Across the country: militant student protests against budget cuts
Reports from March 4 actions
On March 4, students all over the country walked out of class and took to the streets to defend education. Actions took place in over 30 states.
In California many schools were effectively shut down for the day and numerous cities were the scene of street and school building takeovers. There were reports of sit-ins, police repression and arrests in California, New York, Maryland, Arizona, Wisconsin and beyond.
The national day of demonstrations follows on the heels of massive statewide protests in California in December against budget cuts at the state’s colleges. Both statewide university systems voted to criminally increase tuition by over 30 percent. Budget cuts, layoffs, fee increases and tuition hikes, many drastic, are taking place in virtually all U.S. public schools. Public education is under a nationwide assault.
Reports were filed by: Andrew Castro, Chris Gonsalves, Dylan Wilkerson, Marcel Cartier, Nicholas Powell, Sarah Carlson and Sean Pavey
Northern California
Reports were filed by: Andrew Castro, Chris Gonsalves, Dylan Wilkerson, Marcel Cartier, Nicholas Powell, Sarah Carlson and Sean Pavey
Northern California
March 4, the national day of action against sweeping and deep cuts to education was expected to be a fairly successful day in terms of size, but no one really knew what would happen. Across the bay area the day started of with planned pickets and protests on individual college campuses as well as teach-ins, leafleting and sign-making on K-12 campuses (who were largely granted early-release by school administrators).
San Francisco |
"They say 'Furlough', we say 'Hell No!'" was carried to all the passersby from the picket line at the entrance of San Francisco State University. More than 500 students, faculty, and supporters gathered to demand an end to the state's budget cuts to education in the form of tuition hikes, mandatory furloughs, and layoffs. Many saw the connection of the state's priorities of supporting prisons, bank bailouts, and military recruitment with the massive cuts to primary and secondary education.
For several minutes, students blocked the intersection at 19th Ave and Holloway chanting "Rise Up, SF State! Shut it down like '68!"
Similar actions took place at City College of San Francisco, Ocean campus where the noontime rally was kicked off with food and a drum circle to energize the gathering students. At its peak, the rally held over 300 students. One by one the speakers stepped up to the mic to demand that the government, on a state and federal level, use its money and resources to fund education, healthcare, public transportation and jobs. The writer spoke on behalf of the ANSWER Coalition, calling on all to