News Release 2006 40-hour FAST

NEWS RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY March 13, 2006

CONTACT: Brian O’Shaughnessy
Cell: 518/ 526-2662
518/ 213-6000 ext. 6294
E-mail: info@labor-religion.org

STORIES OF AMERICA’S BROKEN PROMISE, PHOTOGRAPHS BY WORKERS FEATURED AT OPENING OF LABOR-RELIGION COALITION’S 40-HOUR FAST

In recognition of their shared commitment to economic justice, religious and labor leaders will announce the New York State Labor-Religion Coalition’s 40-Hour Fast at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15, 2006, in the well of the Legislative Office Building, Empire State Plaza in Albany.

"I wish I could point to ‘justice for all’ in the Pledge of Allegiance and say it is a growing reality,” said Brian O’Shaughnessy, New York State Labor-Religion Coalition Executive Director. "I see only more and more broken promises for the working people of New York and the nation.”

The Fast, which is the eleventh annual, provides a 40-hour time period to reflect on the promise that in this country all should have access to the necessities of life. The number 40 has special significance in the religious and labor traditions—the 40-hour work week, the Israelites’ 40 years wandering in the wilderness and Jesus’ 40 days in the desert.

As part of the opening of the Fast, selected photographs by workers from the Unseen America New York Project will be displayed in the well. Unseen America is an innovative arts project in which workers document their experiences and bring their worlds to light.

A statewide event, the Fast invites all New Yorkers to go without solid food for all or part of the 40 hours that begin at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15 and end at noon on Friday, March 17. During the fast, participants are encouraged to “hunger for justice” due to budget and tax priorities that favor the rich and burden the poor. In New York state, 900,000 men, women and children rely on food programs each week while America’s billionaire club continues to grow.

Local labor-religion coalitions and individual congregations are organizing events across the state during the 40 hours. These include a forum on immigration in Ithaca, a meal with farmworkers in Brockport, a prayer service in Buffalo about ending sweatshops led by a confirmation class, and a rally in support of building service workers in New York City. Information about these and other fast-related activities is available at www.labor-religion.org.

-30-