SF State hunger striker speaks on cuts to Ethnic Studies and aims of their movement

[Hassani Bell, 18, the youngest of the four SF State students on hunger strike, grew up in East Oakland and went to San Leandro High School, where he took ethnic studies courses, KQED reports. “I hope I can do the same thing my teachers did for me – convince youth that their lives matter. It’s hard to believe you really mean something.” – Photo: Natalie Yemenidjian, KQED]



While doing the interview he is in the hospital with his comrades visiting Equipto of the Frisco 5 and his comrades. Also he speaks on actor and former SF State student activist Danny Glover coming up to the university Monday at 12:30 p.m. to show his support for the strike.

“The police have been messing with us at night,” Hassani says, “especially when there aren’t all that many people out there.” So he’s asking the people to come by any time to show support and saying that the best way is for those who can to spend the night with the strikers.

He also urges people to call SFSU President Wong and CSU Chancellor White and “blow up their phones.” SFSU President Les Wong can be reached at 415-338-1381 or president [at] sfsu.edu and Chancellor Timothy White can be reached via his Public Affairs Department at 562-951-4800.

The students are also demanding a graduate advisor and a larger College of Ethnic Studies resource center. But approval of their demand for increasing the college’s budget to $8 million is the action that will bring the hunger strike to an end.