The Banner

The peaceful afternoon calm of downtown Riverside was disrupted by a chorus of angry shouts, cheers and blaring automotive horns as students and educators from Riverside's public schools and colleges protested looming budget cuts.

A group of about 500 students, parents, teachers and public officials met on the corner of University Avenue and Market Street Thursday, Mar. 4, as part of a statewide day of rallies and protests.

Students from the University of California at Riverside, Riverside Community College and local public schools gathered to voice their opinions regarding recent student fee increases at public colleges and universities, as well as impending budget cuts and further cost increases as the state of California looks to shore up its deficit.

For Delores Vasquez, a teacher at Stone Avenue Elementary School, the rally was her way of showing how decisions made in Sacramento affect local citizens.

"These are real issues being faced by real people, and there are real consequences that we have to deal with," Vasquez said.

Vasquez urged teachers to be more vocal in how state decisions would affect local educators.

"Right now the schools are suffering from a lack of funds. These cuts will be deep and they will be severe," Vasquez said.

"We don't expect anything to be given to us, but we should only have the best education."

Vasquez spent her time at the rally picketing on the street and encouraging passers-by to show their support for the protestors' cause.

While the main pitch of the rally took place in downtown Riverside, students from UCR held an initial demonstration on campus. Lecturers and student organizers spoke, emphasizing the group's right to protest, as well as explaining how budget cuts would affect students on campus.

About 3 p.m., protestors began marching down University Avenue and at one point blocked traffic on the road.

One marcher, James Brookshier, is a self-described lifelong activist. A former cook for California Baptist University, he said that the rally for him was a multi-faceted effort

"We've been decimating education in California for years," Brookshier said. "Without education, there is no hope for the future."

Students arrived at the Mission Square on University Avenue by 3:30 p.m., where a batallion of law enforcement officers maintained a watchful eye on the event. Protestors did not engage the police, who were stationed on the opposite side of the street, at any point during the rally.

Student organizers shouted words of encouragement to protestors waving signs that said, "Keep the UC Public", a slogan that was printed and sprayed on the red tee shirts worn by UCR students.

Cheers and chants rang out across Mission Square as speakers delivered messages about the need for reformation in the state budget and California's public education system.

Jose Medina, a UCR graduate and RCC trustee, spoke at the beginning of the rally.

"These cuts to education are unacceptable," Medina said. "We can't have a university under these conditions."

Medina said that he plans to run for state senate as representative of the 64th California district.

"It's not enough to be here today. Send a message to Sacramento that you care," Medina said.

The crowd vocalized its approval of nearly every sentance speakers uttered. Several protestors also brought percussive instruments such as bongo drums and cowbells, banging agreement with speakers' words.

The high point of the rally came at around 4:30 p.m., when students dressed in fake graudation robes carried a large mock tombstone that read, "R.I.P. Public Education" through the center of the rally. Volunteers and organizers blocked traffic on University Avenue, backing up cars for more than half a mile in both directions.

Students placed the prop in the middle of the street, and organizers encouraged everyone to fall to the ground in symbolic display of what protestors felt was the death of public education.

After the display, most rally-goers left.A few stayed behind and participated in a rythmic dancing circle, according to reports from The Highlander.

Riverside's rally was a small part of a day of protests that occurred statewide. Students at all ten of California's state universities came out in protest against impending slashed budgets as part of a semi-organized "Day of Action". Students at UC Davis clashed with police, resulting in one arrest, while in San Francisco around 100 students were arrested for blocking traffic on the 980 and 880 freeways.

While many rallies resulted in police action and conflict, the protest in Riverside remained peaceful.For Vasquez, taking public action was her way of showing how state decisions were affecting her.

"We all need to do something, but we need to act rationally," Vasquez said. "This is one school bell you can't unring."