ON THE GROUND: CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FORCE ISRAEL DIVESTMENT

On 9 May, African Stream journalist Inem Richardson visited a student encampment at California State University, Sacramento, California’s first state university campus and among the first universities in the United States to announce it would meet students’ demands for divestment from Israel.

The university said it will divest $4.5 million it has ‘indirectly’ invested in Israel.

While the university’s policy change did not officially reference Israel, it stated, ‘CSU Sacramento opposes and condemns all acts of gen*cide, ethnic cleansing, and other activities that violate fundamental human rights. CSU Sacramento will not engage in any activity or enter into any agreement that conflicts with these values.’

The student encampment lasted 10 days and around 100 students marched on 7 May.

Richardson later visited a student encampment just 13 miles (21 kilometres) away at the University of California Davis. Check out what students had to say.