Berkeley Hunger Strike Ends

BERKELEY, California – Students at UC Berkeley ended their 10 day hunger strike today. Their primary reason to end the fast appears to be over the demonstrators’ concerns for their health and the UC Berkeley administration’s lack thereof. It ends after some students were able to meet with Chancellor Birgeneau, several students having been hospitalized, some going days without water, and half dozen incidents of police cruelty.

from hungryforjustice:

On March 3^rd, 2010, over 20 students, the majority being Latin@s, decided to go on a hunger strike to call attention issues that affect our community both here on campus and across the nation.  This inspired many students, workers, and community members, evident in the solidarity, love, and support we witnessed since then.  We say thank you to everyone for this.

After much pressure from students, workers, and faculty and lengthy discussions with California Hall, the administration has agreed to enter negotiations over our concerns.  These are first steps in working towards making CAL a better, safer, more inclusive, place for the Raza community in particular, and the CAL community at large.

Our vision for social justice, through the hunger strike, has inspired many beyond UC Berkeley.  We showed the world that we have a vision for a University that makes student’s concerns central, and that it’s imperative that administration condemns racism and racist logic, such as reflected in Arizona’s passage of SB 1070 and HB 2281.  We showed the world that we had passion, dedication, and determination to make a better university and society possible.

This movement is far from over, and we will continue to organize and struggle to transform our society. Please come back here for more updates.