Conyers Supports CODEPINK's Troops Home Fast

Washington, DC - Congressman John Conyers, Jr. stated the following about CODEPINK's Troops Home Fast, a historic hunger strike calling for the U.S. government to bring our troops home from Iraq:

"The current open-ended occupation in Iraq," said Conyers, "has become a quagmire that promises only to squander more American lives and resources.

In October 2002, I joined 132 other members of the House in opposing the authorization to use force in Iraq. Since a majority of the Congress was tricked into voting for this war, the conflict has spiraled out of control. With the deaths of over 2,500 American troops, about 19,000 American troops injured, at least 40,000 Iraqi civilians dead, and at a cost of $320 billion, it is time for a new direction. That is why I am supporting CODEPINK's Troops Home Fast.

Hunger strikes have been used to change policy and social wrongs for hundreds of years. Throughout history, fasters have publicly denied themselves food on the doorstep of the person committing an injustice. For the Troops Home Fast, we are headed to the offender's doorstep: the White House lawn!

As of July 12, 2006, 3786 Americans have joined this solidarity fast, along with supporters in 20 foreign countries. There are 86 fasters in Michigan, and several in my congressional district. Notable Troops Home Fasters include my colleagues Congresswomen Lynn Woolsey and Cynthia McKinney, Cindy Sheehan, Danny Glover, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Howard Zinn.

The Congress needs to act immediately to change course and end the bloodshed. I know from personal experience that peace movements can alter the course of history. Peace movements such as the Troops Home Fast and CODEPINK are vital to spurring our government to change direction."

Background on CODEPINK and the Troops Home Fast:

CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into health care, education, and other life-affirming activities. The name CODEPINK plays on the Bush Administration's color-coded homeland security advisory system. While Bush's color coded alerts were based on fear, the CODEPINK alert is based on compassion and is a call for women and men to "wage peace."

On July 4, 2006, CODEPINK began its "Troops Home FAST." CODEPINK activists chose to begin the fast on Independence Day to symbolize their call for "independence from war." While some participants are fasting until International Peace Day on September 21, 2006, others are showing support by fasting for shorter periods.

###7-14-2006###