BERKELEY — A 22-year-old UC Berkeley student was hospitalized Sunday after going six days without food as part of a hunger strike against university policies on student conduct, immigrants rights and worker layoffs.
The 19 students and workers on a hunger strike have been protesting on the front lawn of California Hall, where school administrators work, since last Monday. Police this morning tried to remove the protesters, but they're refusing to leave. Police have taken away their belongings, including sleeping bags, tarps and tables.
A rally has been scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today to increase the pressure on the administration. In addition, regularly scheduled demonstrations have been held daily at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Marilyn Monroy, a senior protester who is drinking only water, said she woke up Sunday morning with nonstop vomiting and went to Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley.
She was treated with intravenous fluids and released and is back on strike on campus.
The students want the school to denounce a new Arizona law that allows police to question the citizenship status of people they suspect of crimes, make the school a sanctuary for undocumented residents, drop charges against students who occupied Wheeler Hall last fall, change the student code of conduct and reinstate laid off custodial