Committee co-Chairman Bill Stoltze. Stoltze evidently told a reporter that he plans on hearing the measure before the end of the session. He says there’s been progress tying to meet with Committee Vice-chair Anna Fairclough. Noskehere says her staff tell him that she’s all booked up for the rest of the month and can’t meet with him.
Nosakhere started his hunger strike February 6th, making this (Monday, February 27th) the 21st day.
He says he’s down about 35 pounds from his original weight of 260. He says any activity like sitting in the cold during Saturday’s street corner protest or meeting with lawmakers saps what little energy he has. He says he’s been told that he is now at high risk of a heart attack.
