HungerFast Movement Protests Budget Cuts

Ambassador Tony Hall is fasting and praying to protest proposed budget cuts that he believes will hurt vulnerable people—and Latino leaders are joining him.

“One of the major challenges of our generation is the challenge of ending hunger,” says Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition. “We are fasting because we believe we as a nation can do better to address poverty and hunger disparity. Doing nothing is not an option!”

Also joining the fast are former Governor Bill Richardson, Congressman Joe Baca (D-CA), Margaret Moran, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

“The Latino community would be devastated if the proposed cuts to programs benefitting the hungry and poor in America were to become law,” says Margaret Moran, LULAC National President. “Draconian cuts to Head Start, WIC, and SNAP programs are mean-spirited and unnecessary. Congress should not attempt to balance the budget on the backs of the hardest working yet lowest paid Americans.” 

The HungerFast.org movement was first announced on Monday, March 28th by Ambassador Hall who stopped eating and started fasting 25 days ago, challenging people of faith and conscience to join him, pledging to put pressure on Congress to form a “circle of protection” around programs benefitting poor and hungry people.  

To date over 36,000 Americans, 28 Members of Congress and the leaders over 40 diverse organizations—including Bread for the World, Sojourners, World Vision, American Jewish World Service, Islamic Relief USA, Feed America, Share Our Strength, ONE, MoveOn.org and SEIU—have joined the HungerFast movement.