UCSC students rallied alongside teachers, community activists and other students for tax increases for the rich and budget reforms. Some activists remained in the Capitol and were arrested, including 23 UCSC students.

The California Teacher’s Association (CTA) has declared a “state of emergency” for public education. Rallies and sit-ins in five cities across California are to begin today, May 9. Demonstrators from across California are mobilizing to the state capitol to kick off the week of action with a sit-in.

A diverse coalition of people walked the final mile of a 365-mile march in protest of state budget cuts to education on Wednesday, April 21.

Students protest across the state on the March 4 Day of Action.

“I have class.” “It won’t make a difference.” “I’m not an anarchist.” “I don’t even know what’s happening.” These are just some of the excuses UC Santa Cruz students can use to justify not going to Sacramento on March 1 and 4 to speak up for higher education. As UC students, we are excellent at complaining. And for good reason — dissent is a vital part of democracy, and Lord knows we have plenty to bemoan. But grumbling alone will never change anything.

Twelve hours after leaving UC Santa Cruz, the caravan of student government officers and interns prepared to leave Sacramento behind. Hundreds of UC, CSU, and California Community College system (CCC) students filed out of the Capitol Building, clinging to the hope that legislators might heed their testimonies. “What is at stake here,” UCSC Student Union Assembly (SUA) external vice chair Victor Sanchez said to the budget committee, “is more than the future of our system of higher education, but that of the state of California.”