Activist Paul Mulangu has spent his last night hungry and sleeping on the street in protest of the closing of the Centre of Integration for African Immigrants, the non-profit centre he started.
Mulangu said Thursday that he was preparing to finish his protest out of concern for his health.
"Yesterday, it was very cold, and my eyes are very yellow, and I don't have a lot of vitamins," he said. "I'm feeling very, very weak."
Mulangu said he has had nothing but water and tea to sustain him since he began his protest on Oct. 12.
The provincial funding arrangement for the centre's jobs program expired in January. Mulangu was forced to lay his staff off but kept the centre open as an events hall. In 2010, the centre received a $275,000 federal stimulus grant, and the centre borrowed another $280,000 from Vancity to install improvements including a kitchen, gym and change rooms.
Mulangu found the centre's locks changed and lease terminated in September after going into just under $40,000 in arrears to the landlord.
Mulangu said he now has new plans to fight for the centre's future.
"I saw a pro-bono lawyer, and now the pro-bono lawyer is going to call the landlord, Vancity and the bailiff," he said.
Initially, Mulangu had been told by the landlord to remove the centre's belongings by Oct. 26, but that has been extended to Nov. 2 following a visit from the property manager on Wednesday. Mulangu said about 30 of the centre's supporters came out to protest Wednesday afternoon.
The centre has now had its electricity cut off, which Mulangu had been using to power a portable heater and his computer for his nights on the street.
Mulangu said there is still some confusion as to what will happen with the contents of the building if the landlord removes them next week.
Mulangu said after he has been checked over by a doctor, had a meal of okra and had a rest in his bed, he will begin focusing on his campaign for New Westminster city council.
