Celebs to go on hunger strike with Cindy Sheehan

[marmar]

Celebs to Join Cindy Sheehan in Hunger Strike
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2006-06-22 20:37. Activism
By Nathan Burchfiel, www.CNSNews.com

Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan announced Wednesday that she plans to begin an "open-ended hunger strike" on July 4 to urge the Bush administration to bring troops home from Iraq.

"We hope the fast will galvanize public attention, invigorate the peace movement, build pressure on elected officials, and get our troops back home," Sheehan said in a statement posted on the anti-war blogosphere.

The fast, organized by Code Pink and Sheehan's Gold Star Families for Peace, will begin on Independence Day in Washington, D.C. In her statement Sheehan said she would move the fast to Crawford, Texas, where the president owns a ranch and often vacations.

Sheehan gained national attention in August 2005 when she staged a protest outside the Crawford ranch to protest the war. She named the protest "Camp Casey" in memory of her son, Spc. Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004.

In her latest statement, Sheehan wrote that celebrities like singer Willie Nelson, actor Danny Glover and comedian Dick Gregory will show their support for her by joining in a one-day fast. She urged her supporters to do the same.

Sheehan is currently in Vienna, Austria, protesting President Bush's appearances there. He is in Europe to meet with leaders of the European Summit, seeking support for the United States' efforts to spread democracy in the Middle East.

In an interview posted on Code Pink's website, the group's co-founder Diane Wilson said the fast would show solidarity with Iraqis and U.S. troops. "Their bodies are on the line every day," Wilson said, referring to Iraqi civilians. "And so are the bodies of the U.S. soldiers. So shouldn't we be putting our bodies on the line?"

More: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/12252

[mike_c]

1. I've been waiting for this-- hunger-strikers are heros...

...and it doesn't surprise me in the least to see that heroism emerging from Cindy Sheehan and her associates.

[Terran1212]

2. Media: no reason to cover hunger-striking hippies, are we right?!

I wish we had a citizens' media that would cover things like this.

[earth mom]

3. I support Cindy 100% but I think hunger strikes are foolish.

They never work.

And not only that, but * will absolutely LOVE watching her starve!

[ceile]

4. I just think about Bobby Sands

and know that hunger strikes are pointless. I wouldn't be surprised if Bush goes Thatcher's route and doesn't do a damn thing.

[mike_c]

5. you say hunger strikes are pointless and cite Bobby Sands...

...but you know Bobby Sands's name today because of his strike. It's arguable that Sinn Fein owes it's eventual political success to the ten hunger strikers who died in 1981. Hunger strikes are not pointless. They are incredible acts of courage and committment.

[Sydnie]

7. Ghandi seemed to make it work for him too

Hunger strikes can work if enough people are behind you.

[MarianJack]

6. Cindy is a HEROINE,...

...but hunger striking against bush will have no effect except to make him as giddy with glee as if he were adding another underage Mexican girl to his list of conquests without the first frump finding out.

[catmother]

8. agreed.

[MarianJack]

10. Thanks,...

...but I WISH we were wrong.

What a detestable waste of DNA we running the white house. and the president is no better!

[catmother]

11. nothing is going to stop this administration from it's agenda.

[Just Me]

9. I am in awe of their commitment. I mean, they're heroes!!!!

Real, life heroes!!! Maybe, I'll be able to join in some of their activities since it appears I may be unemployed soon.