Mothers of children killed by reckless drivers launch hunger strike to force new law

Two mothers who lost their children to reckless drivers have launched a hunger strike in an effort to force New York state to let New York City set its own speed limits, Streets Blog reported.

Amy Cohen, who lost her 12-year-old son Sammy, said the discomfort of a hunger strike is nothing compared to what she endured after her son's death.

“People ask, ‘Won’t it be hard to not eat anything for a couple days?’ And I share that every day is already very hard. In the first two years after Sammy died, I hardly ate," she said.

"Truthfully, I thought if we just all starved, I wouldn’t have to live this life anymore,” said Cohen, whose son is the inspiration for the "Sammy's Law" bill. “Sammy experienced so much pain because … the car went right over his torso. If he can endure that pain and struggle for his life for five hours, and not make it, I can make a few days without food.”

If passed, Sammy's Law would allow New York City to set speed limits below 25 miles per hour. It was first brought in 2020 but was put on the shelf after some lawmakers expressed reservations about its provisions.

“You guys rarely see me cry. But I’m just angry, angry that some assembly members reach out to our community when we lost a member to say, ‘I’m sorry, I’m here with you,’” said fellow hunger striker Fabiola Mendieta-Cuapio, whose 5-year-old son Bryan was killed by a driver in 2006.

“But now, when we need your support, when we need you to be transparent, you’re hiding. That’s not OK. We need to pass Sammy’s Law today, no more excuses.”

Read the full report over at Streets Blog.