CSSA statement of solidarity with Filipinx students in supporting activism towards basic right of life and freedom of speech
February 15, 2021
The California State Student Association’s mission is to improve the lives of CSU students. To do this, CSSA is guided by values of social justice & educational equity, servant leadership, and stewardship. Social injustices resulting from various forms of oppression must be addressed by ensuring that CSU students have the tools they need to organize and remove barriers to success for underserved marginalized communities.
As the official voice for the nearly half a million students of the CSU, CSSA stands with all students in opposing all human rights violations that threaten the safety and wellbeing of our students. We recognize that there are many hardships that students face outside of the classroom, all of which are further exacerbated by the pressures initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
CSSA stands in solidarity with our Filipinx students in supporting their activism towards their basic right of life and freedom of speech. We stand with the Philippine human rights movement and commend the Associated Students from CSU campuses including Dominguez Hills, East Bay, Long Beach, Northridge, San Francisco, and San Jose for speaking courageously and boldly against the Anti-Terror Law and other injustices facing the Filipinx community.
As reported by the U.S. Department of State1, numerous human rights violations have occurred including various unlawful killings by government allies. As well reported by the United Nations2, funds have been documented to help facilitate human rights violations by the Philippine military and police. Every day, our students worry about the survival of their friends and family abroad, notwithstanding the fact that students have to fear retribution simply for exercising their First Amendment right of speaking out against the injustices facing their communities.
CSSA commends the advocacy work of Fillipinx students in their brave efforts to come forward to tell their stories and demand change for the human rights violations occurring in the Philippines. We stand in solidarity Filipinx students, faculty, staff, alumni and allies advancing the cause for human rights in the Philippines throughout the CSU community.
CSSA recognizes that there are many violations of human rights across the world and condemn those actions strongly. We will continue to stand with our students to remove obstacles towards success and empower them to engage in their communities to fight for their respective values and priorities.
CSSA acknowledges the physical, emotional, and mental toll that injustices like this cause for students. CSU campuses provide services to support our students psychological and emotional health. To find resources available on your campus, please visit
https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/student-services/Pages/mental-health-services.asx
In Solidarity, Community and Advocacy,
The California State Student Association
