This story was originally published by Vivian Bostick for The Cardinal Independent. Republished and edited with permission.

MUNCIE, Ind. – During a chalking protest at the Peace Plaza, Ball State students announced a hunger strike, demanding Palestinian solidarity and university accountability.

Just after 2:00 p.m on November 5, protesters took to the podium to announce their participation in the Sumud Hunger Strike. The hunger strike was also announced on Instagram. Students at the University of Houston and the University of Rochester have also announced hunger strikes.

“We will follow our colleagues at the University of Houston and the University of Rochester in starving ourselves, for these are the extreme measures that have to be taken for our demands to be met,” Brianna Ramon with Ball State Students for Justice in Palestine said in a speech. “We demand a complete divestment from these companies that have ties to Israel that Ball States’ investing in,” Ramon listed. “We demand the Board of Trustees meet with the Students for Justice in Palestine board. We demand that free speech is no longer inhibited on campus. We also demand that Brian Gallagher and Michael Conner sever their ties with Ball State and are fired promptly.” The CI (Cardinal Independent) spoke with Ramon shortly after.

“In Palestine, I think within the month, they’ve been saying there’s a ceasefire, but there’s still been Palestinian deaths happening,” Ramon told The CI. “So, we aren’t gonna lessen our efforts to fight for Palestinian sovereignty.”

“In terms of getting people engaged, we try different tactics like chalking and, if people feel so inclined, they can join our strike too,” Ramon continued. “We just, overall, encourage collective, community activism.” Ramon says that art, like chalking, encourages the Ball State community to get involved with activism.

“To get involved, Ramon encourages students to check out the Ball State Students for Justice in Palestine Instagram page, @bsu4palestine.

The CI has contacted Ball State University for comment.