Woman launches hunger strike to protest Trump policy changes
- Anti-hunger activist Liz Wills-O’Gilvie, director of the Springfield Food Policy Council, has abstained from food for 15 days to urge Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey to expand funding for the state’s dwindling food stamp benefits.
- Her hunger strike aims to draw urgent attention to nationwide food insecurity stemming from major overhauls to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enacted under President Donald Trump‘s 2025 tax and spending law, which stripped benefits from over 5.3 million people.
- Massachusetts SNAP enrollment has plummeted by nearly 182,000 individuals, including roughly 65,000 children, creating widespread hardship for low-income families as grocery prices continue to rise.
- An overwhelmed Department of Transitional Assistance in Massachusetts has seen daily call volumes rise 9%, leaving roughly 47% of callers unable to connect with caseworkers to resolve issues with their aid, up from 37% last year.
- Despite suffering from lupus and hypoglycemia and becoming unable to drive due to weakness from fasting, Wills-O’Gilvie is continuing her hunger strike indefinitely while meeting with state lawmakers in her home.
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