SF hunger strikers hospitalized

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) -- The so-called "Frisco Five," the demonstrators who have been refusing to eat until Police Chief Greg Surh resigned or was forced out have been hospitalized because of declining health although it was unclear if their protest was going to continue.

The group, identified as  Ike Pinkston, 42, Sellassie Blackwell, 39, Edwin Lindo, 29, Maria Gutierrez, 66, and her son Ilyich Sato, 42, began their protest on April 21 to in order to protest a couple of officer-involved shooting that occurred in San Francisco. 

The group spoke to Mayor Ed Lee on Thursday and he reportedly told the group that he would not take action against his police chief.

They had been surviving on chicken broth and other liquids but were said to not been eating solid foods during their protest. During their protest, the demonstrators were evaluated by nurses from the city public health department.

In a post on the group's Facebook "Due to their deteriorating health, all five of the hunger strikers have been hospitalized. At this time we are not able to release any additional information due to privacy concerns," the posting said. "We ask that you respect their privacy at this time. As soon as we have additional information we will update you."

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