Lawrence Hamm, chairman of the People’s Organization For Progress (POP) announced today that he will fast in solidarity with hunger striking Princeton students who are demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, and that the university divest from companies with ties to Israel.

“On Tuesday, May 14th at 6:00am I will begin a 24 hour fast in solidarity with the hunger striking Princeton students who are calling for an end to the slaughter in Gaza and for Princeton to divest,” Hamm stated.

“I am inspired by the student’s humanitarian concern for the people of Gaza and their support for Palestinian liberation. The People’s Organization For Progress supports the demands and protests of the students at Princeton and other campuses throughout the United States and the world,” he stated.

Hamm who is 70 years-old said that he will only drink water during his day long fast. “I am fasting because I support the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, an end to military aid to Israel, and for Princeton University to divest from companies with ties to Israel,” he said.

Hamm said that he was speaking not only as a representative of POP but also as a Princeton alumnus. While a student at Princeton University he was a leader of the campus movement to get Princeton to divest from companies doing business with the racist white minority apartheid regime of South Africa.

In 1978, he was among the 210 students, who held a sit-in for two days at Nassau Hall. Afterwards the university divested from several companies doing business with South Africa,

He founded the People’s Organization For Progress several years after leaving Princeton in 1980. POP is a grassroots organization working for racial, social, economic justice and peace. Hamm is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate.

“I call upon Princeton alumni and all people of conscience to support the hunger strikers and all the students on campus protesting for divestment today. If possible fast in solidarity with the hunger strikers or support them in other ways,” he said.

“Another way for alumni and others to show support would be to write the president of the university and board of trustees and urge them to hold good faith negotiations with the students about their demands and to grant total amnesty to all the student protestors,” he said.

Last week Hamm emailed a letter to Christopher L. Eisgruber, President, Princeton University concerning the student protests on campus. In it he condemned the arrest of students on campus by police, called upon the university to meet the students demands, and demanded amnesty for all those arrested, suspended, dismissed or sanctioned in any way.