Five San Francisco residents are on hunger strike outside Mission Police Station, demanding that Mayor Ed Lee fire San Francisco Police Chief Gregory P. Suhr. Over the past three years the SFPD has shot and killed four men of color; the protestors feel that the hunger strike is the only remaining option to demand an end to police impunity. Read our full coverage here.
We received this letter from the ‘Frisco Five’ and are republishing it in full here. About an hour ago, the mayor stopped by the Mission police station but did not end up meeting with the hunger strikers. Check back here for an update on that shortly.
Monday, May 2
Dear Ed Lee,
We are the Frisco Five and we have offered our lives for the city we love.
We know you are hoping that we are just a passing fancy who will grow tired and wither away. That is what you have experienced in the past. We aren’t going anywhere. This time is different.
We are rejecting the little crumbs that you have offered in the form of COPS reviews and empty reforms propped up by your token community. We would rather go without than taste the sour garbage you offer as appeasement.
On countless news interviews you say that you are concerned for our health and well being. If that were true then you would have fired Chief Suhr. Heather Fong was forced out for less. If you truly cared about the people of this city, you would not hide and hope we go away so that your puppet masters can do their will in our city.
You say you care about the homeless and the minority communities of San Francisco and then you aid in their evictions and tear down their tents in the lashing rain in the middle of the night. Our tents and growing hunger are symbolic of the every day horror that your citizens, our community, face as a result of your policies. Policies that only benefit the 1%.
The next time you look at yourself in the mirror look long and hard and decide to do the right thing. We’ll be going to be at City Hall at 2pm tomorrow. That gives you over 24 hours to make the decision and announce that you have fired Chief Suhr.
We have decided to lay down our bodies for the love of our community and in solidarity with our fallen brothers. If there is any humanity left in you then you will hear our cry and do what is right. If you are not willing to do the right thing, then you must resign.
Our lives are in your hands,
The Frisco Five
