Jackson Ends His Three-Day Fast

The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Wednesday ended a three-day fast protesting the use of pesticides on California table grapes, handing a small cross to a clergyman who pledged that he would continue the “chain of fasting.”

Jackson and the Rev. Joseph Lowery of Atlanta, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, stood outside a Jewel Food Store on Chicago’s West Side, urging consumers to boycott California table grapes because of the concern over pesticides.

Jackson had been on a liquid-only diet since Sunday when Cesar Chavez, president of the United Farm Workers union, ended a 36-day fast in Delano, Calif., and handed the cross to Jackson.

Lowery said he would fast forthree days and then pass the cross in Washington to actors Martin Sheen and Robert Blake, who have agreed to join the fast.

The farm workers union contends that pesticides contribute to cancer, miscarriages and birth defects among those who pick grapes.

The California Table Grape Industry acknowledges that four pesticides are used when necessary, but says they are also sprayed on other common vegetables and fruits and pose no health risk. 1092645744 Jackson called on consumers to “adopt a store” that sells California table grapes and persuade its management to stop selling the fruit.

Issa Tadros, owner of eight Horizon grocery stores in the Chicago area, appeared at the news conference to announce he would end grape sales. “We will not carry grapes until this stops,” 1751457907