The Veterans Fast for Life was a water-only fast that lasted from September 1 to October 17, 1986 on the steps of the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C., as a protest against the U.S. policies in Central America (see Contra wars).
[1] Before embarking on the fast, Charles Liteky renounced in July 1986 his Medal of Honor in protest against the U.S. policies in Central America.
[1] Various U.S. senators and members of the House of Representatives expressed support for the then ongoing fast, including Tom Harkin, Charles Mathias, Robert J. Mrazek, Patrick Leahy (who inserted a statement into the Congressional Record to support the fast[5]) and John Kerry in September 1986, and thirteen senators and seventy-five members of the House of Representatives issued a supportive joint public statement on October 7, 1986.
[1] In contrast, on October 11, 1986, Senator Warren Rudman likened the four fasting veterans to terrorists.
[6] Shortly thereafter, in late 1986, the FBI initiated a "terrorism" investigation of the activities of the Plowshares group (who jammed the locks of eleven military recruitment stations in Chicago on October 29, 1986[7]) and, at the same time, those of the Veterans Fast for Life peace group, an investigation which FBI agent John C. "Jack" Ryan refused to conduct, being notably "convinced of the totally non-violent posture of the [Veterans Fast for Life group]".