The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) today expressed support for a group of University of Houston (UH) students participating in a peaceful hunger strike and urged the university to engage with the students regarding their call to protect immigrant students on campus and to end partnerships with corporations allegedly complicit in human rights violations.

Organized by Students for Justice in Palestine–Houston (SJP Houston), the “UH Sumud Hunger Strike” follows years of student organizing and months of planning. The participants say they are escalating their demands by modeling a global tradition of hunger striking as a time-honored form of nonviolent resistance against injustice and oppression.

Eight UH students began their hunger strike last week (currently on Day-9), demanding that the university administration take immediate steps to align its investments and policies with its stated values. The students’ four demands are:

1. Divest from companies that perpetuate occupation, apartheid, and genocide.
2. Cancel its research with military contractors.
3. Remove Coca-Cola, Sabra, Starbucks, and Pizza Hut from campus.
4. Refuse to collaborate with the federal immigration enforcement and establish itself as a Sanctuary Campus from ICE.

The students are also calling the campus to increase investment in campus safety. CAIR-Houston calls on the University of Houston administration to meet directly with student organizers to hear their concerns and discuss their demands in good faith.

“Student activism has always played a central role in advancing justice and equality on campuses and beyond,” said Imran Ghani, Director of CAIR-Houston. “We urge the University of Houston leadership, namely Chancellor Renu Khator, to honor the courage of these students by opening a transparent dialogue, not by ignoring or penalizing peaceful protest.”

CAIR-Houston affirms the right of students to engage in peaceful, nonviolent protest and stands in solidarity with all who act on conscience to end systems of oppression.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.       

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.            

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CONTACT: Imran Ghani, Executive Director, CAIR-Houston, ighani@cair.com, 713.922.5270; Jack Maarouf, SJP Houston, sjphouston@gmail.com, 832.778.7672