Larry Hebert

Event

At 10:00 am on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, Hebert began his hunger strike on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House. The strike was announced that day by a news release from Veterans For Peace with the stated purpose "to highlight the plight of the starving children of Gaza." He wore a sign that read, "Active duty airman refuses to eat while Gaza starves," with a photograph of an emaciated infant. The organization argues that U.S. weapons shipments to Israel is a violation of U.S. law, specifically the Foreign Assistance Act, Arms Export Control Act, War Crimes Act, Leahy Law, and the Genocide Convention Implementation Act.

Flier handed out to the public by Larry Hebert during his hunger strike in Washington, D.C. in March and April 2024

His fast was ended abruptly on April 9, when Hebert was ordered to report immediately to Andrews Air Force Base for a return flight to his post in Spain.

On the second day of his hunger strike, Hebert said he had received at least 30 emails from veterans thanking him for his courage, and noted that in-person reactions were mostly positive.