Bring Danny Home

OUR COMMUNITY

Danny Fenster’s parents, Rose and Buddy

COURTESY OF BRYAN FENSTER

Bring Danny Home

E orts to secure the release of American journalist held in Myanmar press forward.

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As of JN press time, it has been over two weeks since the military junta in Myanmar detained journalist and Detroit native Danny Fenster, 37, at the Yangon International Airport May 24 as he was about to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur on the first leg of a journey back to see his family after being abroad for three years.

Two weeks passed since Danny last texted his wife, Julianna, that she should call the U.S. Embassy there and that he was being detained at the airport. Since then, no one has heard from him or knows the status of his well-being.

Fenster’s brother Bryan Fenster, 39, of Huntington Woods said he had heard nothing from the U.S. State Department or the U.S. Embassy in Myanmar since the first week, but he said his family’s spirits are “high” as they launched a media campaign, including a website and a growing Facebook group, “Bring Danny Home,” with more than 1,000 members to maintain awareness of Danny’s plight and offer support to his family.

Bryan and Southfield-based Suite 104 Productions last week launched a website (bringdannyhome.com) for the public to stay engaged with updates and action items. It is also a place to purchase a #BringDannyHome T-shirt with a logo designed by another friend, Robbie Biederman of Detroit. All sales proceeds will be held in a fund that will go to a charity of Danny’s choice once he is released and home.

The Fensters and friends crafted letters that people can send to their elected officials in Congress as well as a MoveOn.org petition urging President Joe Biden and the U.S. Department of State to secure Danny’s release.

The petition states: “The United States has a profound interest in preserving the freedom of the press worldwide in order to guarantee direct access to independent information for all people. As a nation that is deeply committed to protecting the freedoms, safety and human rights of its citizens, U.S. officials should be making every effort to ensure that Danny is returned home safely; now. We urge the Biden administration and U.S. Department of State to act with the utmost urgency to secure Danny’s immediate, unconditional, and safe release and