'Day Of Action' Protests Grow At Calif. Schools
Click to enlarge- Students at UC Berkeley block Sather Gate as they demonstrate during a national day of action against funding cuts and tuition increases.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Demonstrations, marches, teach-ins and walkouts were planned nationwide Thursday in what is being called the "March 4th National Day of Action for Public Education."
Students, teachers and school employees were converging in Sacramento to convince lawmakers to restore funding to public schools, reports CBS station KPIX-TV.
Events were being held on most of California's public colleges and universities to protest budget cuts that have led to canceled classes, faculty furloughs and steep fee hikes.
Protests, walkouts, pickets and other actions were planned at schools throughout the Bay Area, from elementary schools to universities. Thousands were expected to converge on San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza this evening for a 5 p.m. rally.
Regional rallies were planned in civic plazas in Los Angeles, San Diego and other cities. Similar rallies and marches were being held Thursday in 17 other states.
University of California President Mark Yudof said Thursday that he supports students who are staging protests against cuts to education funding.
In a statement, Yudof said, "My heart and my support are with everybody and anybody who wants to stand up for public education. I salute those who are making themselves heard today in a peaceful manner on behalf of a great cause."