Reworded: A team of McGill University students has been engaged in a hunger strike for over twenty-one days in an attempt to compel the Canadian institution to withdraw its support from “businesses backing the Israeli military”.
After months of demonstrations and occupations at McGill and other universities globally, students and faculty have spoken out against Israel’s attack on Gaza.
Documents on McGill’s website show that it holds investments in companies including Lockheed Martin, a defense contractor that has sold fighter jets to Israel, and Safran, a French air and defense company.
Rania Amine, a undergraduate student at McGill, stated that the university has left them with no options as they have disregarded the nonviolent demonstrations and efforts made by student individuals and groups on campus. She also mentioned that she has been on a hunger strike for 33 days as of Friday.
“McGill’s actions have forced us to resort to extreme measures by putting our well-being and lives at risk in order to make a statement that investing our tuition money in this manner is completely unacceptable.”
Students are urging McGill, a renowned Canadian university, to withdraw approximately $20m from different companies.
According to Amine, the McGill administration initially acknowledged the strike and even agreed to hold a public forum to address the issue. However, they later cancelled the meeting and instead proposed a private meeting in March, which the students rejected.
A 21-year-old student named Chadi, who requested to remain anonymous, reported that Friday marked his 21st consecutive day of hunger strike.
Chadi stated that everything will cease if McGill divest.
“We are participating in a hunger strike to advocate for divestment, and we are committed to enduring it for as long as it takes. Our dedication is evident through the multitude of days we have already completed.”
On Friday, McGill released a statement expressing concern for the welfare of students involved in this project.
“McGill repects the right to free speech and free assembly, within the limits of university policy and the law,” the statement added. “We … have repeatedly offered to meet with [the student protesters] directly. Though they have so far declined, this offer still stands.
We have effectively communicated the options for addressing any concerns regarding the university’s investments or calling for policy changes. However, these students have opted for a different method. We hope they will realize that university policies will not be influenced by this approach until their well-being is impacted. We encourage them to prioritize their health when making decisions.
In February, McGill announced its plans to discontinue investments in companies included in the Carbon Underground 200. This list includes the top 100 coal and top 100 oil and gas companies that hold publicly traded reserves. The decision was made after a sustained effort by students and faculty members.
Source: theguardian.com
