Providence Martinez Alaniz at Lutheran Community Church on Sept. 19. (Amaya Edwards —Santa Cruz Local/CatchLight Local)
SANTA CRUZ >> Last night, Providence Martinez Alaniz’s health took a turn for the worse. After 17 days without eating to protest the use of pesticides near Watsonville schools, her body had started to ache all over. She was so tired she could barely get up or speak. Around midnight, she reached out for help.
Omar Dieguez, 48, who initiated the hunger strike campaign, and his sister drove Alaniz to the emergency room at Watsonville Community Hospital. There, doctors diagnosed her with severe dehydration, a urinary tract infection and low levels of sodium, potassium and calcium. They administered nutrients and sodium in an IV and by Thursday morning Alaniz said she was feeling much better.
“I’m definitely going to eat today,” Alaniz said. “I’m going to have a little chicken and some soup, but then after that, I’m going to see if I can continue my fasting in a couple of days, pick it up again. But everybody’s really worried.”
Alaniz, 47, and Dieguez both began fasting Sept. 1 to protest the use of pesticides near schools in the Pajaro Valley. They were both born and raised in Watsonville and took the drastic action because they said children, farmworkers and residents who live near fields have suffered health problems for decades due to pesticide exposure.
Providence Martinez Alaniz receives care at Watsonville Community Hospital after 17 days of hunger striking. (Contributed)
Dieguez, reached by phone Thursday morning, said he, too, was feeling the exhaustion from fasting.
“I’m tired. I am taking it easy,” Dieguez said. “I still got, what, 13 days, 12 days to go? So I’m just trying to take it easy. I’m worried about what’s going to happen.” He said he saw a nurse Wednesday who advised him to stop fasting if he lost five more pounds.
Dieguez also told Santa Cruz Local that two presentations he had planned at schools were cancelled. Since he and Alaniz began hunger striking, they have visited schools throughout Santa Cruz and Monterey counties to talk about their protest and educate students on the effects of pesticides.
A planned visit to Pajaro Valley High School on Monday was cancelled after Dieguez said the principal had required Dieguez be fingerprinted, submit his presentation for review, get permission slips for teachers to approve and invite Driscoll’s representatives to hear from both sides of the debate. Despite complying with the requirements, Dieguez said his visit was cancelled.
Pajaro Valley High School Principal Todd Wilson did not immediately respond to a request for an interview.
Watsonville activist Providence Martinez Alaniz, right, attempted a 30-day hunger strike to protest the use of pesticides near schools in Pajaro Valley. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local file)
Another presentation planned at Watsonville High School this week was also cancelled, Dieguez said.
Alejandro Chavez, a spokesman for Pajaro Valley Unified School District, said the district has a policy which requires advance parental consent for speakers to present on controversial topics.
“Anything that the school district sees as controversial, they just want parents to have an opportunity to see what the comments are going to be or what the guest speaker will be speaking about, so that there’s an opportunity for parents to have an opt-out,” Chavez said.
He added, “When there is something that is controversial, the board policy that exists has to do with making certain that two sides of the story are both shared.”
When asked why Dieguez would be barred from presenting even after submitting permission slips, Chavez said he wasn’t sure but said there is no district policy banning the hunger strikers from presenting.
This story will be updated.
Read more
Questions or comments? Email [email protected]. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.
Nik Altenberg is a bilingual reporter and assistant editor at Santa Cruz Local. Nik Altenberg es reportera bilingüe y editora asistente para Santa Cruz Local.
