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Q-C activist will fast for peace

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By Kurt Allemeier | Monday, October 08, 2007 |

Davenport activist Gil Sierra wants to draw attention to the apathy about ending the war in Iraq by fasting for two weeks. (PHOTO BY KEVIN E. SCHMIDT) Buy this Photo

TODAY: (Updated 11:59 a.m.) Befuddled by apathy toward ending the Iraq war, a Davenport activist wants to draw attention to the issue by fasting for two weeks.

Gil Sierra, a state director for League of United Latin American Citizens and former Davenport alderman, announced his fast this morning in LeClaire Park where he will be nearly every day for the two-week fast. He plans to be at the park most days from 9 a.m. to sunset. A doctor’s appointment and a family gathering will cut short his days later this week.

He is disappointed in presidential candidates, especially Democrats, who can’t find a way to end the conflict in Iraq. He mentioned Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former Sen. John Edwards by name.

“They don’t seem to have a solution for how to stop the war,” he said. “I’m upset that we’re headed toward 4,000, maybe 5,000 dead soldiers.”

Today, sitting in a folding chair with an Iowa Hawkeye logo on it, he invited others to join him, even for just a day. He had a matching chair next to him under a broad multicolored umbrella. He is disappointed that few people seem to be willing to take a stand against the war.

“It is not like the old days when we had hundreds of people,” he said. “Maybe they don’t give a hoot about the war.”

Despite his credentials with LULAC, Sierra wants people to know he is doing this as “Gil Sierra, individual activist.”

He hopes others will join him, to either pray or meditate while they are with him. He is even willing to bend the rule for some, such as young people.

“Give up pop for one day,” he said. “I’ll count that as a fast.”

Sitting on the ground in front of his chair are a pair of coolers, but don’t look for any sandwiches inside. Sierra has tomato juice, and other juices, Gatorade and water.

Kurt Allemeier can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or kallemeier@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.