Untitled Document
The “Troops Home Fast” will begin after a final meal in
front of White House
On July 3, 2006, CODEPINK: Women for Peace, Global Exchange and Gold Star Families
for Peace will announce a historic hunger strike against the war in Iraq. At
5pm, they will sit down in front of the White House to eat their last meal and
hold a press conference before beginning the fast at the same location in the
morning of July 4 at 10am.
“We’ve marched, held vigils, lobbied Congress, camped out at Bush’s
ranch. We’ve even gone to jail. Now it’s time to do more,”
says peace mom Cindy Sheehan. “While others are celebrating July 4th with
barbeques, we’ll be showing our patriotism by putting our bodies on the
line to bring our troops home.”
Hundreds of celebrities, veterans, mothers, and concerned citizens across the
country will participate in a rolling fast. Strikers include musicians Willie
Nelson and Michael Franti, actors Danny Glover, Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon,
Gold Star parents Cindy Sheehan and Fernando Suarez, legendary faster and comedian
Dick Gregory, environmental activist Diane Wilson, Iraq war veteran Geoffrey
Millard and Gulf War vet Michael McPherson, labor leader Dolores Huerta and
CODEPINK cofounders Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evans and Gael Murphy.
The organizers call on a long history of fasts for political purposes, claiming
their place among the Suffragettes, Mahatmas Gandhi and Cesar Chavez. In honor
of this rich history, the fasters will gather at the Gandhi memorial statue
a Massachusetts and 21st NW on July 3 at 3pm, then march to Pennsylvania Avenue
for the meal and press conference at 5pm. In other parts of the country, people
will engage in rolling fasts, passing the fast from person to person every 24
hours.
Diane Wilson, who has engaged in several hunger strikes in her history as an
environmental activist, says she will not set an end date to her fast. “My
goal is to bring the troops home. I don’t know how long I can fast, but
I’m making this open-ended,” she says. “I plan to take this
as far as I’ve ever taken anything in my 58 years. I fear our future is
at stake, and I’m ready to make a major sacrifice.”
The fast will last until September 21, International Peace Day, when activists
around the country will initiate a week of nonviolent actions against the war
as part of the Declaration of Peace.
For more information, including a full list of fasters, please see
www.troopshomefast.org
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