CSUSM Students Join Nationwide Hunger Strike for Gaza

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Students at California State University San Marcos participating in a hunger strike to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

News Summary

Students at California State University San Marcos have joined a nationwide hunger strike demanding divestment from companies linked to human rights violations. This movement coincides with ongoing protests across California State University campuses and highlights the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where residents face severe shortages of food and medical supplies due to an Israeli blockade. Participants are advocating for changes to university investment policies while expressing solidarity with the plight of Palestinians.

San Marcos, California – A group of students at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) has joined a nationwide hunger strike aligning with the ongoing protests at various California State University campuses. This hunger strike, which began on May 14, coincides with CSUSM’s commencement ceremony and aims to demand divestment from companies implicated in alleged human rights violations while expressing solidarity with Palestinians affected by the blockade in Gaza.

Since early March 2024, Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza, halting all humanitarian aid, including essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine. A recent report backed by the United Nations highlights that approximately one in five residents in Gaza is currently facing starvation, with concerns from international aid organizations indicating that the region is at risk of a man-made famine. Israeli authorities have maintained the blockade, stating it will only end when Hamas releases hostages currently being held in Gaza.

Initially, around two dozen students commenced hunger strikes on May 5 across other campuses, including San Jose State, Sacramento State, San Francisco State, and CSU Long Beach. CSUSM students joined this movement on May 14, marking their participation in solidarity with their peers at other universities.

Among the participants is senior Amber Arenas, who underwent her third day of the hunger strike during her graduation ceremony. The students at CSUSM are specifically demanding that the university divest from several major companies linked to military contracts, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Caterpillar, Viasat, and Northrop Grumman. They are also calling for the adoption of the Human Rights ISP Screening used at San Francisco State University, the termination of study abroad programs at Israeli institutions, the establishment of a sanctuary campus, and the resolution of Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) violations related to student protests.

During the hunger strike, participants are consuming only water mixed with electrolytes and are monitored by medical professionals multiple times daily to ensure their health and safety. The hunger strikers believe that their actions are necessary to bring attention to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and indicate their refusal to be passive observers amidst a significant crisis.

CSUSM officials have publicly acknowledged the students’ rights to protest but voiced concerns about the potential health risks associated with hunger striking. The California State University (CSU) system has since declared that it will not amend its investment policies, regardless of the continuation of these hunger strikes. University administrators have encouraged students to explore alternate forms of expression that would not compromise their health and well-being.

The hunger strike participants, some of whom previously faced disciplinary actions over protests related to the protection of undocumented students, feel that their grievances are not being adequately addressed by school officials. Recent assessments indicate that in the last 18 months, approximately 53,000 Palestinians have lost their lives due to ongoing military operations. This context adds urgency to the students’ cause, as many seek to challenge what they perceive as their university’s complicity through financial relationships with military contractors.

The CSU Chancellor’s Office has reiterated its commitment to respecting students’ rights to protest while also maintaining that investment policies will remain unchanged. Hunger strike participant Marcus Bode further explained that their actions symbolize the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, emphasizing the profound physical toll the strike is already inflicting on the participants.

This series of hunger strikes at CSUSM and across California represents a crucial effort by students to shed light on the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, illustrating their determination to advocate for changes they believe are necessary.