CSUF Students to Protest 2024 Convocation for Divestment, Student Rights

Note: this press release, written prior to the event, was published on titanydsa.org after-the-fact.

September 17, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Amy Parker (619) 880-0135

PRESS RELEASE: CSUF Students to Protest 2024 Convocation for Divestment, Student Rights

On September 19, 2024, Titan YDSA, joined by other partner student organizations at California State University, Fullerton, will hold a picket demonstration and a protest at the 2024 California State University, Fullerton Convocation. This event is entitled “The People’s Convocation”.

Students will begin by picketing near the Nutwood Parking Structure at 10:00 A.M. At 10:50 A.M., they will migrate toward the Clayes Performing Arts Center’s west entrance, the site of access for Meng Concert Hall where Convocation is scheduled to take place. The Convocation entrance will be picketed starting at 11:00 AM. Community members will give speeches beginning at 12:00 PM. A teach-in about the 1970 CSUF Convocation Disruption and Student Strike will commence at 12:15 PM, followed by a student rights teach-in at 12:35 PM. A press conference will be held at 12:50 PM.

These protests come amidst a refusal by CSUF administrators to divest from companies that financially and materially support the genocide in Palestine, and a refusal by CSUF’s new president, Ronald Rochon, to meet with student organizations. The CSU system has also imposed new unconstitutional restrictions on student speech and expression, with CSUF imposing further restrictions rather than acting to protect student rights.

Our demands for divestment come as the Israeli Occupying Forces have, per Lancet projections, killed over 200,000 Palestinians (with over 41,000 deaths confirmed) in less than a year. Student tuition dollars fund CSU investments that bring additional profits to companies that financially and materially support genocide. CSUF itself has partnerships with weapons manufacturers including Raytheon and Boeing, both of whom are involved in the construction of weapons being used to cause mass destruction in Gaza.

Members of the media are requested to direct all interview requests to our official media contact, Amy Parker. If Amy is unavailable on-site, please direct requests to Titan YDSA President Saffa Nahi or Vice President Jack Henderson. Spanish and Arabic interviews are available on request; please indicate if your outlet would like to request a non-English interview by September 18 at 6:00 PM. 

More information can be provided upon request by contacting Titan YDSA General Secretary Amy Parker at csufydsa@gmail.com or the statewide CSU Student Divestment Coalition at csustudentcoalition@gmail.com.