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NBCAug 04, 2023
The Facts
On Tuesday, US Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) staged a thirst strike lasting nearly nine hours to protest workers' lack of federal heat protections, including water breaks.
With temperatures in the mid-80s Fahrenheit at the US Capitol, Casar took his last drink of water at around 10:15 am. He then live-streamed the medical checkups he received before breaking the strike at around 7 pm.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Casar could’ve devised something less futile than going just eight hours without a drink. Instead of performing theatrics on the Capitol steps with his extreme-left colleagues, he could’ve been inside the building legislating. This was an attention-seeking waste of time.
Democratic narrative
Accessibility to water breaks is a serious issue that needs addressing. Even if heatstroke doesn’t kill a worker, it can affect that person’s life well beyond the immediate illness. Casar’s actions were symbolic of a worker’s shift and, just as his past thirst strikes have worked to inspire action, hopefully this one will too.
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