POLYNICE JOINING HUNGER STRIKE

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 17, 1993                   TAG: 9302170240
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: AUBURN HILLS, MICH.                                LENGTH: Short
POLYNICE JOINING HUNGER STRIKE
Detroit Pistons center Olden Polynice said Tuesday he's joining the Rev. Jesse Jackson on a hunger strike to protest U.S. immigration policies concerning Haitian refugees.
The 7-foot, 250-pound Polynice, who was born in Haiti and played collegiately at the University of Virginia, decided to protest after speaking with Jackson, who began his fast on Sunday.
"It's something I really believe in and nothing's happening," Polynice said at The Palace as Detroit beat Orlando 124-120 in overtime.
Polynice said he would not eat during the NBA All-Star Break, which begins for the Pistons after Wednesday night's game at Miami.
After the break, he said he'd probably only eat on game days.
"I'll probably eat enough before the games just to get me through the games," he said. "I'm not worried about it. I don't think it's going to bother me at all. I eat really healthy and the human stomach isn't meant to digest three meals a day anyway."
He planned to visit a Haitian detention center in Miami before and after Wednesday's game against the Heat. Earlier this year, Polynice tried to visit a Haitian refugee center in Florida, but was turned away by officials.
"I don't know any of those people, but they're from my country and they're suffering," he said.
Polynice wore a sweatshirt with the letters HAITI across the front before the game.
Pistons head coach Ron Rothstein had no comment.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB