After midnight on May 31, police in riot gear, including California State Troopers, arrested at least 80 demonstrators who were blocking an entrance to the University of California-Santa Cruz campus. Video taken from the scene showed a line of police with raised batons standing at the encampment, face to face with protesters, who linked arms.
Students joined with hundreds of striking workers at UC Santa Cruz. The workers are part of a rolling strike/work stoppage at several UC campuses, of researchers, teaching assistants and other employees. They allege that the University of California’s response to pro-Palestinian demonstrators has violated their free speech rights. Even after the arrests, students remained, asserting their rights to free speech and protest.
