Due to the pressure from family, friends, and fans, and the dental work I had to have done, and yet to be finished, I have ended my Save Maxwell Street hunger strike of 81 Days.

I weighed 185 pounds and dropped to 145 pounds, and I am 6 feet 2 inches tall, real thin and bony. People looked at me and were afraid that I might die.

Frank 'Little Sonny' Scott Jr. said to me, "I can't understand how will you get the meat back on your bones?"

For them and their peace of mind, I have put an end to this fast.

If we don't fulfill our true purpose in life, our existence is not necessary.

Maxwell Street, and the Maxwell area, was better known, respectfully, as Jewtown, in the olden days. It was just as important as downtown Chicago. It was a place of bargains so the poor could shop there and better survive the hard times.

And even more so for its kosher products: hot dog's, polish, hamburgers & corned beef. Vienna was located on Halsted near Roosevelt Road. They have served Chicago well, and continue to do so. And we, of the past, love her and her purity.

This part of Chicago was a big shopping area. From Halsted and Maxwell St. all the way north to Randolph - Lake St - also Fulton St also the Randolph Street Market, wholesale meats of all kinds and the fish companies, produce & groceries of all kind. We must not let all of this great history be destroyed. Maxwell St. is between two Great Markets - the north markets & the South Water Market. All of this was something to be proud of, working hand in hand together.

Please don't forget the South Water Market, just about three blocks south of Maxwell Street, and two blocks West of Halsted St. A great market it was indeed. I use to play there when I was a kid.

These three historical areas were one of Chicago's first greatest super markets to serve Chicago's every need. Bigger than any one supermarket we have today. People would come, with their horses and wagons, trucks and push carts, to buy and sell and to do business like never before.

We had factories of all kinds - bag factories - there was a pickle factory at 1045 West Washburn. There was a broom factory in the 1000 block west by 13th Place and Hastings St.. We also had horse stables. Yes and UPS was there, also 1200 block on Miller and Morgan St. I use to work there as a watchman .There was also a milk dairy owned by Joe Louis. We had many many different kind of businesses.

Now days the poor and the felon people are being frozen out of the legal business world, forcing some to criminal activities. For them there is no hope and no peace, neither forgiveness. For they are those who are the outcast of this system of racism. In this system, legal criminals always win out for their families and themselves selfishness.

God cause rain to come down from heaven and give life after death. For this should be a sign for those who are selfish.

This is what we are praying and asking for from Chicago's UIC and Mayor Daley. Please! Give respect to the past, the history of Maxwell St. and its greatness. It was there before we were born. Tearing down is not saving.

There are some people who hate the name Jewtown. I would like the Jewish people to know, that your fathers and mothers did a great job. You provided a place for us, the poor people, to live and shop and for our music to travel all around the world. You are a part of the physical and spiritual progress, and the history. It was a place of many great things to be remembered.

As Long as I live, I shall continue to fight with the Coalition to preserve Maxwell Street, and her history. We will not go away. We will continue to fight to save those 37 whole buildings and expect that more will join our battle.

We owe it to the Bluesmen and Women whose memories inspire me and give me strength.

They lived in the day's troubles. And when they died, they died from the troubles of this world. And history knows them not. These were the true pioneers of the Blues.

We must not forget the great need that we have for super natural health morality institutions of learning, all around the world, that we may save our environment.

- Jimmie Lee Robinson, Composer & Writer, APO Recording Artist

To see Jimmie Lee Robinson's other statements about his hunger fast go to

<www.openair.org/maxwell/jlprot.html> and <www.openair.org/maxwell/jlprot2.html> and <www.openair.org/maxwell/jlprot3.html>.

To hear and read about his Maxwell Street Tear Down Blues go to <www.openair.org/maxwell/ptear.html>.

To learn more about Maxwell Street cause see <www.openair.org/maxwell/preserve.html>.

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