La Raza Hunger Strike Begins at UC Berkeley

[See updates below]

In front of California Hall. Here's the current word on demands:

- Rehire the 21 laid off janitors
- Formally denounce SB 1070
- Drop all conduct charges against student protesters
- Make Berkeley a sanctuary campus

More to come...

Update: Rally at 7pm in front of California Hall! Spread the word.

Update II: Here's a more complete list (via email):

Hey all,

As of Noon today the Chican@/Latin@ community at Cal, which includes RAZA, Mecha, Xinaxtli etc have called for a Hunger Strike in front of California Hall in response to the new Arizona SB1070 Law and to the charges imposed on student protesters this year (many of whom will be suspended starting next semester). There will be a rally at 7PM and an organizing meeting at 4PM. We will be needing the most support TONIGHT as they plan to camp out and police will most likely be involved.

The demands are as follows:

1) Publicly denounce Arizona’s SB1070 Law and ask President Yudof and other UC Chancellors to do the same as such blatant signs of racism are not representative of the values of the UC education system.

2) Implement the promised AB540 Taskforce to begin Fall 2010 and to include student representation.

3) Drop ALL the charges against student activists in the year 2009-2010, particularly those charged with student conduct beginning in November 20th and December 11th 2009. Drop any and all student conduct charges related to protest actions that occurred during the academic year 2009-10.

4) Stop cuts to low-wage workers on campus and stop attacks against union activists; rehire all AFSCME service workers and UPTE union activists and Cal performances employees.

5) Suspend the Student code of conduct and initiate a democratic student-led process to review the code. Those participating in this process should be charged with attending particularly to concerns about students’ due process rights and to free speech considerations. If, through this review, it is determined that a new code can be written in any way that adequately addresses these concerns, a new code should be written by a democratic, student-led body. If not, the student code of conduct should be abolished.

6) Accept responsibility for the violence and escalation of the confrontation surrounding Wheeler Hall on November 20th and December 11th 2009 that resulted in injuries to many students and jeopardized the safety and security of AB540 students. Additionally, commit to using non-violent means of ensuring safety at student demonstrations in the future.

Come provide your support and bring plenty of water!

Update III- 11pm, Monday: About 20 students are participating in the hunger strike, with about 20-30 more supporting them. UCPD officers on the scene are apparently saying that strikers will be arrested if they fall asleep. Stay strong!

Here's an initial report in the Chronicle.