Veteran joins call for action against gun violence by going on hunger strike

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- As Philadelphia's gun violence climbs at a record pace, a 63-year-old veteran is demanding change through a hunger strike.

Jamal Johnson is an activist and disabled Marine Corps veteran who has been planted outside City Hall for more than two weeks.

He's demanding Mayor Jim Kenney to treat gun violence the same as other public health crises.

Johnson is faithfully outside of the north side of City Hall by 1 p.m. every day and has even gone to the mayor's home. He wants Kenney to implement a resolution created by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier that would make the city treat gun violence as an emergency.