Joanna's Starving...hungry for the DREAM ACT

Memorial weekend consist of family bonding time, drinking American beer and most importantly: FOOD. I woke up yesterday morning not hungry but with the most painful head ache one can imagine. Never have I experienced this killer head ache until the day I started fasting. It's been about 37 hours that I last eaten. My head hurts immensely. I have weak legs and my figures barely can manage typing at the moment. I haven't felt this poorly in, well...FOREVER.

This is my first time fasting for a cause. A very important cause. I am fasting for one purpose only. Besides the fact that fasting is the cleansing of my body, soul and spirit, I am fasting for the DREAM ACT. It's been 9 years since the Dream Act has been introduced in congress and there has been no sign of making this Dream come true.

These students watch their education go to waste. For their entire lives they've waited for their high school graduation day. They wait to break away from a low and middle life they have been living for their entire lives and making something better of themselves. They wait for that desire to fade away from all the progress they made up to the moment they receive their high school diploma. These undocumented students should not wait around to watch their energy and passion for education go to waste. And it's not justified that they have to wait around to pursue high education due to their legal status.

That is why I am fasting for 65 hours. 65,000 graduate every year and are unable to attend college simply because their are not citizens of this amazing country. Food is a metaphor for every undocumented student. In the United States of America, we take food for granted. Similarly, we (US Born American citizens) take education for granted. But imagine, not being able to have either of those. My life would be pointless. I value education so much and it would be a shame if the government took that away from me simply because I didn't own paper.


Undocumented students have been part of this amazing country for practically their entire lives. They are your best friends, star football players, and newspaper editors. They are your valedictorians and most importantly they are your brothers and sisters because they are HUMANS who deserve an EDUCATION. My name is Joanne Banegas and I am a US born citizen. My entire family are all citizens and I SUPPORT THE DREAM ACT. I want every student to have the right to graduate high school and be part an university. It's time for a change for these students. They've been waiting for almost a decade on the DREAM ACT and they cant wait any longer.

Call Senator Kay Hagan and tell her your friend Joanna Banegas and Monse Alvarez are fasting 65 hours because she will not support the DREAM ACT!!
Charlotte:704-334-2448,
Greensboro: 336-333-5311

If you are interested in joining our 2 week fasting, for 3 days, one day or even two weeks (Carla Mena and her friend) please contact me at jebanega@ncsu.edu or just shoot me an email on my Facebook.