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Monday, May 17, 2010

University of Puerto Rico Siege Drags On, General Strike Planned for Tuesday � Student Activism

University of Puerto Rico Siege Drags On, General Strike Planned for Tuesday � Student Activism

University of Puerto Rico Siege Drags On, General Strike Planned for Tuesday

A police siege of the University of Puerto Rico’s Río Piedras campus is now in its third day, as cops continue to thwart efforts to supply food and water to striking students inside.
Meanwhile, plans are moving forward for a general strike on the island tomorrow.
UPR students took over the campus nearly a month ago, amid protests against cutbacks and fee hikes. Police established positions blocking campus gates on Friday after their early-morning attempt to surreptitiously enter the campus ended in failure. Nine of the university system’s ten other campuses remain shuttered as well.
The university’s president, José Ramón de la Torre, said yesterday that negotiations with the strikers are