Two-Week Fast Calls for an End to War in Yemen and Dramatic Measures to Avoid Famine

PARTICIPANTS BEGIN IN NYC AND END IN DC.

At least twelve people from around the United States and the United Kingdom will undertake a Fast for Yemen, December 29 – January 12, beginning in New York City and closing in Washington, D.C.  Participants call for sustained measures to cease all hostilities, end weapon sales to any of the warring parties, protect supply lines, facilitate aid operations, stabilize the Yemeni economy and avoid famine.

While fasting from all solid foods, they will engage in daily public outreach, following the schedule below. In NYC, they will carry placards, along with bookbags symbolic of war waged on Yemeni children, as they process to Missions to the UN and consulates of countries which are among the warring parties in Yemen, including the United States, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Schedule: 

Saturday, December 29^th, 11:00 a.m., joining the weekly Union Square vigil protesting war on Yemen, at East 14^th Street and Broadway.

Sunday, December 30^th 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  1^st Ave & 43^rd St., Ralph Bunche Park, in front of the Isaiah Wall across from the UN.

Monday, December 30^th – Friday, January 4^th, same as above, but including daily processions to Missions to the UN and consulates. Call 773-619-2418 for updates.

Saturday, January 5^th 11:00 a.m., Union Square vigil, East 14^th Street and Broadway

Sunday, January 6 – through Saturday, January 12^th, joining other activists in the Witness Against Torture’s “Fast for Justice” in Washington, D.C., an annual event calling for the closure of the U.S. prison in Guantanamo and calling attention to illegal detention, torture and police abuse in the U.S. and abroad. This year’s fast will pay special attention to Yemeni prisoners held in Guantanamo, for years, without charges, to operation of “clandestine” prisons in Yemen, and to consequences of aerial bombardment, ground attacks and the blockade. In D.C., Fasters will be participating in scheduled events including demonstrations at U.S. governmental offices and the Embassies representing countries among the warring parties in Yemen.

A naval and aerial blockade sporadically permitting relief shipments was made worse this year by the long-dreaded attack on Yemen’s vital relief port of Hodeidah; meanwhile a systematic bombing campaign against Yemen’s economic infrastructure means that even where food is available, fewer and fewer desperate Yemenis can buy it.

The Saudi leader is on record claiming “time is on our side” as the humanitarian crisis, already causing one of the modern era’s worst cholera outbreaks, further weakens opposition. Houthis governing from Yemen’s capital in turn insist outrage at an ongoing famine will defeat the attack. The direct death toll solely due to military attack, rising by 2,000 a month, will soon total 60,000 Yemenis.

Fast participants call on all parties in this conflict to immediately and permanently end all military and economic assault on Yemen.

The list below, still in formation, names those committed to fasting in New York from December 29 to January 6. The second week of the fast will take place in Washington, D.C.  Listed also are three fasters who will participate in both weeks, but remain in their own locales.

Carolyn Coe, Orland, ME

Bud Courtney, NYC, NY

Don Cunning, NJ

Maya Evans, St Leonards-on-Sea, UK

Bill Hartman, Camden, NJ

Kathy Kelly, Chicago, IL

Mike Levinson, NYC, NY

Joan Pleune, NYC, NY

Ed Kinane, Syracuse, NY

Jules Orkin, Bergenfeld, NJ

Brian Terrell, Maloy, IA

Beyond New York City:

Ken Jones, Asheville, NC  jonesk@maine.edu

Leigh Estabrook  Champaign, IL  leighe@illinois.edu

Martha Taylor  Floyd, VA  merta5602@gmail.com

CONTACTS:
Kathy Kelly 773 619 2418
Jules Orkin 201 566 8403