March 4th Schedule!

6:30-Noon Campus-wide
 Picket set-up and pickets/flyering at campus entrances.

7-11am Campus-wide
Students reclaim campus with outreach, activist art, chalking, flyering, drums, music, etc.

11am-Noon Ackerman Turn-Around
Student and Worker Picket

11:30am-Noon Campus-wide
Any students still stuck in class are encouraged to WALKOUT!

Noon-1pm  ALL OUT TO BRUIN PLAZA! 
Rally followed by March around UCLA campus; Speakers, media coverage, chanting, opportunities for circulating petitions, etc.

1-4pm Royce Quad
Student and Faculty Led Teach-Ins

4:30-5:30pm Bruin Plaza
Rally; Speakers, media coverage, chanting, petitioning, etc.
UTLA, CFT, CTA, LAUSD, Community Colleges, and California State Universities join.

First Meeting of the New Year!

Hello everyone!

I hope you're having a wonderful holiday!  The new quarter/semester is about to begin and we're getting an early start with our first meeting of 2010.  The meeting will be on Tuesday, January 5th 2010 at 6pm in the Public Affairs Building, 3rd Floor Student Lounge.

This new year brings a wealth of challenges and opportunities to defend public education. After our actions at November's Regents' meeting the entire nation is looking to us for leadership.

We will send out a detailed agenda for the meeting in the next few days.  Until then, we look forward to hearing from you regarding agenda items and reports you would like to add.

In Solidarity,

UCLA FIGHTS BACK

UCLA FIGHTS BACK: Proposed Agenda
Tuesday, January 5th 2010 @ 6PM
Public Affairs Building, 3rd Floor Student Lounge

A. Introductions and topics you want to cover at this meeting.

B. Brief introduction.

C. Coalition Reports:

1. Report from AFSCME
2. Report from UC-AFT
3. Report from GSA
4. Report from USAC, Student Worker Front, and other campus orgs.
5. Report from 'UC Commission on the Future' hearing
6. Report from ‘Northern California Coordinating Committee’ meeting
7. Report from USAS – UCLA Case Study for National Campaign
8. Report re: Police Brutality ‘Review Committee’

D. Upcoming Actions:

January 18th 2010 – MLK Day Action (Rally, March, ?)

1. No More ‘Back of the Bus’ Education
2. Messaging
3. Outreach

March 4th 2010 - National Day of Action

1. Current plans, coordinating bodies, and calls to action
2. UCLA Fights Back Call to Action

E. Outreach to:

1. UCLA Students - Undergrads and Grads
2. Other So. Cal UC Campuses
3. LAUSD
4. CSU's and CC's
5. Media

E. Other Actions, Meetings, Etc.

Some Recent Important Media Reports

Editorial: http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_13927281

L.A. Times Opinion Piece: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rutten5-2009dec05,0,2869973.column

L.A. Times on UCLA Police during Protests: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ucla-protesters5-2009dec05,0,6145625.story

More Executive  Scandals: http://www.fresnobee.com/1148/story/1736198.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=52928&tsp=1

Anti-Yudof Press: http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2009/12/03/time-magazine-declares-yudof-a-top-university-president/

The Protesters are Winning: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_13898399?source=most_viewed

Cal Police Brutality: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/abraham/detail??blogid=95&entry_id=52406

Compiled by Bob Samuels, UC-AFT

Take Action this MONDAY to Rescind Fee Hikes!

Commission on the Future – UCLA Listening Forum
Monday, December 7, 2009
Covel Commons, Grand Horizon Room
1:00 p.m. 

If you have not RSVP'd meet us outside of Covel at 1PM for a coalition speak-out!

This Monday, December 7, 2009 at Covel Commons, Grand Horizon Room students must speak out against and expose UC President Yudof's "Commission on the Future" hearing at UCLA. The Commission is charged with coming up with proposals to adapt to reduced public funding by cheapening and privatizing the UC system.

We must take a stand against the fee hikes and the entire effort to privatize the UC system.
The "UC Commission on the Future," formed in September 2009 and co-chaired by UC President Yudof and Regents Chairman Russell Gould, is charged with exploring different ideas, including:
• finding sources of private funding
• expanding "collaborative research" with "industry partners" (i.e. corporation-directed research)
• reducing undergraduate programs that are not "cost effective" (i.e. social sciences and liberal arts)
• online classes
• reducing UC freshman enrollment, and increasing the number of transfers from community colleges
• reducing the number of California residents admitted in favor of out-of-state residents who pay higher fees and are much less racially and economically diverse

Another proposal raised at a Commission hearing and highlighted in the Commission's press materials is asking firms to pay the UC system a fee for every UC graduate they hire.

[Website at: http://ucfuture.universityofcalifornia.edu/welcome.html ]

Taken together, these proposals would lead to the privatization of the UC system. Inequality would increase, and in particular Latina/o, black, Native American, immigrant, undocumented, and low-income students of all races would be pushed out of the UC system.

For the past few weeks, thousands of students have been mobilizing to defend public education. This new movement has the power to reverse the fee hikes, and to stop the privatization of our university.

Join us Monday and defend public education!

Open Letter to Chancellor Block from 100 UCLA Faculty to Investigate Police Actions at Regents Meeting

OPEN LETTER TO CHANCELLOR BLOCK

Dear Chancellor Block,

As UCLA faculty we write to express our grave concern over the behavior of the Campus Police during the Regents meeting at UCLA. There are clearly documented examples (in both video and photographic evidence) of officers using tasers and batons on students, at least one incident of a security figure using either mace or pepper spray on students, as well as officers displaying tear gas rifles and pointing weapons at students. On a campus devoted to the free interchange of ideas and the rights of individuals to express their political views, these actions of the police were unacceptable.

We recognize that UCPD has the difficult task of balancing the security of the Regents with the free speech rights of protesters. We also recognize that protests are by their nature unpredictable and difficult to control. These challenges make it all the more important that campus police, as a force and as individuals, should avoid behavior that escalates tensions. Perhaps the UCPD considered the stance of their forces to be a deterrent to violence? Unfortunately, there is ample evidence to suggest that it had the opposite effect, serving only to raise tensions and intimidate individuals who were protesting the Regents’ actions.

We also recognize that the more egregious uses of force may have been individual actions rather than a common policy. But we would like to know what the protocols and policies are regarding the use of force. Officers wearing riot gear and carrying weapons should be trained and deployed in a manner that enables them to handle the unquestionable pressures of their position. Did Campus police prepare properly and plan for the meeting so as to minimize conflict and harm? While there have been some criticisms of protestors for their challenges to the Regents entering and leaving the building, it was the protestors who suffered most from the effects of the use of force. In what way did campus police and the event’s planners prepare the police to act appropriately? What steps were taken to ensure the safety not only of the Regents and University officials but students, staff, and faculty protesters?

We think that these events indicate a serious problem—not only for the individuals who suffered personally, but for the University as it moves ahead. UCLA has a long-standing tradition of vibrant political debate and the defense of First Amendment rights. There is, as you know, a good deal of distrust between students and the Administration. Your willingness to meet with students in a GSA led town hall meeting was an important first step. But a full and open investigation of last week’s events, as well as a review of campus policy on protests is required. We also call upon you to make a general statement to the Campus community that addresses the events of the Regents meeting and lays out the process of the Campus’ review of protocol and practice for ensuring the safety of all involved in future events.


Signed:

Edward A. Alpers, History
Andrew Apter, History
George Baker, Art History
Victor Bascara, Asian American Studies
Ali Behdad, English / Comparative Literature
Maylei Blackwell, Chicana & Chicano Studies
Gary Blasi, School of Law
Ra'anan Boustan, History / Near Eastern Languages and Cultures
Joseph Bristow, English
Karen Brodkin, Emeritus Anthropology
Carole H. Browner, Anthropology / Women's Studies / Neuroscience & Human Behavior
Shane Butler, Classics
Keith Camacho, Asian American Studies
Judy Carney, Geography
Jack Chen, Asian Languages & Cultures
Michael Chwe, Political Science
Michelle Clayton, Comparative Literature / Spanish and Portuguese
Michael Cooperson, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures
Donald Cosentino, World Arts & Cultures
Susan Curtiss, Linguistics
Jan De Leeuw, Statistics
Elizabeth DeLoughrey, English
Robin Derby, History
Helen Deutsch, English
Ellen Dubois, History / Women’s Studies
Aisha Finch, Women's Studies / Afro-American Studies
Matthew Fisher, English
Russell Ferguson, Art
Susan Foster, World Arts & Cultures
Andrea Fraser, Art
Dan Froot, World Arts & Cultures
Nouri Gana, Comparative Literature
Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Chicana and Chicano Studies
David Gere, World Arts & Cultures
Mishuana Goeman, Women's Studies
Andrea Goldman, History
Yogita Goyal, English
Nile Green, History
Gerry Hale, Emeritus, Geography
Sondra Hale, Anthropology / Women's Studies
Christian Haesemeyer, Mathematics
Natasha Heller, Asian Languages and Cultures
Tobias Higbie, History
Darnell Hunt, Sociology
Gail Kligman, Sociology
Grace Kyungwon Hong, Asian American Studies / Women's Studies
Sanford M. Jacoby, Management
Sarah Tindal Kareem, English
Katherine Callen King, Comparative Literature / Classics
Gordon Kipling, English
Raymond Knapp, Musicology
Namhee Lee, Asian Languages & Cultures
Rachel Lee, English
Francoise Lionnet, French & Francophone / Comparative Literature
Arthur Little, English
Chris Littleton, School of Law / Women’s Studies
Christopher Looby, English
David Wong Louie, English / Asian American Studies
Marissa López, English
Ghislaine Lydon, History
Reynaldo F. Macías, Chicana & Chicano Studies / Education & Applied Linguistics
Saree Makdisi, English / Comparative Literature
Elizabeth Marchant, Spanish & Portuguese / Women’s Studies
Victoria Marks, World Arts & Cultures
Valerie Matsumoto, History / Asian American Studies
Peter McClaren, Graduate School of Education
Kirstie McClure, Comparative Literature / Political Science
Kathleen McHugh, English
Muriel McClendon, History
Sara Melzer, French & Francophone
Michael Meranze, History
Ruth Milkman, Sociology
Kathryn Morgan, Classics
Peter Nabokov, World Arts & Cultures
Steven Nelson, Art History
Sianne Ngai, English
Thu-huong Nguyen-vo, Asian Languages & Cultures / Asian American Studies
Chon Noriega, Film, Television & Digital Media
Sung Deuk Oak, Asian Languages & Cultures
Frances Olsen, School of Law
Catherine Opie, Art
Vilma Ortiz, Sociology
John K. Papdopoulos, Classics / Archeology
Rafael Pérez-Torres, English
Peter Petersen, Mathematics
Meredith Phillips, School of Public Affairs / Public Policy
Gabriel Piterberg, History
María Cristina Pons, Chicana and Chicano Studies
Lionel Popkin, World Arts & Cultures
Jeffrey Prager, Sociology
Alex Purvas, Classics
Allen Roberts, World Arts & Cultures
Mary Nooter Roberts, World Arts & Cultures
Vilma Ortiz, Sociology
Jan Reiff, History
Geoff Robinson, History
Teofilo Ruiz, History
Michael Salman, History
Mark Sawyer, Political Science
David A. Scott, Art History / Archeological Conservation
Mark Seltzer, English
Jenny Sharpe, English
Shu-mei Shih, Comparative Literature / Asian Languages & Cultures
David Shorter, World Arts & Cultures
Susan Slyomovics, Anthropology
Zrinka Stahuljak, French & Francophone Studies
Timothy R. Tangherlini, Asian Languages & Cultures
Dominic Thomas, French & Francophone / Comparative Literature
Chris Tilly, Urban Planning / Sociology
Sharon Traweek, Women’s Studies / History
M. Belinda Tucker, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences
Abel Valenzuela Jr., Chicana & Chicano Studies
Brian Walker, Political Science
Juliet Williams, Women’s Studies
E. Victor Wolfenstein, Political Science
Steven Yenser, English

UTLA and AFSCME 444 Resolution in support of a statewide strike and day of action on March 4, 2010

Call for Statewide Day of Action to Support Public Education

Whereas, California public education from pre-kindergarten through college and adult ed, is facing its most dangerous crisis in years; with funding cuts, tuition increases, reduction of college seats available, furlough days for educators and support staff, and layoffs of employees and outright closures of entire departments; and

Whereas, new registrations for anti-union referenda have been introduced in order to further damage education workers and their unions, and

Whereas, the official national, state and, in many cases, local agendas for public education will result in increased class size, increased testing, teacher accountability measures which do not take into account many factors, and the creation of tiered categories of employment based on such measures, and

Whereas, following successful statewide events at CSU, UC and community college campuses in September, 2009, a conference was held on October 24 in San Francisco and issued a call for a Statewide Strike and Day of Action (actions to be decided locally) on March 4, 2010, to “Save public education! No budget cuts, fee hikes, or layoffs! For state-wide student, worker, and faculty solidarity!;” therefore, let it be

Resolved, that UTLA join the call for a statewide day of action to be held March 4, 2010, to include the demands of 1) restoring full funding of all public education, 2) assuring all of our students their right to a safe and free public education, 3) maintaining the rights of education employees to guaranteed pay, benefits and safe working conditions, and 4) ensuring adequate funding for the health, housing, jobs and safety of all working people; and further

Resolved, that UTLA will organize within United Teachers Los Angeles its own internal education campaign, and mobilize support for an action locally, building coalitions with other education and affiliated unions, teachers, students, and community organizations to further the goals of this resolution, and further

Resolved, that UTLA work with other public sector unions and members of the County Federation of Labor to present a forum on Privatization and the Attacks on Education and other Public Human Services; and finally

Resolved, that UTLA will carry this resolution to all its affiliates and to the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor for their concurrence and support.

WHEREAS California public education from pre-kindergarten through college and adult ed, is facing its most serious crisis in years; with funding cuts, tuition increases, reduction of college seats available, furlough days for teachers and support staff, and layoffs of employees and outright closures of entire departments; and

WHEREAS unemployment in California has risen to 12.5% and is closer to 25% among youth and even higher among young people of color;

WHEREAS 1.6 million construction jobs have been lost since this recession began with 136,000 construction jobs lost in California this past year and 322,000 public service jobs have been lost in the last four years: and

WHEREAS more job losses are expected as stimulus money dries up; and

WHEREAS 1 in 53 housing units received a foreclosure notice in the California during the third quarter of 2009 as people are being thrown out of their homes as well as their jobs; and

WHEREAS this is occurring as trillions of dollars of taxpayer’s money has been handed to bankers and other financial institutions in the wake of the current crisis, much of it unaccounted for; and

WHEREAS thousands of students at the University of California facing 32% increases in fees and increasing privatization of education, joined striking university employees on September 24^th; and

Whereas; following these events a hugely successful conference was held at UC Berkeley on October 24^th attended by 800 students, workers and supporters; and

WHEREAS this conference issued a call for a statewide strike and day of action on March 4^th2010 to “Save public education” against budget cuts, fee hikes or layoffs; and

WHEREAS students have faced brutal actions by the police for being in the forefront of the struggle to save education, jobs and for calling for solidarity and joint action with workers; therefore let it be

RESOLVED that AFSCME Local 444 support the October 24^th call for a statewide strike and/or day of action on March 4^th 2010; and be it further

RESOLVED that AFSCME Local 444 recognizes that without united action no single group or one Union can reverse this offensive; and be it further

RESOLVED that the 1,200 AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions in the California Labor Federation representing 2.1 million union members in such crucial industries as shipping, retail, manufacturing, public service and communications have tremendous potential power; and be it further

RESOLVED that through a united mobilization of all workers and students regardless of status we can win free federally funded education at all levels, increased jobs, a halt to foreclosures and a better life for all; and be it further

RESOLVED funding for such social needs come from diverting funds from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, from taxing the corporations and the rich, taxing trades in the stock market and currency trades, and not taxes on workers or the middle class. California, the third biggest oil producer in the country is the only one of the 22 major oil states that does not impose a tax on oil taken from the ground; and be it further

RESOLVED that the leadership of the California Labor Federation, the Change to Win Coalition and the international Unions so affiliated to these bodies, as well as non-affiliated Unions join the call for and participate in a statewide strike on March 4^th 2010 and publicly announce such intentions; and be it finally

RESOLVED that the resources of organized Labor in California be used between now and March 4^th 2010 to build support among the members of its affiliated Unions, the communities in which we live and work, and among the youth for a successful and united statewide strike against the assault on working people and our families.

Adopted by AFSCME Local 444 Executive Board 12-03-09

cc  California State Labor Federation AFL-CIO

     Alameda County Central Labor Council  AFL-CIO

     AFSCME District Council 57 AFL-CIO

     AFSCME International Union AFL-CIO

The Latest...

I have just posted entries on: 1) why faculty should resist Yudof's narrative; 2) on how we are paying a steep price to subsidize athletics; 3) the gender inequality in UC pay, and 4) the UC compensation scandal at: http://changinguniversities.blogspot.com/

Bob Samuels, President UC-AFT

_________________________________________________________________________

CSU Grad/UG Students convened two meetings, with 40 students at each meeting, to plan a march and rally at the Governor's office on 12/2 from 11:00 - 1:00 pm. Over 50 social work graduate and undergraduate students have committed to this event and each is taking responsibility for bringing students, parents or community supporters to the rally. Graduate students, who are in field internships, on this date are helping with pre-event work. Students have established a goal of turning out at least 200 students for the march. They have established 4 sub-committees, headed by students: outreach, publicity, program, and logistics. They have created an email address and facebook page for the event: reinvest4higher@gmail.com.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000479027141&ref=nf

We had a meeting with CSULA ASI leadership yesterday, and they have signed on as co-sponsors of the event.

Our major purpose for this event is to influence the state's 2010-2011 budget process to prevent further cuts the public higher education system in California. Students want to describe the campus and classroom effects of budget cuts and to show the legislature that they will no longer continue to remain sitting down, while higher education budgets continue to be slashed. Just as the Governor used his power to bring the legislature together to pass crucial water legislation, we want to ask the Governor and the legislature to address the higher education crisis to ensure future access for all Californians.

We are extending an invitation to the regional campuses to join in this effort. Students from DH, Northridge, Pomona and Long Beach have easy access to the activity via public transportation. The CSULA students have identified bus/rail routes, schedules and parking information, which will be posted on the Face Book page. They have copied a very large number of flyers to post on campuses, and they have initiated outreach efforts to the LACC and LATTC. We need you to forward the attached flyer on your campus for distribution to your networks. We invite you to send (at least) 5-10 students from your campus to represent the consequences of the cuts on your campus. We ask that each campus to send a student speaker, who can discuss how cuts are affecting instruction on their campus. We plan to send a contingent of students to the governor's office to deliver copies of the testimonials, DVDS and other materials developed to illustrate the issues.

_________________________________________________________________________

The World Arts and Cultures department is interested in the what now aspect of this crisis. We're going to have a meeting on Tuesday December 1st from 5-6 PM. Could someone from the coalition possibly come to a meeting in Kaufman on Tuesday from 5-6?

For more information contact barbarabarbara619@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: District Attorney

Date: November 27, 2009

(530) 681-7232

NO CHARGES AGAINST UC DAVIS PROTESTERS

DA Will Monitor Future Demonstrations

(Woodland, CA) – November 27, 2009 – Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that no criminal charges will be filed against 51 individuals who were arrested by police for trespassing inside an administration building at UC Davis on November 19, 2009. The 51 individuals, mostly students, had gathered inside the administration building to protest recent fee hikes. They were arrested for trespassing after refusing to leave for several hours after normal closing time. University officials reported no property damage as a result of the protest, nor was there any report of violence or resistance among the 51 students arrested by police inside the building. District Attorney Jeff Reisig said, “Based on my discussions with Chancellor Katehi and Police Chief Spicuzza, the District Attorney’s Office will not be filing criminal charges at this time. While criminal charges may be filed for up to one year after the date of the alleged violation, it is our hope that future student demonstrations will comply with the law and eliminate any need for the District Attorney’s involvement at all.” One additional case involving an individual who allegedly assaulted a police officer outside the administration building on November 19 is still being reviewed.

For more information contact the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office at (530) 681-7232.

Follow us on:

Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/lyvyya

Twitter: http://twitter.com/YoloDA

State-Wide, National, and International Actions

Updates and media COMING SOON! 


Nov. 18-23 Actions in Protest of Fee Hikes, Budget Cuts and Police Brutality

SF State: class walkouts, Administration Building Occupation

CS Long Beach: Protests Outside where Board of Trustees was meeting.
Cal Poly Pomona 19th: 800 Students Walkout, Rally

CS San Bernadino: 18th, walkout and action

CS Fresno: Library Takeover, 100 Students Keep it Open for 24 Hours

UC Davis: Administration Building Occupation / Sit-in

UC Santa Cruz Campus Shut Down, intersections Blocked

   * Kerr Hall, Aministrative Building Occupied
   * Kresge Town Hall Occupied

UC Berkeley, Massive Protests, Students go on Strike, UPTE strike,
Wheeler Hall Occupied for 12 hours

Solidarity Protest for Victims of Police Bruality @ UC in New York and Vienna

150 Students Occupy UC Headquarters in Oakland
    Went to courthouse, charges dropped to misdemeanor.

UC Regents Protest Timeline

See Movement Photos!



November 18th 2009

6am-UCLA Fights Back organizers arrive as AFSCME office to set-up picket.

7am-Student leaders and unions meet to concertize plan.

7:30am-Picket. Public comment line forms.

8am-Public comment speakers and 75 speakers, white-liners, and Regents are let into Regents’ meeting room.


8-10am-Students speak at public comment about affordability, access, and diversity. Students’ speak about issues of underrepresented minority students, undocumented students, and low-income students. Workers speak in solidarity with students and on workers’ rights and contracts. Coalition disrupts meeting several time. Teresa and Alejandra are thrown out by Berky Nelson and several cops at the request of Regents. Updates are given outside.


10am-(Inside Covel) After police clear the room, 6 students (from Student Worker Front) and 2 organizers (from AFSCME 3299) stay in the room and sing "we shall overcome"; they are arrested and go peacefully.


10:30am-Students outside see opportunity to occupy but are prevented by self-appointed student police. "Student police" assists police in holding protesters back from entering building.

11am - Regents quickly move to finance committee discussion after re-convening, they illegally begin discussions without letting public in; after negotiations with the police, 60 students are let back into Regents' meeting.


11:30am - 5 students (from Student Worker Front) stand up inside Covel, during the regents' meeting, and disrupt their discussion of the fee hikes by singing "we shall overcome". 50 students in public area raise their fists silently, in solidarity with the students who are singing. the singing students are escorted out by the police and arrested peacefully.


11:30am-Skirmishes begin with the police outside of Covel Commons where the Regents are holding their meeting. One student has been tasered and kicked back by cops. One student in the rush has injured his leg and National Lawyers Guild is on the scene to help. Police target black men due to racism.


11:40am-Students protest. Inside Regents’ Meeting several students are arrested and released. Swat team and police give students 10 minutes to evacuate, at least 10 arrests.


11:40am - 12:30pm-Police demand protesters disperse for no valid legal reason. Students maintain their ground. Police aim and threaten with riot gear and semi-lethal weapons. After a 30+ minute stand off police move crowd away from front entrance of Covel.


12:55-1:10pm-Reports that at least 3 members of UCLA's Afrikan Student Union have been tasered by police, more beaten with batons.


2-4pm-Teach-outs held at Covel Commons. Bob Samuels’ class and Chicana Feminism class.


5:00pm-Crisis Fest and Tent city set-up begins.


6:00pm-About 75-100 people at Crisis Fest/Tent City. Hip hop fills the campus as we wait for buses from Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, San Diego, Santa Cruz, and more.


7-9pm Bands, live performances at Crisis Fest. Unions and USAC provide free dinners and warm drinks to students and workers setting up tents.


9: 00pm-Buses from Berkeley come in, wild dancing begins.


10:00pm-University shuts down sound at Crisis Fest, students form a general assembly to talk about the effects of racism, the wars abroad, capitalism and the future of the student movement.


10:30pm-People invited on stage to share their own ideas and opinions about the student movement. Rousing speeches.


11:45pm Bus from San Diego arrives.

November 19, 2009

12:30am: Students occupy Campbell Hall and rename it Carter-Huggins, after two Black Panthers shot at UCLA in 1969.


2am: Campbell Hall still occupied.


5am-Unions and students awake for live media feed from Tent City.

5:10am-Organizers wake-up Tent City with KTLA media coverage. 200 march to Covel.


6 am-Picket begins at Covel. Organizers see an opening for occupation. Crowd takes side entrance; they are met by police at a secondary door. They chant, share spoken word, are energized and retreat to return to picket.


7am-Students issue communique: http://uclaresists.blogspot.com/2009/11/communique-from-ucla-occupation.html


10am-"Student police" consistently do job of police. They form a barricade; students hesitate and are more vulnerable to police brutality. Organizers urge "student police" to back-off in the interest of the movement. "Student police" refuse claiming that they are protecting AB540 students. Reports from AB540 students confirm that they were able to decide for themselves which actions to participate in given vulnerable legal status.


10:30am -Students take opportunity to include campus in protest. Students leave Regents meeting protest for campus-wide march. 150 students begin class disruptions and calls for solidarity. Many students walkout of class to join march. Students rush through Powell, Haines, Royce and other buildings screaming "walkout."


10:45am-Die-In mourning death of public education.  Student quickly rise and continue protesting.

11am- 500 students march from Covel to Campbell hall to support the occupation.


11am-Student march has taken over intersection of Westwood and Le Conte. About 700 and growing.

11:05am-Second group of marchers join march at Westwood and Le Conte. Happy re-union. Students then move on to take Wilshire and Westwood one of LA’s busiest intersections.


12:30pm-Students arrive in Westwood, blocking of Wilshire, marching down Wilshire to Veteran and back to Covel.

1pm-Return to Covel, several speakers address issues of racism and privatization. Approximately three speakers express support for the occupation.


1pm-Vote for 32% tuition hikes confirmed. The UC Board of Regents voted, as threatened, for a two-year phased 32% increase in student fees despite system-wide protests yesterday and throughout the quarter. In response, thousands of students, faculty and workers have blocked the exits to the meeting space. The regents are locked-in.

2:20pm-Students and workers surround exits and vehicles escorting Regents out. Students chase all Regents’ and chant ‘Shame On You’, etc. Police presence is stepped up. Pepper spray, tear gas, tasers, batons, and excessive force is used on a small number of students in several locations. One van is blocked from exiting in front of Sproul containing 2 Regents and Ward Connerly. Police eventually escort all Regents off campus, many are forced to leave cars in parking lot.

2:30pm-Chicana Feminism class is held outside, on the steps of Campbell Hall, explaining the history of the Black Panthers assassinated there and some reasons behind the occupation

6pm-Last stand off between police and protestors ends in a dance-in. Students serve the cops with b-boy moves, poplockin’, Afro-Brazilian, and swing dancing. Students beat drums and chant to the beat, ‘Who are you serving and protecting?’ Cops realize they are losers and leave.

6:30-7pm-Small group head to Campbell to support occupation. Students are invited in and discussion takes place. A small group of students come in, are let in, and start chastising occupiers and allies.  They start screaming, attempting to break locks, and rip down Carter-Huggins banner.  They claim to represent underrepresented minority students, although occupiers and allies are majority students of color, and eventually push for occupation to end.  Students do not want to end occupation, many leave disappointed. Students (excluding "meeting hijackers" who left after "hostile intervention") agree to continue discussion and move forward together.

Agenda for Today's Meeting

Monday, November 16, 2009 @ 6PM – UCLA FIGHTS BACK COALITION MEETING

Public Affairs Building, 3rd Floor Student Lounge

Proposed Agenda

I. 5 Minutes – Introductions (name, affiliation, & identify one demand you feel is central to this movement)

II. 60 Minutes – Reports and Planning

a) Report from Regents Planning Meeting—Teresa Avendano
b) Volunteer Sign-Up—Alejandra Cruz
c) Report from USAC External Vice President’s Office—Susan Li
d) National Lawyers Guild Legal Observers—Lincoln Ellis
e) Public Forum and Crisis Fest—Hugo Sarmiento and Eric Gardner
f) Report from USAS DC Conference—Kenia Acevedo
g) Report from Students of Color Conference—Sonja Diaz

h) Action Plan for Public Comment/Regents’ Voting—15 Minutes for Discussion

i) UCLA Student Outreach–ALL
j) Outreach to LA Community–ALL

UCLA Fights Back Movement Program

1. Lower Student Fees.


2. Stop the Privatization of Our Public Schools.


3. Defend the Right to Quality Higher Education. Prioritize funding to public education.

a) Provide budget transparency, provide transparency in the decision making process, allow for an independent audit of the UC budget, and implement progressive budget solutions.
b) Maintain our resources, including weekend library access.
c) Maintain comprehensive, critical, and culturally representative educational excellence.
d) Stop cuts to Humanities and Social Sciences.
e) Cut funding for war. No military recruitment on our campuses.
f) Tax the rich and prioritize funding in the public interest.

4. Stop the Resegregation of Public Education. Ensure access and diversity in higher education.

a) Increase underrepresented minority student enrollment.
b) Provide full scholarships for AB540 Students.
c) No ICE/UCPD collaboration on our campuses.
d) Expand the Blue and Gold Opportunity Program to ensure access for low-income students.
e) Allocate funds for recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority students.

5. Respect Workers’ Rights and Contracts

a) Reverse the layoffs, protect vital services, and stop pay cuts for the lowest paid workers.
b) Stop the union busting and bargain in good faith.
c) No furloughs for workers who make $40,000 or less.
d) No ICE/UCPD collaboration on our campuses

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