Oakland: Troops Home Fast Press Conference

* Troops Home Fast Press Conference Monday in Oakland
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Press Advisory:
Contact: Cynthia Johnson 510-495-5132
Sam Joi 510-821-0543
Rae Abileah 415-994-1723

Immediate Release July 14th,2006

"TROOPS HOME FAST" IN OAKLAND Hunger Strikers Enter Second Week
LOCAL FASTERS BEGIN CONTINUOUS PRESENCE
Oakland Federal Building
12 Noon Monday JULY 17

WHAT: KICK-OFF PRESS CONFERENCE

While Colonel Ann Wright, Diane Wilson, Medea Benjamin, Dick Gregory, Veterans, Iraqi citizens & others continue the "TROOPS HOME FAST" in front of the White House, local citizens continue the TROOPS HOME FAST IN OAKLAND.

WHEN: MONDAY JULY 17, 12 NOON

WHO: Jane Jackson, Iraqi physician Sureya Sayadi, Pentagon Paper's Daniel Ellsberg, Code Pink & Declaration of Peace Organizers, Gandhi Peace Brigade's Jes Richardson, Unitarian Universalist Tom Luce join other fasters in a continuous presence at THE OAKLAND FEDERAL BUILDING.

Organized by CODEPINK: Women for Peace, a group of long-term fasters from around the Bay Area will begin their daily presence at the Oakland Federal Building. They will be joined in the relay part of the fast by Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Over 3,700 celebrities, veterans, mothers, and concerned citizens across the country are also participating in a rolling fast over the summer, fasting as long as they are able and then passing the fast from person to person. Many are fasting in solidarity urging local leaders to stand for peace. Local fasters who may join us are musician Michael Franti, actors Danny Glover, Sean Penn and writer Alice Walker, and labor leader Dolores Huerta.

WHERE: Oakland Federal Building 1401 Clay near Broadway.

QUOTE: Human rights activist and Oakland resident Jane Jackson who has engaged in numerous humger strikes, 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 72 years. I fear our future is at stake, and I'm ready to make a major sacrifice." They will continue to be present outside the Oakland Federal Building in solidarity with other long-term fasters at the White House.

Many of the long term fasters will go on to Washington DC September 21 for 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 http://www.troopshomefast.org , http://www.bayareacodepink.org

THE FASTERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS/

WAR IS DISABLING

Good to have as many people as possible at this beginning of our presence in Oakland. Code Pink maintained a week long presence at Diane Feinstein's home and office.