LONG BEACH, Calif. – More than 10,000 people marched, waved signs and occupied buildings at college campuses across California on Wednesday in a show of opposition to state budget cuts to education that could lead to higher tuition, larger class sizes and lower enrollment.
The rallies were part of a day of protest planned for all 23 California State University campuses. Similar events took place in states such as Massachusetts and New Jersey, where legislators are slashing education spending to close huge budget shortfalls.
In California, students peacefully occupied administration buildings in protest on at least six campuses, said Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the California Faculty Association, which worked with students and employees to organize the demonstrations.
He estimated about 12,000 students, faculty members and others participated in the rallies statewide.
In Long Beach, about 800 of those demonstrators marched to the student services administration building which had already shut down as a precaution carrying signs reading “Education is a right” and “No more greed.”
“I’m just mad at the government for funding more for prison and war than for education,” said Cecillee Espanol, a 22-year-old psychology major at the university’s Long Beach campus, who said she’s going to have to get a job next year to cover the cost of her classes.
Another 1,000 people rallied at California State University, Sacramento, including about 100 who occupied a campus building.
