Washington, D.C. based human rights activist D.J. McGuire has initiated a hunger strike relay in the U.S. to raise awareness to Americans about the urgent need to improve human rights in China. D.J. McGuire is president of China Support Network. He is also the author of a book: Dragon in the Dark: How and Why Communist China Helps Our Enemies in the War on Terror .
This hunger strike relay follows ongoing hunger strikes across China in peaceful protest against the Chinese communist regime's escalating violent persecution of its own citizens and lawyers who want to defend their rights. Mr. Gao Zhisheng, a prominent lawyer in China who is world renown for defending human rights, called for the hunger strike relay on February 4th. Since last fall, his law office has been shut down, and attempts were made to kill him.
In an interview with The Epoch Times , McGuire said that he noticed no one started the hunger strike relay in the U.S. And he thought: why don't I start one right here in the nation's capital?
McGuire told The Epoch Times that he hopes to bring more attention in the U.S. to what Gao is trying to do. McGuire explained that activists in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union had a great effect in raising public awareness through their actions.
Why should Americans care about these issues in China? "[The Chinese communist regime] is the biggest supporter of terrorists on the planet. [They] provide economic and military aid to al Qaeda, Syria, Iran, [etc.]… Only when China is free, will America be free," McGuire replied.
While the Chinese communist regime controls the major media and has devoted extraordinary resources to censor and monitor the Internet to keep the truth out of China, how can more people in China learn about the truth? McGuire suggests that radio and TV transmissions may be the best means to reach most people in China.
McGuire explained that communications between regions within China are also important so that the people in China can learn what others are doing in their own country and coordinate together. This is one of the things that the Chinese communist regime fears the most, he said.
Is anyone putting themselves in harms way in these hunger strike relays? McGuire explained that there should be no serious risk to one's life. In the hunger strike relay, each person typically fasts for a short time. This is the first time McGuire is participating in a hunger strike. And he will be fasting for 72 hours. He says that he is in no danger, and that this can even do him some good by helping him to loose some weight.
McGuire has a message for the Chinese people and Gao Zhisheng: You're not alone; many people in America and around the world support you.
Similar relay hunger strikes have already begun throughout China and outside of China, including Toronto, New York, London, and Hong Kong. Now, Washington, D.C. can be added to the growing list.
McGuire started fasting at midnight, February 10th. "Anyone in the District, Virginia, or Maryland who wishes to join me need only express yourselves (and your hunger strike interval) in the comments. Your hunger strike need only be 24 hours," wrote McGuire in his blog.
McGuire's blog can be found at china-e-lobby.blogspot.com .
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