Bay Area Students Hold Hunger Strike To Raise Awareness About Unaccompanied Minors Crossing The Border
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Eleven Bay Area students are in the middle of a five day fast in San Francisco to call attention to the plight of children fleeing Central America for the U.S.
Bay Area Students Hold Hunger Strike To Raise Awareness About Unaccompanied Minors Crossing The Border
The Obama administration estimates that at least 60,000 unaccompanied children will cross the border into the U.S. this year to escape violence in Central American countries such as Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
On Monday, eleven students began a hunger strike in Civic Center Plaza to show their solidarity with the children who are being held in U.S. detention camps while awaiting adjudication—which for many could end with deportation.
"I'm fasting because I think it's unfair that children as small as six years old are not being welcome in this country," Zenaida Guerrero, an 18-year-old freshman from UC Santa Cruz, said. "They don't have another choice other than coming to this country because they have a risk of being killed."
Guerrero is winding up her summer with the fast along with fellow student Corral Sanchez, 17, who said the hunger strike has strengthened her resolve to help.
"We're just here to support the children—show them that we're with them by fasting, we're putting ourselves in their shoes."
Guerrero and Sanchez hope to send a message to Congress to provide a humanitarian solution, no detainment and deportation.
