Santa Monica Man Continues Fast Following Donald Trump's Victory

SANTA MONICA, CA — Following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, self-proclaimed peace activist Jerry Rubin said he will continue his fast until Thanksgiving.

Rubin started his fast on Oct. 7 in what he dubbed a "Be Green Not Mean" protest in hopes of convincing Green Party candidate Jill Stein to suspend her campaign in battleground states as not to be a spoiler for Hillary Clinton.

Rubin said he has changed the theme of his liquid-only fast to "Helping to Heal America Through Progressive Unity." A Clinton supporter, Rubin said he was very disappointed that Trump was elected. But now is the time for the nation to heal, he said.

Rubin urges Greens, Independents and Democrats to unite in speaking out against any form of bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia.

"All progressives must now unite and take the lead to promote positive change that will move our country forward, not negative change that will take America backward," he said in a statement to Patch.

This was not the first time Rubin went on a fast in hopes of influencing the outcome of a presidential election. In 2004, he went on a fast to convince Ralph Nader, who was running as an independent, to drop out so as not to draw progressive votes away from Sen. John Kerry, who was running against President George W. Bush. Many blame Nader, who ran at the time as a Green Party candidate, of costing Al Gore the presidency in 2000 — a claim that has since been debunked by many political scientists and statisticians.

-- Courtesy photo