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Gary Coleman Hunger Striker via Facebook
# taking a stand
This Cork man is on hunger strike to protest against the water charges
Gary Coleman plans to stay on the hunger strike until 25 October, when a march is planned against the charges in Cork.
A MAN IN Cork has started a hunger strike this evening as a protest against the water charges.
Gary Coleman began his strike at around 5pm outside Cork City Hall and plans to sleep there overnight. Speaking to TheJournal.ie tonight, he said he aims to raise awareness of an anti-water charges protest planned in Cork city on 25 October.
“It was anger that drove me to it,” he explained. “It’s not fair on families with children – it’s a lot of money – and people who are unemployed. I don’t think they should have to pay.”
A Facebook page set up this evening to promote his protest has already passed 1,000 likes.
Coleman said he hoped his actions would encourage people to join the march in Cork later this month so it can reach the same numbers as the one in Dublin at the weekend. It is estimated that between 80,000 and 100,000 people attended.
“Hopefully we’ll get a big turnout for the protest – I’ll be staying on the hunger strike until then,” he said.
Though the Cork man said he was a little worried about being on hunger strike for that long, he’s “willing to do it”.
“Someone has to take a stand against it, they’re not listening to us”.
Originally published 9.52pm
Read: Tens of thousands take to the streets of Dublin to protest against water charges>
More: Ireland’s water charges protest made the international headlines>
