Vancouver, BC – On March 17, 2025, students at the University of British Columbia (UBC) will begin a hunger strike to demand that the university divest from companies complicit in violations of international human rights law. The hunger strike is part of a month of action for Gaza and the West Bank, an initiative among university-based Palestine solidarity movements nationwide.
The hunger strike aims to shed light on UBC’s double standards in investment practices and ongoing financial ties to weapons manufacturers and corporations designated by the United Nations as complicit in violations of international law.
Despite years of letters, petitions, marches, encampments, meetings, and research documents, the UBC administration has refused to take action. Students now say they have exhausted all other means of communication.
“We have done everything possible to engage in dialogue, but UBC refuses to listen. As students, staff, and faculty, we do not want our scholarships and academic programs funded by human suffering. We are left with no choice but to escalate our resistance.” — Sarah (hunger striker)
A Nonviolent, High-Impact Protest
The hunger strike will be held in the AMS Student Nest, providing a space for students to gather in solidarity. Organizers emphasize that the strike will be disciplined, non-violent, legal, and non-disruptive while still maximizing visibility and impact. Throughout the action, hunger strikers and allies will raise awareness of the long history of hunger strikes in Palestinian prisons, Indigenous-led resistance movements like Idle No More, and broader global struggles for liberation. Programming will include:
- An ongoing vigil
- A community library with books, zines, and pamphlets on divestment and global liberation movements
- Live interviews with solidarity activists and scholars
- Poetry readings
- Teach-ins
- Daily updates on the situation on the ground in Palestine
- Art activities
In addition, organizers will provide daily updates to the UBC administration, media, and student body on the status of the hunger strikers, intensifying pressure on the university as the UBC Board of Governors prepares for its March 28 meeting.
A Growing Movement for Divestment
The hunger strike builds on years of activism and policy advocacy at UBC. Key milestones include:
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2022: UBC Vancouver Alma Mater Society (AMS) passes a motion calling for divestment
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2023: UBC Okanagan Student Union (SUO) passes a divestment resolution
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2024: 71-day encampment at UBC Vancouver (April–July) and 7-week encampment at UBC Okanagan (May–June)
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2024–2025: 5 months of meetings with administration, letter-writing campaigns, protests, and a formal Responsible Investment Proposal submitted to UBC Investment Management (UBCIM).
In December 2024, UBC Divest, a coalition of students, staff, faculty, and alumni, formally reported UBC to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights for its financial ties to corporations complicit in human rights abuses. Students also triggered a federal review of UBC under the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct.
“UBC cannot claim to be an institution that upholds ethical investing while continuing to fund war crimes. Our demand is simple: divest now.” — Frank (an organizer)
Student Wellbeing & Safety
Hunger strikers are taking precautions to protect their health, including consulting doctors and mental health professionals, following medical protocols, and engaging in regular check-ins. Organizers have also developed a minimum care protocol, emphasizing mutual aid and personal well-being throughout the strike.
“This is not just about pressuring UBC, it’s about showing solidarity with Palestinians resisting genocide and occupation. We refuse to be silent.” — Libby (an organizer)
The Alma Mater Society of UBC is running a concurrent referendum asking if students support a sanctioned student strike advocating for UBC to meet their demands, including divestment for Palestine. If the referendum passes, students plan to hold a student strike on March 24th and 25th.
Media Contact:
May Lim
[email protected]
778-939-2304