A Hunger Strike to Death: The Politics of Necroresistance in Ron Kovic’s Hurricane Street

Abstract

Disabled Vietnam veteran activist Ron Kovic second memoir Hurricane Street (2016) has not garnered the same widespread recognition and readership as Born on the Fourth of July (1976) despite addressing a significant event in disabled veterans’ political history—namely, a hunger strike. The uneven popularity between the two memoirs underscores the existing gap between culturally normalized practices of doing politics among the disabled veterans’ community. While disabled veteran activists have a long history of weaponizing their bodies to express antiwar political statements, hunger strikes have not been a commonly utilized tactic in their activism or remain limited to isolated cases, resulting in a scattered and fragmented understanding of this form of protest. The paper aims to clarify the untapped potential of hunger strikes as a means of political expression for disabled veteran activists. Specifically, it aims to investigate the role of the hunger strike in Kovic’s Hurricane Street, exploring its potential and limitations in helping him navigate the complexities of his war disability. Drawing on Banu Bargu’s theories of necroresistance, this paper argues that Kovic’s protest is a life-affirming manifestation of defiance against the state injustice and an awakening of public consciousness. By delving into Kovic’s experiences and the impact of his hunger strike, this study sheds light on the intersection of disability, activism, and personal identity within the veteran community.