A cohort of students from McGill University has engaged in over three weeks of a hunger strike with the goal of pressuring the Canadian institution to withdraw funds from “organizations that financially support the Israeli military”.
The decision comes after numerous demonstrations and peaceful demonstrations at McGill and other universities, during which students and staff expressed their opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
According to data found on the McGill website, they have investments in various companies such as Lockheed Martin, a contractor in the defense industry known for supplying fighter jets to Israel, and Safran, a French company that focuses on aerospace and defense.
Rania Amine, an undergraduate student at McGill, has been on a hunger strike for 33 days in protest of the university’s lack of response to peaceful protests and actions taken by students and student groups on campus. This has left us with no other options.
The actions of McGill have forced us to resort to extreme measures and sacrifice our well-being and lives to show them that it is completely unacceptable to use our tuition fees for such investments.
The students at McGill, a highly respected Canadian university, are requesting that the school remove approximately $20 million from investments in different companies.
Amine said the McGill administration had acknowledged the strike, and agreed to a public forum on the issue, before cancelling the meeting. The school proposed a private meeting in early March, the students said, which was turned down.
Chadi, a college student who requested to remain anonymous, shared that Friday marked his 21st day of ongoing fasting.
Chadi stated that all of this will cease once McGill divests.
“We’re participating in a hunger strike in support of divestment and we are committed for the long term. Our perseverance is evident in the numerous days we have been engaged in this action.”
On Friday, McGill released a statement expressing their worry for the students involved in this undertaking.
The statement states that McGill acknowledges the right to express opinions and gather peacefully, as long as it follows university rules and legal regulations. McGill has made multiple attempts to have a direct meeting with the student protesters, but they have yet to accept. However, the offer remains open.
The university has provided clear instructions for addressing concerns regarding its investment holdings or suggesting changes to policies. However, instead of following these guidelines, some students have chosen a different method. We hope they realize that the university’s policies cannot be swayed through this approach before it negatively impacts their well-being. We urge them to prioritize their health when making decisions.
In February, McGill announced a decision to remove investments from companies identified in the Carbon Underground 200, a compilation of the largest 100 coal and top 100 oil and gas reserve holders traded on the stock market. This action comes after sustained efforts by students and faculty advocating for this change.
Source: theguardian.com
