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

