Fasting for Justice

When I decided to fast from January 11 until January 22, in solidarity with the Witness Against Torture group in Washington, DC, I had little hope of lasting more than a day or two. The presence in Washington began on January 11 to mark the ninth anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo to "war on terrorism" detainees. The fasting community in DC will be participating in vigils, lobbying, and public events each day of the Fast for Justice. The focus is the closure of Guantanamo, the release of the captives, and an end to torture, I wanted to see what the fast would feel like, would I get dizzy, faint, so hungry I would break down and eat anything near at hand? Years ago, at the New York Catholic Worker, I fasted for a day or two at a time, for spiritual focus. But I was much younger then, and I had the support of the fasting community.

The current fast is a liquid fast, which for me means coffee, tea, Pellegrino water, sometimes with a shot of orange juice in the water. I suspect the DC people, in their hoods and orange jumpsuits, are much more severe than I am, water and electrolytes, perhaps? I am aware of the irony of the case of Pellegrino resting at my feet as I write today.

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