BERKELEY Calif. – Rowdy protesters blocked the main gates of a California university Thursday amid campus protests across the nation against deep cuts in education funding.
University of California, Santa Cruz provost David Kliger said there were reports of protesters carrying weapons and damaging a vehicle. Police did not immediately confirm the reports.
An advisory posted on the school Web site urged people to avoid the campus because of safety concerns.
It said a windshield was reported smashed and protesters had photographed the license plate of a staff member trying to enter the campus.
Marches, strikes, teach-ins and walkouts were planned nationwide in what was being called the March 4th National Day of Action for Public Education.
Organizers said hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and parents were expected to participate in the demonstrations.
Some university officials said they supported the protests as long as they remained peaceful.
