US University Students Stage Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Gaza
Nineteen university students at Brown University in the USA have been on a hunger strike for the past six days to protest the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The prestigious Ivy League university, located in Rhode Island, has become a focal point for activists demanding an end to the conflict in Palestine and a ceasefire in Gaza.
The students, led by Palestinian and Jewish activists, are calling for the school administration to cut ties with companies that profit from human rights violations in Israel. They have demanded a vote on a draft resolution to ban these companies from trading with the university.
One of the striking students, Niyanta Nepal, emphasized the complicity of the university in supporting the Israeli occupation through its investments. She stated, “As long as our university invests in companies that support the Israeli occupation, we are also complicit. It is our responsibility to use our privilege to force our university to hear our calls. Genocide, racism, and occupation are wrong.”
The hunger strike, which began on February 2, has garnered support from hundreds of students on campus and has gained attention on social media. The activist group Jews for Ceasefire Now has also expressed solidarity with the striking students.
Despite the students’ demands, the university’s rector, Christina Paxson, has rejected the idea of bringing up the issue of companies supporting Israel during board meetings. This has only fueled the students’ determination to continue their protest.
The demonstrations at Brown University have been ongoing since October 7, 2023, and have attracted attention to the issue of Israel’s occupation operations against Gaza. Hisham Awartani, a Palestinian student who was paralyzed in a racist attack in Vermont, has also been actively involved in the protests at Brown University.
As the hunger strike enters its second week, the students show no signs of backing down, and it is expected that more students will join the strike in the coming days. Their determination to hold the university accountable for its investments and to bring attention to the ongoing genocide in Gaza remains unwavering.
