| Students Face Civil Penalties After Education Protest |  |  |
| Written by Alex Garcia, Sun Contributing Writer | |
| Wednesday, 10 March 2010 | |
 Anthony Garcia shows the citation he received for not dispersing after a confrontation between CSUN students and police last week during a protest over education cuts. On March 24, Anthony Garcia will show up for a hearing at the San Fernando Courthouse to respond to an arrest and citation for not disbanding at the end of a protest over education cuts held at California State University Northridge [CSUN]. The demonstration, called a "Day of Action", was held up and down the state. "This is not an issue just of education funding. We're representing everyone who is affected by the economic crisis across the state. We look to officials to protect us and help us, but what is happening right now is the opposite," said the student who majors in literature. Garcia is not the only one facing disorderly charges after a confrontation with police and students who were participating in a march last week. Nearly 3,000 students and faculty members demonstrated at the school as part of protests held throughout the state in opposition to cuts in public education. At colleges, the cuts would mean fewer classes, professor layoffs and less funding for financial aid. On Thursday evening, some 25 demonstrators broke off from the larger group and sat in the middle of Reseda Blvd., near Prairie Street and refused to move. In total, seven people, including 73-year-old Native American studies professor Karren Baird-Olson, whose arm was broken in the altercation, were arrested and face charges. |