On September 1, Voices in the Wilderness participants will begin a ten day public fast in Chicago. This fast is in support of Iraqis and Palestinians who are utilizing nonviolent means to resist unjust conditions. Palestinian detainees are engaged in a hunger strike to demand an end to inhumane treatment in prison. Iraqis entered Najaf to nonviolently interpose themselves between two warring factions and to reclaim the Shrine of Imam Ali for peace.

Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani returned to Iraq, leading a march of tens of thousands of Iraqis to Najaf. He brokered an agreement between Moqtada al-Sadr and Iraq’s interim government which includes the following: withdrawal of all armed forces from Kufa and Najaf; withdrawal of all US forces from these cities; turning security over to the Iraqi police; and compensation paid by the Iraqi government to those who suffered losses during the fighting. We hope this agreeement is honored by all.

Our fast is in support of these and other nonviolent acts in Iraq. As US citizens, we have the responsibility to ensure that our country: 1) withdraws its forces from Kufa and Najaf, and 2) provides for compensation to those who suffered losses caused by the fighting.

Our fast is also in support of the nonviolent actions of Palestinian detainees seeking an end to unjust treatment. The US is the most significant of Israel’s allies. As US citizens we therefore have a responsibility to demand that our country act to end the inhumane treatment of Palestinian detainees.

Our fast calls for an end to the inhumane and unjust treatment of detainees–whether in Iraq or Palestine; whether carried out by US citizens or US allies.

We invite you to join us in fasting in Chicago from September 1 through 10. We will be at the Old Water Tower at 806 N Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Our vigil will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on each day.

If you are not able to come to Chicago, please do what you can in your local community to actively support Iraqis and Palestinians who are engaged in nonviolent action to end the violence consuming their countries. Please let us know what actions you are able to organize from September 1 through 10 so that we can publicize these actions.

If you have any questions, please contact us at the Voices office in Chicago at 773-784-8065 or email us at either ken@vitw.org or jeffleys@vitw.org.