UCLA students Andrew Newton (bottom) and Mathew Sandoval (left) struggle with police officers as UCLA graduate student Cheryl Deutsch (center) looks on. All three students were arrested.
SAN FRANCISCO – Three UCLA students were arrested and charged with obstructing an officer and failing to disperse from the UC Board of Regents’ bimonthly meeting at UC San Francisco’s Mission Bay campus as protesters were leaving the building.
Mathew Sandoval, a graduate student in world arts and cultures, Cheryl Deutsch, president of graduate student union UAW 2865 at UCLA, and Andrew Newton, a fourth-year international development studies student, were forced to the floor and handcuffed by several police officers outside the auditorium where the regents meet. No others were arrested.
[Updated at 1:17 p.m. All three UCLA students were charged with obstructing an officer and failing to disperse, according to a press release from Amy Pyle, executive director of UCSF media relations.
In addition, Newton was charged with battery on an officer, according to the release.
Sandoval was the only student charged with a felony, “taking by means of a riot any person from the lawful custody of a peace officer,” according to the release. He was also charged with using violence to prevent an officer from performing his or her duties, according to the release. ]
[Updated at 8:49 p.m. Deutsch was released from San Francisco County Jail with a citation. Sandoval and Newton remain in jail, with bail set at $61,000 and $11,000 respectively, according to county jail records.
A group of about 10 people – mostly UCLA students – have pooled money to post bond for Sandoval and Newton, said John Bruning, a UC-AFT organizer for UCLA.]
[Updated March 30 at 1:49 p.m. Sandoval and Newton were released shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday night, according to county jail records.]
More than 30 police officers escorted other protesters from the building.
There were around 30 UC students, including some from UCLA, present at the meeting. Most student protesters from UCLA were affiliated with Occupy UCLA, and many are members of UAW 2865, said fifth-year history student Alex Yu.
After a heated public comment period that lasted more than 40 minutes, four members in the audience said they signed up to make public comments earlier today, but that the list used by the regents did not include their names. Sherry Lansing, chair of the UC Board of Regents, said the names were not on the list, or that the audience members had given their speaking time to someone else.
Despite urging from protesters that everyone be given a chance to address the board, Lansing called the public comment portion of the meeting to an end.
Angry about not being able to speak, protesters yelled that they would hold their own comment period. They encouraged one student to begin speaking, even though UC leaders and regents were filing out of the room. The board suspended their discussions.
In the meeting room, protesters stripped off clothes to reveal bathing suits. About 18 police officers formed a line in front of the protesters.
“This is what happens when you set a meeting during spring break,” one protester shouted.
All undergraduate UC campuses are on spring break this week.
UC police gave protesters 10 minutes to clear the room, adding that they would be arrested and that force may be used if they failed to comply. The police gave three separate warnings. After that time period, protesters trickled out of the room.
Newton was at the front of protesters and yelling at police, who arrested him, said Kyle Todd, a third-year law student at UCLA.
Sandoval, who was next to Newton, attempted to physically block the arrest of Newton. Four officers then grabbed Sandoval, bringing him to the ground as he also resisted arrest.
Deutsch moved toward where the arrests had occurred and was rebuffed by police. After refusing to leave, she was arrested.
Earlier, during the public comment period, UC Berkeley geography doctoral student Gustavo Oliveira asked regents if police could leave the room and criticized the University’s protest policies.
“Students, faculty and staff are not safe on campus and at the regents’ meeting,” Oliveira said in response to the arrests.
Compiled by Andra Lim and Emily Suh, Bruin senior staff.