By Lookout Staff

July 9, 2010 -- Local peace activist Jerry Rubin is at it again with another fast to promote a cause. Since May 25, he has limited his diet to herbal and green teas as well as juice and vegetable broth as a protest against the conservative Tea Party Movement.

“I want people to know the Tea Party is not what it’s cracked up to be, and many members can be hateful and racist,” Rubin said.

Rubin, 66, can be seen several days a week on the Third Street Promenade sitting behind a table full of bumper stickers promoting peace and various left-leaning causes. He is also a regular attendee at City Council and other local government meetings.

Rubin estimated he has done more than 30 fasts since his first one in 1980 as a protest against the creation of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in San Luis Obispo County. Other causes he has fasted for include environmental protection, anti-war and even in opposition to the presidential candidacy of Ralph Nader, who he believed was a threat to the election of a Democratic president.

Rubin has made headlines for many of his other activities, including in 2000 when he attempted to run for City Council with “peace activist” listed on the ballot as his occupation. This City would not allow this, and Rubin unsuccessfully challenged the City in federal court. In response to the court losses, Rubin made “Peace Activist” his legal middle name, and he was able to be on future ballots with this.

Two years ago, Rubin chained himself to a ficus tree in order to protect it from being cut down. This led to an arrest, and an eventual deal that he could hug trees, just not chain himself to them.

Rubin said he will continue to do fasts to support various causes, but he always makes sure that he does them with his health in mind.