22 | JUNE 10 • 2021
A
s of JN press time, it
has been over two
weeks since the mili-
tary 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 craft-
ed 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 free-
dom 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, uncon-
ditional, and safe release and
OUR COMMUNITY
Efforts to secure the release
of American journalist held
in Myanmar press forward.
Bring
Danny
Home
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
COURTESY OF BRYAN FENSTER
Danny
Fenster’s
parents,
Rose and
Buddy