UPR: May 27 March

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Some 2000 people filled the streets of San Juan on Thursday, May 27 in opposition to the UPR administration as the multi-campus strike continued into the 36th day. More photos here at indymedia PR.

Death at University of Puerto Rico Strike

MAYAGÜEZ, Puerto Rico – (The following is in Spanish and English.)

La UPR está de luto.

Universidad de Puerto Rico
Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez
26 de mayo de 2010

Hoy el RUM y sus estudiantes están de

Today, RUM and its students are in mourning

A través de los distintos medios de comunicación masiva, hemos recibido la terrible noticia del fallecimiento de nuestra compañera Natalia Sánchez López, de 21 años de edad. Las razones de su fallecimiento aun son desconocidas. De igual manera se desconoce si la joven tenía algún padecimiento previo que fuera el causante de tan nefasto final.

We have received the terrible news from the media about the death of our comrade, Natalia Sánchez López, 21. The cause of death is still unknown. It is also unknown if she suffered from any condition that might have precipitated her most unfortunate end.

Colegiales en Acción y los estudiantes de la huelga expresamos nuestro más sentido pésame a su familia y amigos. Les queremos extender nuestras sinceras condolencias en este momento tan difícil que atraviesan.

Colegiales en Acción and the students on strike would like to offer our condolences to her family and friends, in this difficult moment.

Natalia había participado en la asamblea estudiantil del RUM, el pasado lunes 24 de mayo, pero tuvo que ser removida antes de que la misma concluyera. La estudiante sufrió un colapso durante la celebración de la asamblea y tuvo que ser llevada en ambulancia hasta su residencia.

Natalia had participated in the student assembly of RUM, on Monday, May 24, but had to be removed before she passed away. The student suffered a collapse during the assembly and had to be taken to her home by ambulance.

Las condiciones de hacinamiento y extrema calor fueron la orden del día en dicha actividad. El estacionamiento del Darlington fue testigo de una asamblea a la cual 12,000 estudiantes fueron convocados cuando claramente el espacio provisto no era suficiente para abarcar dicho número. La misma contó con la asistencia de más de 2 mil estudiantes, cuya participación fue mermando debido a lo prolongado de la asamblea. Esta se extendió por 8 horas, a causa de la maléfica organización que allí permeaba. Los estudiantes carecían de ventilación, de agua y acceso a las facilidades de baño. Sin mencionar que, sólo contaban con un acceso tanto de entrada como de salida.

During the activities, the place was normally crowded and extremely hot. 12,000 students gathered at the Darlington parking lot when it was clear that there was not enough space to comfortably fit that many people in it. Then there were more than 2,000 people who kept joining the assembly crowd as it proceeded rather at length. The assembly lasted longer than 8 hours, due to an evily organized plan. The students did not have ventilation, water, nor access to restrooms. Without mentioning, that they only had one entrance which also served as an exit.

La falta de organización fue el talón de Aquiles de la asamblea, ya que no contaban con los suministros ni las condiciones para cubrir las necesidades del estudiantado. Las facilidades del estacionamiento Darlington cuentan con baños, a los cuales el acceso y uso de los mismos les fue negado a los estudiantes. Mientras que, los miembros del Consejo General de Estudiantes del |RUM hacían uso de los mismos cuando así les pareciera. Incluso, al momento de contabilizar los votos en la asamblea, el CGE brilló por su ausencia en esa hora y media que tomó el proceso ya que se encontraban cómodamente dentro de las facilidades. De igual manera, impedían la entrada de botellas de agua y sombrillas al área del estacionamiento.

The lack of organization was the Achilles heel of the assembly, since there was a clear lack of services and the conditions were not met to insure the safety of the student body. The facilities at the Darlington parking lot have restrooms, but access and use of such places was not permitted to the students. In the meantime, the members of the General Council of Students from RUM did make use of them. Also, when it was time to count the votes of the assembly, the Council were notibly absent for an hour and a half while comfortably inside the facilities. In the same fashion, they did not allow students to bring in water bottles nor umbrellas for shade.

Los estudiantes y profesores denunciaron los percances de celebrar la asamblea en el “corral”. El médico José Ríos Orlandi denunció su preocupación acerca de las condiciones de la asamblea al cuerpo de bomberos, los cuales al llegar al área del estacionamiento procedieron a no permitir la entrada de más estudiantes a la actividad. Aunque, al cabo del tiempo, y por denuncias de los mismos estudiantes, se procedió a seguir permitiendo la entrada al estudiantado. Era tarea del CGE agenciar un lugar adecuado y neutral para llevar a cabo dicha asamblea, que permitiera la participación de la mayor cantidad del estudiantado posible y que a su vez, contara con las facilidades pertinentes para celebrar una asamblea, la cual fue convocada por ese cuerpo.

Both, students and professors denounced the format in which the assembly took place and the setting, since it resembled a “corral”. José Ríos Orlandi, a medical doctor, informed the local fire department about his concerns regarding the event. The firefighters then arrived and stopped allowing people inside the parking lot. However, after a while, and as a response to the petitions of some students, more students were let inside. The task of securing an adecuate and neutral space for the assembly, which would allow for the participation of the maximum number of students possible, and counting with the adecuate facilities and services in order to celebrate such event, was the duty of the Council, who also called the meeting.

Lamentamos grandemente la pérdida de un ser humano tan alegre y comprometido como lo era nuestra compañera Natalia. Todos nuestros corazones lloran hoy su partida y estamos en total solidaridad con tod@s aquell@s allegad@s a ella. La Universidad de Puerto Rico y el pueblo puertorriqueño se encuentran de luto.

We deeply regret the loss of such a happy and dedicated human being like our comrade, Natalia. Today, all of our hearts cry for her departure and we declare our solidarity with all of the people who loved and appreciated her. The University of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican people are in mourning.

Dania García
Comité de Prensa, Colegiales en Acción

(special thanks to UC Rebel Radio for the translation.)

more on the University of Puerto Rico Strike:

UPR Strike: Day 35 interview at UPR-Carolina

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico – An interview by Nuevo Jacho TV with Jilvelisse Aguila, spokesperson for the strike committee at UPR-Carolina, about the continuation of the strike at the Carolina campus and the illegitimate referendum organized unilaterally by the president of the Students’ Association, which the striking students are largely boycotting.

more on the University of Puerto Rico Strike:

Videos of UPR – May 15 & 16

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Here are some videos from May 15 and 16 from the strike at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.

• 2 horas en la Huelga de la UPR from Alberto Bartolomei

• no están solos from Alberto Bartolomei

• ponte a caminar Mis pasos from Alberto Bartolomei

from Day 27, May 18th:

• 1 Universidad : 1 Pueblo from Raymond O’Brien

AZ Border Patrol HQ Sit-in

TUCSON, Arizona – Around 16 allies and indigenous peoples are engaged in a sit-in at the Border Patrol Headquarters at the Davis Monthan Air Force Base as of 1:15pm today in opposition to SB 1070 and HB 2281.

A local news station is suggesting that there are 6-8 people chained together in a sit-in. Another local news station is suggesting at least 15-20 protesting, and that the office doors are locked up.

UPDATE:

4:40pm: The demonstrators have been removed, cited for trespass, and released.

from rootforce:

PRESS RELEASE

Friday, May 21, 2010
For Immediate Release

Media Contact:  Leilani Clark (520) 982-5687

OCCUPATION OF BORDER PATROL HEADQUARTERS DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, TUCSON, AZ

1st NATIONS AND MIGRANTS OPPOSE SB1070; DEMAND DIGNITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND END TO BORDER MILITARIZATION

“The militarized border imposed by the U.S. has led only to cultural and environmental destruction of the indigenous peoples whose land is on or near the border. This militarization brings death and terror for indigenous peoples from other parts of the continent migrating to this land.”

Tucson, AZ – More than a dozen people occupied Border Patrol headquarters at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base today in an act of peaceful resistance. The group includes members of Indigenous Nations of Arizona, migrants, people of color and white allies. Six people used chains and other devices to lock themselves in the building. These Arizona residents disrupted the Border Patrol operations to demand that Border Patrol (BP), Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), their parent entity, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Obama administration end militarization of the border, end the criminalization of immigrant communities, and end their campaign of terror which tear families apart through increasing numbers of raids and deportations.

MDX Philosophy Students & Staff Suspended

from saveMDXphil:

Some Middlesex University Philosophy students, along with Philosophy professors Peter Osborne and Peter Hallward, were suspended from the University this afternoon. Hallward and Osborne were issued with letters announcing their suspension from the University with immediate effect, pending investigation into their involvement in the recent campus occupations. The suspension notice blocks them from entering University premises or contacting in any way University students and employees without the permission of Dean Ed Esche (e.esche@mdx.ac.uk) or a member of the University’s Executive.

The Campaign,
Friday afternoon, 21 May 2010.

UPR Police Brutality & Riot

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Several hundred students and workers gathered together on Thursday, May 20th in front of the luxurious Sheraton Hotel in San Juan to protest Governor Fortuño’s political fundraiser. Some protesters attempted to gain access to the exclusive fundraiser only to be blocked by riot police. These protesters escaped back to the picket line outside, as the riot police followed in pursuit. The riot police, known as the Shock Force, ruthlessly assaulted students, workers, union leaders and others with batons, tear gas, and pepper spray. At least 25 have been injured.

At 9pm, demonstrators rallied and chanted opposite the main gate to UPR, Rio Piedras in show of solidarity for students who have been on strike now for 31 days.

More from Indymedia Puerto Rico in Spanish. English version at bottom.

Photos from IndymediaPR 1 & 2:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

More on the UPR Strike here:

(note: mostly regarding the Rio Piedras campus)

• 11.April - Occupation Announced
• 12.April - Occupation Attacked
• 21.April – UPR Strike Begins
• 23.April - More UPR Campuses Join Strike
• 25.April - Strike Continues (photos)
• 27.April - UPR Strike Analysis – Yeast and the Oven
• 3.May - UPR Strike Enters 13th day
• 15.May - Police Surround UPR
• 15.May – UPR undersiege
• 20.May - UPR Strike Analysis – Vietnam & Disney

“You may cut all the flowers, but never eradicate the spring.”

American University of Beirut on Strike

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Students at the American University of Beirut have entered the 3rd day of their strike alongside holding large sit-ins/sleep-ins at College Hall on campus. What started as a rally and march at noon on May 19th, grew to a crowd thousands strong as whole departments shutdown and locked their doors. They are demanding affordable education in light of tuition increases. They have called for an indefinite strike. (Note: Beirut is 10 hours ahead of Pacific time.)

more info at Sawt Al Niswa.

Update:

May 21st – It appears the administration has accepted a reduced version of the students’ demands, particularly on how they spend tuition and financial aid money. The strike has been called off.

General Strike Shuts Down Greece (again)

GREECE – A general strike was called for today, May 20th.

from After the Greek Riots:

“first footage from Parliament before the bulk of the demonstrators arrived. The amount of people there at the moment is unbelievable”. (see above link for video)

• In Exarcheia, police have blocked off two social spaces (the Nosotros Social Centre and the office of the Anarchist Archive) in order to stop people from joining the demonstration (!) At the time of writing (13.50 GMT+2) the siege continued.
• Police are detaining people across the city, very difficult to even record all detentions here. A group of students of the Polytechnic school were arrested while exiting their institution; on Tritis Septemvriou street, riot police have been reported to have violently beaten pensioners who were preparing to join the demonstration.

Davis 2-day Tent City

DAVIS, California – On May 18-19, students at UC Davis demonstrated by holding a tent city on campus.

Vietnam & Disney: UPR Enters 5th Week

UPR strike, Day 27: Students regain momentum, look to spark people’s movement

by José Laguarta, 17 May 2010

As the sun rose on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, two hundred students, mostly masked, some brandishing makeshift shields of wood and plastic traffic drums, approached the main vehicular access gate to the University of Puerto Rico’s historic Río Piedras campus, and chained it shut.

Thus began the ongoing campus occupation, which has now spread to all 11 campuses of the UPR system, becoming the first ever system-wide public university strike in Puerto Rico.  It is also the longest-lasting strike action of any kind in this U.S. island colony since the Río Piedras student strike of 2005 (which lasted 29 days).  With no end in sight, the UPR strike of 2010 will soon boast the longest campus occupation in Puerto Rico’s history.

The students’ three main demands are: repeal Certification 98, which opens the door to eliminating tuition waivers for honor students, athletes, and employees and their families; stop summer term tuition hikes; and fiscal transparency.

Río Piedras strikers have humorously dubbed their internal two-line struggle as “Vietnam and Disney”, with the front gates controlled by radical humanities and social science students as the former, and the gates at the back of the campus, controlled by more moderate law and natural science students, as the latter.   The comparison apparently was overheard early on from a cop who had been assigned to both gates at different times.

MDX Re-occupied

LONDON, England – After 12 days of occupying the Mansion building at the Trent Park campus, occupiers were forced to vacate the occupation on Saturday, May 15.

from saveMDXphil:

This evening [May 20] around 50 students and staff from half a dozen different programmes at Middlesex University’s School of Arts and Education occupied the library at Trent Park campus.

This building is full of books on philosophy, literature, art criticism, music and culture. These books – and the courses and departments associated with them – are severely endangered by management cuts. We are determined to preserve them.

The Campaign to Save Philosophy at Middlesex
Thursday 20 May 2010, 7:30pm

Update:

May 21st – Library occupation ends.

CSU Fresno: Library study-in suppressed with police

Central Valley IMC:

FRESNO, California – Today after the Fresno State library closed at 5, 11 students refused to leave. In protest of reduced hours 11 students stayed in the Fresno State library after it closed on Saturday. This was in protest of the fact that finals are next week and the school has done nothing to increase library access to students. Friday night, students were also asked to leave early so that donors could have a “Wizard of Oz” conference, this also was protested by students.

At Saturday’s occupation, nearly a dozen campus police and FPD (who are not allowed on campus) came in along with Dr. Coon to threaten the students with a judicial review and delayed graduation. This is absurd since the budget cuts have led to cut classes and overcrowded classes which is already leading to delayed graduation for many students.

After 2 hours the students had their names taken down by the PD and were escorted out of the building. None of the law enforcement were willing to answer any questions, this includes FPD who were asked why they were there when they weren’t supposed to be there, they were also asked for names and badge numbers but refused this as well.

High school protests and walkouts in Atlanta area

ATLANTA, Georgia – This article covers protests at several schools, including one feisty walkout involving fire alarms which the school district spokesperson smeared in the media as a “fake protest”.

Cleveland, OH: Police brutalize high school walkout participants

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The video shows middle-aged white male cops slamming young black females into a car and choking them during arrest.

The occasion was a walk-out in protest over teacher layoffs at Collinwood High School. Cleveland FIST has more info on the protest, which drew hundreds, and the call-in campaign to drop charges against the students who are being charged with assaulting officers.

(Note, this blog does not endorse Cleveland FIST or “Bail Out the People” which are fronts for the Stalinist Worker’s World Party.)