Students, faculty and union workers spoke at a noon rally in Bruin Plaza for the March 4 National Day of Action to Defend Education.
Earlier in the morning, about 120 students assembled in Royce Quad, and about 30 were in Bruin Plaza.
Common themes in the speeches included the 32-percent fee increases and diversity within the UC system.
Students also expressed discontent with funding for public education, stating that more money is spent on building prisons in California than is spent on UC education.
Sondra Hale, a professor of anthropology and women’s studies, touched on the recent vandalism incident at the LGBT Center at UC Davis.
Students responded eagerly, repeatedly chanting, “Stick together!”
Third-year law student Alejandra Cruz, who organized today’s protests through UC Fights Back, read a written statement on solidarity.
“(The UCLA administration) wants to do what they please and get away with it. We can’t let them get away with it. If you’ve ever stood up to power and felt like you made a difference, now is the time for you,” she said.
Hugo Sarmiento, a graduate student in urban planning, addressed the need for increased diversity within the UC system.
“For years, the (UC Regents) have enacted policies that deny black and latino students access to the university,” he said.
Students found the protests to be less organized than those that occurred during the Regents meeting last fall. Among them was Erienne Overli, a second-year political science student.
“Last fall, the protests were organized by the (Undergraduate Students Association Council External Vice President’s) office, and things were better planned,” she said.
Jorge Cabrera, United Auto Workers southern vice president, expressed student workers’ grievances against a more costly education.
“The UC Regents have to make education more accessible,” he said. “(Teaching assistants) are being overworked, so they have less individual time for each student.”
At 1 p.m., protesters marched from Bruin Plaza, up Bruin Walk, with plans to storm Murphy Hall and rally in Royce Quad. Students assembled outside the Chancellor’s Office, chanting and clapping, demanding an end to fee hikes and furloughs while another group blocked the street at the intersection of Wyton Drive and Charles E. Young Drive.
Protesters were still occupying Murphy at 1:45 p.m.
Compiled by Shoshee Jau and Andra Lim, Bruin contributors