In an act of protest, Georgist Twitch streamer and political commentator “Chairman Shenandoah” has announced a week-long hunger strike in opposition to the latest wave of tariffs.

The former Maoist-turned-Georgist, known for his ambition to establish a Third Republic, a physiocratic American republic founded on Georgist principles, declared that for the next seven days, he will consume only fluids and essential vitamins.

A Strike Against Protectionism

In our conversations, Shenandoah condemned the newly enacted tariffs, which will take effect Tuesday, February 4th. The policy, implemented via executive order, imposes a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports and a 10% levy on Chinese goods.

The White House has signaled that any attempt by these countries to counter with their own tariffs will be met with further retaliatory tariffs. Shenandoah argues these measures harm both American workers and their counterparts abroad.

Instead of shielding domestic industries, he believes the tariffs serve to enrich monopoly capitalists, disrupt supply chains, and increase the cost of living for everyday people.

“These tariffs are warfare against our own people,” he said. “Trump is waging war on the American people with these taxes, and it’s not like Democrats can, or even want to, stop him. There is no faction in American politics truly fighting against monopoly, except us Georgists.”

Shenandoah frames his strike as an act of solidarity not just with American workers but also with laborers in what he calls the “sister republics” of Canada and Mexico, people he argues are being punished to prop up a failing economic system built on rent-seeking and aristocratic privilege.

Trade economists and free-market advocates have warned that these tariffs will drive up prices, further consolidate economic power in the hands of politically connected landlords and industrial monopolies and create barriers to economic mobility.

But while many may voice complaints, Shenandoah insists that Georgists must build a movement capable of not just spreading their message but ultimately winning power.

Hardship as a Principle

For Shenandoah, this hunger strike is more than symbolic, it’s a personal act tied to his broader philosophy. A former Maoist before embracing Georgism, he believes struggle is essential for meaningful change.

Though health complications prevent him from fasting for more than a week, he plans to extend his protest in a different way: for the rest of February, he will replace any meals he eats alone with a simple diet of beans and rice, a meal plan he calls the “war liberal ration.”

He has vowed to continue this protest unless Trump rescinds the new tariffs, stating, “if he’s yellow enough to do so.”

“One of the few hedonistic pleasures I have left is food,” he admitted. “But I will sacrifice it. If we want a society where royalists do not dictate our future, we must be willing to struggle for it.”

For Shenandoah, however, this hunger strike is more than just a political statement, it is also a deeply personal act of defiance against the challenges in his own life.

His family, only recently beginning to recover from financial hardship, now faces rising costs and even potential job losses due to the tariffs.

As a result, this protest also serves as a way to reduce expenses while sustaining his Twitch channel, which is currently his primary source of income.

Chairman Shenandoah is calling on his followers, both within the Georgist movement and the broader Liberal community, of which he considers himself a part, to join him in solidarity.

He urges them to skip a meal or two and donate the savings to Georgist causes, framing it as a small but meaningful way to push back against the forces of economic rent-seeking.

A Georgist Call to Action

Shenandoah’s strike represents growing frustration among those who see protectionism as yet another tool of entrenched economic interests. Both Republicans under Trump and Democrats under Biden have embraced tariffs, subsidies, and other policies that shield corporate monopolies at the expense of market competition.

By contrast, the Georgist movement advocates a radically different economic model, one in which land is taxed based on its unimproved value, discouraging speculation while allowing free trade and competition to flourish.

“This isn’t just about economics,” Shenandoah said. “Tariffs are life or death. Many people will suffer and die under this radically protectionist regime.”

Despite his status as a niche internet figure, Shenandoah’s act of defiance may resonate with those who feel abandoned by the political system. With inflation, corporate consolidation, and the housing crisis continuing to squeeze working-class Americans, his hunger strike is intended to serve as a rallying cry for those disillusioned with mainstream politics.

For those who wish to support Chairman Shenandoah, he streams at twitch.tv/chairmanshenandoah every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday at 2:00 PM PST