Hundreds turn out to protest budget cuts
Published: Sunday, March 7, 2010
Updated: Monday, March 8, 2010
 "Photo: Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor")
Glenn Connelly / Photo Editor
San Diego State joined other local universities and organizations on a march from Balboa Park to the governor’s downtown office. The local rallies were part of a statewide protest against budget cuts to education.
Students, faculty members, teachers, parents and other supporters took to California campuses and streets last Thursday to protest fee increases and funding cuts.
Countywide demonstrations culminated in a march from Balboa Park to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office downtown. Students and supporters wedged between two intersections on Front Street carrying dozens of banners, flags, signs and even a large skeleton with movable arms that read “Cuts kill.” Police escorted an estimated 1,200 protesters down the blocked off street as they chanted “Whose schools? Our schools!” Noisemakers, drums, cow bells and shouts of “Shame on you!” grew louder once the crowd reached the governor’s office.
A number of speakers addressed the energized crowd at the rallies.
Among the speakers were representatives from UC San Diego’s Black Student Union. The crowd cheered even louder to offer support to the group because of the recent racial tensions at UCSD. But no differences divided the crowd. With fists raised in solidarity, protesters young and old cheered the speakers and booed the government in unison.
Adam Osorio, who is a Chicana and Chicano studies graduate student and a member of Frente Universitario en Lucha at San Diego State, addressed the crowd at the rally in Balboa Park.
“I know that education isn’t just an individual thing; it’s for the whole society,” Osorio said after the rally.
Osorio also said he is worried that his brother, who is in high school, won’t have the same opportunities he had.