March 4th Day of Action

This Asian Girl Prof moonlights as a Militant Asian Woman.

Today was a nation-wide Day of Action to protest the defunding of public education. For details on all the various factors behind California's public education crisis, go HERE. For a blog that updates on student activism across the nation, go HERE.

I am, in just about every way, a product of the University of California system. My dad graduated from a UC as a foreign student in the 1970s. I got my BA from a UC, and am currently finishing my PhD at a UC, where I also teach. Many people in my family also claim UCs as their alma maters. So this day was important for me, politically, professionally, and personally.

There were a series of protests going on in the fall, when the UC Regents decided to institute a 32% fee increase for undergraduates. I participated in a lot of them-- I gave speeches at rallies, posed questions to administrators at their town hall meetings (aka bullshit PR stunts), served in an "advisory committee" of sorts that was supposed to dialogue with the Regents (who never showed up because they don't give a shit) and occupied buildings. So when the March 4 Day of Action was called, which would include students and educators from all school systems: UCs, CSUs, community college and K-12 systems, I knew I was going to be there.

At my campus, a group of students headed toward a freeway onramp leading to campus. A barricade of police and CHP officers met us there. The police very quickly resorted to violent tactics: batons, tear gas, rubber bullets. That was my first exposure to tear gas. That's some nasty stuff.

Later we also blocked off a major intersection near campus, which was a gathering that also eventually dispersed. All in all, the protests were fairly peaceful on our campus. (That is, aside from the popo beating the shit out of students.) No one, aside from one woman who was detained at the freeway standoff and later released, was arrested. I'm kind of relieved. I've always been tempted to throw myself to the cause at these things, but I've never felt ready to get myself arrested. Frankly, the idea of spending a night in jail terrifies me. Especially as a small woman of color.

It was awesome seeing some of my students at the protest. For most of them, this was their first protest. I told them that they were bound to learn more from being there than in any class they could attend, including mine. Most of them dispersed once they saw the popo break out the tear gas. But some of them stayed on, even after I told them repeatedly that they should feel free to leave whenever they want. One of them said, "No, I want to stay. This is important." That was pretty awesome. Especially because that kid is kind of a tweaker and I never would have expected he would turn into an activist. But he also told me that he never expected that his college experience would turn out like this.

There are plans for more actions tomorrow. I hope the momentum continues. I've been googling for coverage about what happened nationwide, and have been amazed at how many campuses got themselves organized today. Here's hoping for the start of a revolution. March FORTH!