DREAM Fast Vigil

September 14, 2004 (Tuesday)

DAY TWO

Los Angeles, CA - Across the street from an institution of higher learning, the Los Angeles DREAM Fast and Vigil participants continued their efforts to inform the public about the significance and necessity of passing the DREAM Act.



Waking up with daily stretch exercises, the fasters prepared for a second day of the Campaign. However, a member of the two-week fasters had to end his vigil as he became ill and could not continue. His condition was not serious and due to his advanced age, the decision to end his fast was best for his health. The remaining fasters continued to hold steady and spent the day reading, playing board games and engaging in conversation with local university students who are increasingly becoming interested in the Campaign's 'Tent City' and supporting our efforts.

Wise Up! members arrived to stay with the fasters and to provide information to passing students. The day also involved creating a set of visually exciting banners (in Korean, Spanish and English) that attracted the interest of many of those passing by the busy intersection of Hoover Street and Jefferson Boulevard. Team-building activities and reflection exercises helped to galvanize the group. A few USC professors stopped by to discuss the historical and philosophical origins of fasting as a powerful method of transmitting a message.

Supporters who have expressed interest but could not fast on-site have pledged to fast off-site in solidarity with the on-site fasters.

Six new endorsers, including the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative (CIWC), the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights and the Asian Law Caucus, joined the original 19 endorsers on the second day of the two-week fast. Along with the organizational endorsements, endorsements from supportive individuals keep pouring in. Each new endorsement reinforces the resolve of the fasters as they persist in their struggle to let Congress and the Administration know that the DREAM Act must be made law immediately.

Media interest includes the Los Angeles Times, which is considering doing a story on the Campaign. We will provide additional information on this as we learn more. We are also searching newspapers with articles carrying the story. Pacifica Radio's "Enfoque Latino" show was on hand to interview participants and plans on returning to cover the fast. Our media coordinators are doubling their efforts to draw media attention by releasing statements and updates each day of the Campaign.

Day Three of the campaign will see the fasters preparing pickets and banners that depict symbols of higher education and the DREAM act. The Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) from Santa Monica Community College will join the fasters in solidarity.

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More information on the fasters:

On Site

2-week fasters

Dae Joong Yoon from the Korean Resource Center

Jennifer Park from the Korean Resource Center

Surim Esther Hong [from the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center- the Chicago affiliate of NAKASEC; on site for half of the time in Los Angeles; half of the time in Chicago]



Week 1

Han Jin Kim from the Korean Resource Center

24-hour fasters

none

Pledges (off-site)

2-weeks

Inbo Sim from the Korean Resource Center

Guadalupe Ramirez from MEChA de USC

2-weeks without lunch

Hee Joo Kim from the Korean Resource Center

New Endorsers:

Korean Alliance for Peace & Justice

Public Counsel

California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative (CIWC)

Asian Law Caucus

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance - LA Chapter (APALA-LA)

Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights

New individual endorsers:

Patrick Castillo

Alpha Gomez

What to expect on Day 3

September 15, 2004 (Wednesday) - Higher Education Day

University professors and administrators that support both the DREAM Act and the Student Adjustment Act, and who understand the urgency felt by their students, will join the fasters for a day of reflection and support. The fasters will also be joined by Jung-Hwa Chang, a community member and mother of an undocumented immigrant student who would be affected by the DREAM Act. Participants will enjoy a guitar performance by Sungpyo Ma of the Korean Resource Center.

From: Alvaro Huerta

e-mail: ahuerta@chirla.org

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