The 2012 Syrian protests and demonstrations were protests by university students against the war and Bashar al Assad and his government. It was in response to the raid on Aleppo university in may 2012 and Homs student campus. Hunger demonstrations also erupted sparked by the mounting hunger and increasing poverty. Between May and August, hundreds in western and northern Syria have organised anti-government street protests and hunger strikes and demonstrations against poverty which was met with force like tear gas but university students kept ongoing until fighting became more common so protesters ended their peaceful protest movement.