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*With the White House as her backdrop Tuesday, anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan ate her last meal at midnight and begin a hunger strike designed to call attention to her efforts to bring home U.S. troops fighting in Iraq.
Danny Glover, Rev. Al Sharpton and Susan Sarandon are among the celebrities joining Sheehan for the nationwide effort, dubbed “Troops Home Fast.” So far, more than 3,000 people from the U.S. and 18 other countries have signed up to join the “rolling fast,” meaning they’ll be giving up food on designated days and encourage others to fast with them on those days.
"Everything we do is to get the troops to come home," Sheehan told People magazine. "We want to show the world that there are Americans who are committed to peace. Fasting is such a time-honored way of protest."
Sean Penn and Willie Nelson have also joined the effort launched by Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004. The activist will remain on a diet of water, teas and juices until Sept. 1, International Peace Day.