To: Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-8)
Support Our Fast for Immigration Reform
We fast for families. We fast for immigration reform.
Every day that the House Republican leadership stalls on a vote for immigration reform is one more day that families and communities continue to suffer the impact of deportations, deaths on the border, exploitation at work and the fear of living in the shadows with no path to citizenship.
I’ve joined together with other immigration reform activists to fast and pray until the bonds of families are no longer broken. Together we will fast and pray until immigration reform is no longer just a dream for 11 million aspiring Americans.
During this fast, I know that I will suffer physical hunger, but there is a deeper hunger within me -- a hunger for an end to a system that creates such misery among those who come here to escape poverty and violence in search of the American dream.
Stand in solidarity with 11 million aspiring Americans and urge Speaker Boehner and House Republican leadership to fix our country’s broken immigration system and take a vote.
Why is this important?
This year, we have come the closest ever to achieving real immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. In June, the U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive, bipartisan immigration bill (S.744).
Unfortunately, the Republican leadership in the House continues to delay a vote that could complete the dream for 11 million aspiring Americans by addressing our nation’s broken immigration system.
Immigration reform activists have committed to a daily fast in front of the U.S. Capitol and at locations across the country to send a clear and visible message to Congress about the moral crisis caused by our country’s broken immigration system and its impact on millions of families.
The thousands of fasters are being led by Eliseo Medina of the SEIU, Dae Joong Yoon of National Korean American Service and Education Consortium, Cristian Avila of Mi Familia Vota, Lisa Sharon Harper of Sojourners, and Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Luis Gutierrez, Joseph Kennedy, Senator Chuck Schumer and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack have all visited the tent to show their support for the fasters. Author and activist Gloria Steinem and the Rev. Jesse Jackson have also visited the tent to stand in solidarity with the fasters.
Over 3000 are taking part in fasts in more than 180 events across the country, with numbers growing every day.
Evening vigils are held at 6 p.m. in the community tent, located on the National Mall, and all are welcome to show their solidarity with those fasting for immigration tent by visiting, sending a message to the fasters, or by signing a pledge to fast. Visit http://fast4families.org/ for more information.