"Rallies and walkouts are largely peaceful, but 150 are arrested in Oakland as a freeway is blocked. The demonstrations are part of a nationwide 'Day of Action for Public Education"
A day of passionate protest against education funding cuts attracted thousands of demonstrators Thursday to mostly peaceful rallies, walkouts and teach-ins at universities and high schools throughout California and the nation. In Oakland, however, about 150 protesters were arrested after they blocked a freeway, snarling rush-hour traffic.
From Los Angeles to New York and from San Diego to Humboldt in Northern California, students, faculty and parents at many schools decried higher student fees, reduced class offerings and teacher layoffs in what leaders described as a "Day of Action for Public Education." Labor unions and student government groups were the main organizers.
"We are paying more to get less of an education. That's why I'm out here today to protest against that," said Cal State Long Beach art education student Jessica Naujoks, who joined an estimated 2,500 others at a campus rally. Among their complaints: the cutting of more than 1,500 class sections this year, a 13% drop.
Demonstrators held up traffic about an hour on Interstate 880 in Oakland, where one protester was seriously injured after jumping off the freeway near downtown, police said. He was expected to survive, said Officer Jeff Thomason of the Oakland Police Department.
With the toll the recession took on state revenue over the last two years, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislators have said they had no choice but to cut billions from primary, secondary and higher education to close enormous deficits.
In Southern California, busloads of demonstrators converged from schools across the region Thursday evening at downtown Los Angeles' Pershing Square. The crowd, estimated at more than 2,000, then marched to the nearby state office building on Spring Street, as commuters faced temporary street closures.
A day of passionate protest against education funding cuts attracted thousands of demonstrators Thursday to mostly peaceful rallies, walkouts and teach-ins at universities and high schools throughout California and the nation. In Oakland, however, about 150 protesters were arrested after they blocked a freeway, snarling rush-hour traffic.
From Los Angeles to New York and from San Diego to Humboldt in Northern California, students, faculty and parents at many schools decried higher student fees, reduced class offerings and teacher layoffs in what leaders described as a "Day of Action for Public Education." Labor unions and student government groups were the main organizers.
"We are paying more to get less of an education. That's why I'm out here today to protest against that," said Cal State Long Beach art education student Jessica Naujoks, who joined an estimated 2,500 others at a campus rally. Among their complaints: the cutting of more than 1,500 class sections this year, a 13% drop.
Demonstrators held up traffic about an hour on Interstate 880 in Oakland, where one protester was seriously injured after jumping off the freeway near downtown, police said. He was expected to survive, said Officer Jeff Thomason of the Oakland Police Department.
With the toll the recession took on state revenue over the last two years, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislators have said they had no choice but to cut billions from primary, secondary and higher education to close enormous deficits.
In Southern California, busloads of demonstrators converged from schools across the region Thursday evening at downtown Los Angeles' Pershing Square. The crowd, estimated at more than 2,000, then marched to the nearby state office building on Spring Street, as commuters faced temporary street closures.
