Women have mobilized before, prompted by a number of causes. History has shown that education, reproductive rights, equal pay, domestic and sexual violence, sexual harassment and women's suffrage are causes that have led waves of women to organize and make waves. Now, women are acting in solidarity with immigrant families; fasting to discourage the continued deportation of immigrant mothers, fathers and children, and to highlight failures by U.S. lawmakers.

"Women are hungry for immigration reform," declared the We Belong Together website, which documented the month of action, entitled "Act. Fast: Women's Fast for Families," where more than 1500 women fasted through 70 events in Washington, D.C. and Mexico City, and 35 states. The Act. Fast month began on March 8, International Women's Day, and bridged toward the National Day of Action Against Deportations on April 5, before concluding with the 48-hour fast of 100 women in Washington, D.C. from April 7-9.

Participating women and organizations represent networks that include millions of women who are a part of the nearly 70 percent of the female population who support immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.

The Seattle-based campaign, We Belong Together, has pledged determination, and on the last day of their hunger strike, fasters -- including those who face deportation -- have continued to call on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill, and worked to compel President Barack Obama to cease the deportations of undocumented immigrants, which is at a historic high.

"We are going to give up our food for the next 48 hours so that we can feed the courage of the leaders in the House GOP and we can feed the courage of the executive branch to both pass immigration reform in the House and to stop deportations and end the suffering of families across the country," said Pramila Jayapal, chair of We Belong Together, one of the groups that organized the fast. Jayapal made the statement on Tuesday, April 8.

April 8, the first day of the two-day Washington, D.C. fast, the fasters were visited by some of Washington's top decision makers on immigration.

Congresswoman Lucille Royal-Allard made an appearance, and stated to the group, "all we need is a vote in the House-we would have enough members to pass immigration reform."

Key Republican members of the House, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), addressed the women. Ros-Lehtinen reaffirmed her commitment to immigration reform. Hours later she proved her pledge when she cast her vote to bring HR15 -- the bipartisan immigration reform bill -- as an amendment, to the floor for a vote; the first Republican to do so.

Diaz-Balart told the hungry crowd that he was "more convinced than ever" that immigration legislation was soon to be passed, saying that it could even happen this year.

"Voto, Voto, Voto" rang from the audience, the women urging the representative to convince his Republican colleagues to vote on an immigration bill.

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama, and Cecilia Munoz, Domestic Policy Council Director held a one-hour meeting with the group, where painful stories of deportation and loss were shared.

We Belong Together's press release shared the story of Guillermina Castellanos, who is fasting for her 5-year old granddaughter's father. He was deported when he was mistaken for someone else and detained. Castellanos confessed, "She believes her father abandoned her when there's nothing he wants more than to be with her."

Norma Mendoza offered a story about her son who was deported to Mexico in 2010 for traffic violation. The studious college student was studying at the University of New Mexico to become an architect prior his deportation. Last month, Mendoza's son joined 150 people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border legally to seek humanitarian parole, and was arrested. He's still being detained. Mendoza is demanding that her son be released, and is calling for immigration reform and an end to deportations.

"I don't want any more suffering for my family," Mendoza said. "I don't want any more suffering for all the families across the country."

Jarrett said to the women, "We are so close to getting immigration reform. That's why what you are doing is so important." That said, White House advisors made no promises when it comes to plans to stop deportation.

"You are our moral force, and we will take that with us," said Munoz, following hearing a number of stories of deportation.

While the meetings proved that the women had gained the attention of legislators, it in no way dissuaded their commitment to their cause; in fact, Kica Matos, of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement stated eagerly, said, "It's day two, and we're full of courage but hungry for justice. The hungrier we are, the more determined we will be."

Throughout the 48-hour fast, the starved women, who require justice over sustenance, have been collecting notes in the shape of hearts from supports and fasters to urge elected officials to act.

The "Women's Fast for Families" culmination of month-long hunger protests also follows a four-day fast in Virginia that ended Monday.

Beyond immigration, the activists also touched on the fact that most undocumented women are working in professions that don't pay them sufficient wages. Often, their employment is informal; making it difficult to demonstrate their work history for immigration purposes; this also leaves them vulnerable to maltreatment and victimization. Their status also means that they're less likely to report a crime if they face harassment, exploitation or abuse.

The "We Belong Together" Twitter page indicated on Wednesday they requested that Speaker John Boehner join them to speak about immigration and deportation. The House Speaker turned to down.

Please show support for these brave and insatiable women on Twitter and on Facebook.

Tweets by @WomenBelong

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