"Fast for Families" Immigration Reform Effort Enters 20th Day

http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/joannabrooks/7423/_fast_for_families__immigration_reform_effort_enters_20th_day/

December 2, 2013 2:21am
Post by JOANNA BROOKS

The “Fast for Families,” a hunger strike in support of immigration reform backed by a coalition of religious, immigrant, and labor organizations, now enters its twentieth day of encampment on the mall in Washington, D.C. Among the seventeen original fasters are Sister Simone Campbell, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez (National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference), and other national faith leaders. With some original fasters now growing too weak to continue to fast in public, organizers are calling for supporters of immigration reform nationwide to fast in solidarity.

As evangelical Latino leader Gabriel Salguero explained, fasting is an “ancient discipline” that “seeks to move the conscience of a nation while openly confessing our dependence on God.” Fasting is also a significant faith practice for Mormons, who routinely fast the first Sunday of each month as well as at times of heightened spiritual need.

One of the seventeen original fasters, Cristian Avila, is a young LDS immigration activist from Phoenix, Arizona. As Cristian grew too weak to continue his fast in public, Sam Adair, a self-described “active” Mormon, father of three and immigration attorney from Austin, Texas, traveled to stand on the mall.




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