Budget protest at Eastside High School results in 12 arrests
NORTHJERSEY.COM
STAFF WRITERS
PATERSON — A protest involving hundreds of students ended about an hour after it began, but not before several students were taken to police headquarters for allegedly damaging property, police said.
Police arrested 12 juveniles and five adults on disorderly conduct charges. All were expected to be processed at police headquarters and released, due for a later court appearance.
About 200 Eastside High School students left the building in an apparent protest of budget cuts about 10 a.m., police said. The protest took place in two waves, the first a peaceful gathering that went back into the school while the second wave appeared larger, said Lt. Richard Reyes.
During the second wave, students began blocking traffic, and the school called the police department, Reyes said. The majority of the students were roaming around the campus, and a large group went into the football field where police closed some gates, penning them in.
Many of the students began climbing the fence, which is about 8 feet tall. Some reported getting scraped up on the way down. Police reopened the gates, but not before about 50 students climbed over.
TARIQ ZEHAWI / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
About 200 Eastside High School students left the building in an apparent protest of budget cuts, police said.