Fasting for families
CCI Organizer Bridget Fagan and members Jeannette Bauer, John Blasingame, and Phyllis Burget traveled to Washington, D.C. for a Center for Community Change forum on expanding Social Security. While in D.C., they took time to visit Fast for Families to show support for fair, humane immigration reform and a path to citizenship by visiting Fast for Families: A Call for Immigration Reform and Citizenship. As part of the Fast for Families campaign, leaders and immigrant members of the community fast every day and night, abstaining from all food—except water—to move the hearts and minds of members of Congress to pass immigration reform with a path to citizenship.
Here's what CCI organizer Bridget had to say about the experience: I wanted to tell you all about our experience tonight. We joined in solidarity with the fasters fighting for immigration reform, and visited their tent on the capitol grounds where fasters, activists, and supporters gathered.The tent is pretty large and in charge, heated and decorated from head to toe with pictures, posters, quilts, and more - all remnants that depict families' fight for fair, humane immigration reform.Every night there is a ritual at 6pm - guests come, all the fasters come out and sit in the front row of rows of seats, and they have a service where they pray, invite guests to speak, and sing. Each person who is leaving the fast says a few words, and then each new person joining the fast comes forward and receives a cross.There were anywhere from 70-100 people joining the fasters tonight. It was amazing and powerful.It is very apparent they have strong support. Labor allies were there, National People's Action was there, faith leaders were there - and more. Peter and Paul (from Peter, Paul and Mary) were even there.You can tell the fasters are tired and weak. Rudy Lopez, a longtime CCI friend is still fasting. He was clearly was touched by the support and love the fasters received tonight.
This is truly something I'm going to take with me for a long time - and I believe our members will too. It's energy for the fair immigration fight ahead of us.