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NEWS
RELEASE MEDIA
ADVISORY —February 27, 2004 TESTIMONY OF LOW INCOME WORKERS TO OPEN LABOR-RELIGION COALITION'S STATEWIDE 40 HOUR FAST Three low-income workers from the Capital District and a former farmworker will tell what it's like to live at the bottom of the economic ladder. They will do so while announcing the Ninth Annual 40 Hour Fast at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 2, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 275 State Street (one half block west of the Legislative Office Building) in Albany. With custodial jobs at Albany Medical Center, at the Harriman Office Campus and as an independent child care provider, these workers know well the struggle against poverty and the need to raise New York's minimum (and poverty) wage. They will be joined by religious and labor leaders. Sponsored by the New York State Labor-Religion Coalition, the Fast begins at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2 and ends at noon on Thursday, March 4. "A country that accepts 34 million persons living in poverty (one of every five of our children) has lost its moral bearings," said Brian O'Shaughnessy, New York State Labor-Religion Coalition Executive Director. "It's terribly sad that New York has fallen far behind other states in alleviating the suffering of the working poor." Under the theme of "Remembering Our Betrayed Workers," the Fast invites all New Yorkers to go without solid food for 40 hours. During this experience of hunger, Fast participants are asked to hunger for justice by petitioning elected officials to increase the minimum wage, bring justice to farmworkers and help someone register to vote. Interfaith prayer vigils and other events at ten locations will mark the fast across the state, coordinated by affiliates of the New York State Labor-Religion Coalition. ### |