As part of a nationwide Day of Action, protesters began demonstrations at UC Berkeley early Thursday morning that culminated in a rally on Sproul Plaza at noon before some protesters marched to Oakland.
The demonstrations began around 8 a.m., when about 20 protesters began encircling California Hall and wrapping caution tape around the front of it — a move which protesters said aimed to raise awareness about the upswing in private donations to the university and a decrease in state funding.
“This is is supposed to be a public university, but the university has been privatizing it,” said UC Berkeley senior Honest Chung. “If we treat education as a commodity to be sold, that is not a foundation for democracy.”
Campus staff and administrators with offices in the hall entered through the west entrance during the demonstration.
Bruce Miller, a financial planner who works inside California Hall, said today’s demonstration was nothing unexpected.
“It’s Berkeley,” he said. “There is always a protest.”
Protesters also set up a demonstration on Sproul Plaza with murals by local students illustrating concern about how decreased state funding is affecting public education in the state.
“No Education, No Jobs, No Future,” one mural read.
Due to rain, teach-outs began under the overhang in front of the Cal Student Store, demanding that affirmative action be re-instituted in the university’s admissions policies.
Police officers continued to monitor the demonstrations and teach-outs on Upper Sproul Plaza in anticipation for the rally at noon, according to UCPD Lt. Eric Tejada.
The rally, which drew about about 150 people in the drizzling rain, featured speakers from Occupy Stanford, union workers and UC Berkeley student protesters.
“Occupy is not dead — occupy is still here,” said campus graduate student Blanca Misse at the rally. “We are not going to wait for the wealth to trickle down, we are going to trickle down ourselves to occupy the capitol.”
Following the rally, a group of protesters left campus to march to Oakland. Later, some plan to march to Sacramento in preparation for demonstrations scheduled at the capitol on Monday.
Staff writers Oksana Yurovsky, Chloe Hunt and Sam Buckland contributed to this report.
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i didn’t even know anything was going on until i read this article. been busy with midterms, research, work, etc. i’m a /true/ berkeley student. ^^
“Later, some plan to march to Sacramento in preparation for demonstrations scheduled at the capitol on Monday.”
That should keep the occupiers away from Berkeley for a while.
“Occupy is not dead — occupy is still here,” said campus graduate student Blanca Misse at the rally. “We are not going to wait for the wealth to trickle down, we are going to trickle down ourselves to occupy the capitol.”
LOL. Obama’s trickle up poverty is being implemented.
Ok libsrclowns. After months of hearing your attacks, what are your proposed solutions? I come with an open mind.
Elect pro growth, pro business, pro job creation reps in SACTO. This will eliminate the current Lib infestation.
Illegals can stay if they register, have a job and pay taxes. Kids can stay. If you commit a crime, you and your fam are deported.
Go to a flat sales tax of 12%. No taxes on investment income or income.
Welfare payments for 90 days, then zip.
I have others but you get my drift.
Conveniently no response, eh?
Unable to read ?
No mention of Josh Healey’s poem? It was the highlight of the rally.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
The illegals have your tution money,
Now whatcha going to do?
Have questions or want to be heard in the UC Regent meetings? Follow the UC Student Regents at @UCStudentRegent:twitter !
The leaders of Palestinians have a financial interest in keeping the conflict going. How much money did Arafat wind up with in Swiss accounts?
This protest is complete nonsense, a petty local issue and merely a distraction from the only important issue on campus, Israel Apartheid Week. Only Palestinian issues are of vital importance to the entire world and must therefore be everyone’s priority.
Get a life.
I have a better idea. Why doesn’t everybody ditch religion and just be nice? Solves a ton of problems, including Israel vs Palestine.
“If we treat education as a commodity to be sold, that is not a foundation for democracy.” What the hell does that even mean? This guy is a senior? That’s what he can spew after 4 years of Cal? How is private education undermining democracy?
A democracy’s strength relies on the education of its citizens; when a quality education becomes too much to afford for a large part of the population, an expensive commodity rather than a basic human right, this undermines democracy.
“No Education, No Jobs, No Future,” one mural reads.”
Does that mean you won’t be voting to re-elect Obama?
I really don’t think these folks are that smart.