Activist Holds Anti-Nader Hunger Strike

Link : http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=816&ncid=816&e=1&u=/ap/20041002/ap_on_el_pr/activist_nader

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - A peace activist who once fasted for 63 days to protest movie violence and war toys is launching another hunger strike to persuade Ralph Nader (news - web sites) to abandon his presidential bid.


Jerry Rubin, 60, said he plans to consume only liquids from Saturday until Nov. 2 if Nader doesn't take a meeting with him.


"I know Ralph Nader and I don't think he's doing the right thing," Rubin said Saturday. He said the consumer advocate's campaign is dividing the progressive political movement.


Many believe the votes Nader received in Florida in 2000 would have gone to Democratic candidate Al Gore (news - web sites) had Nader sat out the election. Gore lost the state ?- and the national election ?- to George W. Bush by 537 votes.


Rubin is often confused with now-deceased "Chicago Seven" defendant Jerry Rubin. He legally changed his name to Jerry Peace Activist Rubin to avoid confusion with the 60s radical.


The peace activist is no stranger to hunger strikes: In 1988, he broke a two-month fast with a bite from a giant pizza topped with a pepperoni peace sign that he then left for "Rambo" star Sylvester Stallone.


He again fasted in 1997 to persuade movie production company Dreamworks SKG to abandon plans to relocate its headquarters to wetlands. He collapsed after 26 days, but Dreamworks abandoned the idea, saying it could not reach a satisfactory financial agreement.