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About 300 protestors confronted a blockade of police today in an unsuccessful attempt to march on Interstate 80 in Davis, resulting in one student’s arrest.
Tensions erupted when protestors tried to push past shoulder-to-shoulder lines of 120 officers from 10 law enforcement agencies. Laura Mitchell, a senior sociology-organizational studies major, was arrested on suspicion of inciting a riot and resisting arrest and was dragged from the group of protestors into a law enforcement vehicle. Protestors left the scene after police agreed to cite and release Mitchell instead of taking her to jail.
The protest was part of the March 4 Day of Action, a nationwide series of rallies for K-12 and higher education funding.
Officers in full tactical gear fired pepper balls at the ground in front of the protestors. At one point, police used batons to beat back a throng of students pushing forward.
Some police had stun guns, but a UC Davis police spokesperson said they were not used by any officers, despite what many students reported hearing and seeing. A California Aggie photographer captured an image of a California Highway Patrol officer pressing a stun gun to a protestor’s neck. A CHP spokesman told The Aggie that no stun guns were fired.
Protestors encountered three separate lines of police on Old Davis Road and pushed through the first two. At the second line, about 100 yards from the I-80 on-ramp, police began firing pepper balls at the ground. At the last line, Mitchell was arrested and protestors stopped pushing against police.
The day of action began at 11 a.m., when students gathered at the Activities and Recreation Center and began a march around campus. Students marched in protest of fee increases, furloughs, cuts to campus services and the structure of the UC system.
While some students went to the Capitol in Sacramento during this time, many stayed on campus to call awareness to what they believe is a corrupt UC system.
“Even if UC got more funding from the state, they wouldn’t spend it on students,” said Cynthia Degnan, a graduate student in the English department. “They would spend it on privatizing our university.”
Fire alarms were pulled in Storer, Chemistry, Olson, Kerr, Wellman and Hart Halls, as well as at Shields Library, forcing all those inside to evacuate. No suspects have been identified.
“It was a symbolic gesture to show that education cannot continue under these circumstances,” Degan said.
Some students inside the buildings said the false alarms were counterproductive to the message of education.
“It was completely and totally disrespectful that they pulled those alarms,” said Maggie Mello, a senior history major who evacuated Olson Hall. “We pay $100 a day to learn without disruption here, and I have a right to be in class. It was petty and irrational.”
The students marching then moved the MU bus terminal and blocked Unitrans and Yolobus buses in order to communicate the importance of their cause.
“Business cannot go on as usual,” said Sergio Blanco, a senior political science major.
After halting bus services for approximately 30 minutes, the march progressed down Howard Way, stopping at the intersection of Russell Boulevard. Unitrans service was severely affected during this time and after, said Greg Strecker, a third year political science major and Unitrans dispatcher.
“Most of the buses could not get through and ran late,” he said. “I know a lot of people who were late to school. One guy missed his midterm. I agree with a lot of [the protestor’s] ideas, but we are here for an education and we already paid for it.”
Still, those involved were pleased with the way the march was able to rally support and draw attention, said protestor Brian Ramirez-Corona at the intersection of Howard and Russell.
“I’m really proud of our students,” Ramirez-Corona said. “We just got so many people to come out to this intersection, and I think it’s really going to make a statement to the UC regents.”
Students then marched 2.5 miles around the perimeter of central campus to the Interstate 80 on-ramp where the arrest occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m. Sheri Atkinson, director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center, arrived after Mitchell’s arrest to negotiate her release and stayed after the protestors left to assist Mitchell.
Protestors then returned to campus and marched throughout the library and other lecture halls, where more alarms were pulled. The march moved to the intersection of Anderson and Russell, where approximately 100 students blocked traffic and danced to the beat of drums.
Earlier this morning at UC Berkeley, 100 protestors held a peaceful rally at Sather Gate. Another rally on Sproul Plaza was held at noon.
Approximately 1,000 protestors – along with high school students – marched south for six miles to rally at Oakland City Hall. The march proceeded south to rally in Oakland and later seven blocks were occupied. At 3 p.m., 1,500 people filled Frank Ogawa Plaza.
About 120 protestors were arrested for blocking traffic on Interstate 880 during rush hour, just before 5 p.m. Although police reopened lanes at 5:30 p.m., traffic was already backed up for miles in all directions.
One protestor either fell or jumped from the freeway onto a tree and roadway about 25 feet below. Paramedics took the protestor away.
For more information on today’s march in Davis, read Monday’s Aggie.
JEREMY OGUL contributed to reporting. LAUREN STEUSSY can be reached at campus@theaggie.org. POOJA KUMAR can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
UPDATE – March 5, 2010: CHP has confirmed they did not fire any stun guns. Laura Mitchell is a sociology-organizational studies major. Cynthia Degnan’s name was misspelled in the original version of this article.
Aaaa, whatever happened to the “good old days” when the National Guard would be called, a few shots fired, and the protesters scatter like the ungrateful cockroaches they are. Memories, memories. BTW children, let us not forget that the “right†to a free and public education only applies to K through 12. Any of you who actually believe that a college education is a right have been smoking too much of the dried cake left over from your last pressing. If you really don’t like the cost at UCD, why not try USF, or Stanford, or any other non-state funded university. Just be glad that the people of this state who are still employed are willing to underwrite the bulk of the costs associated with your education. Otherwise, we would probably find many of you balding, middle aged, and working in the well at your local “Econo-Lube-and-Tune.â€
I thought that today’s events were quite badly executed by the protesters. Could they have been more considerate to the people they say they are representing?
In solidarity with those who are defending a right to high quality public education everywhere!! support the international movement. stop funding wars, stop funding the war on drugs, start funding education!! stop privatizing the military. stop privatizing the prisons. education should be free!!
My boss gives my staff a raise everyday.
Maybe they should protest their liberal buddies in Sacramento who hand out sweetheart deals to public unions to the detriment of higher education. Karen Bass, former CA Speaker (D) and UC Regent, voted for the fee increases and gave her staff RAISES today.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/05/2584343/bass-promotes-20-staffers-boosts.html
Wake up, kids. Someone has to pay for your education and worker salaries. Why not YOU?
“Even if UC got more funding from the state, they wouldn’t spend it on students. They would spend it on privatizing our university.” What the hell does that even mean? WTF!
Completely agree with you Turtle. The excuses for the alarms and bus lanes are just, that excuses. Irrational. Childish even.
I am in fact BEGGING for someone to try and justify those actions with some kind of rational though. But the reality is, they can’t. Hurting/hindering other students – just because they were not a physical part of your cause – is absolutely INEXCUSABLE.
I completely agree with turtle, I can’t believe that they stopped the buses. I felt like protesting against the protestors for being so unreasonable and inconsiderate to the other students. I agree with what they were fighting for but the way they went about it was childish and rude.
put down the bongo drums and respect your peers, please.
I agree with the motives behind these protests, however the way in which they were carried out was counterproductive and flat out rude. Students have midterms, major assignments due, and finals coming up and shutting down the buses, needlessly evacuating buildings, and making tons of noise is a really crappy thing to do. The excuse is “our voices were heard.” But were they really heard? You spent hours yelling at and disturbing students who are not responsible for the fee increases! And because of the crazy stunts involved, all the media is focusing on is this “insane” group of college students and not the message you were trying to get across. Best yet, you overshadowed the demonstration on the steps of the capitol, which was peaceful, organized, very well supported, and had a chance to make a real impact. You have a lot of passion, and the general message is supported, but passion without simple common sense just leads to chaos. And when you purposely hurt students in order to get attention, it just pisses people off. So put down the megaphones, STOP harassing your own peers, and turn your passion into reasonable, effective action!