Travis Vail / Roundup
“Enough is enough, stop the budget cuts” was the chant heard throughout Victory Boulevard Monday as students took to the streets to protest budget cuts and unit fee hikes in the Los Angeles Community College District.
The protest, which was titled after the first half of the aforementioned chant, was organized by the Associated Student Organization (ASO) and attracted hundreds of students to its cause.
The event began at 10:30 a.m. with a sit-in around the Brahma Bull statue, and continued an hour later with a march across the Mall and out to the intersection of Winnetka Avenue and Victory Boulevard.
Members of the ASO were present for the duration of the protest, with about twenty members working alongside police officers to keep the crowd under control.
“Legislators need to understand that [students] are watching them, and we’re going to hold them accountable for anything they do,” said ASO President Daniel Axelrod.
Professor James McKeever was present at the event, using a megaphone to encourage students to continue fighting for their education.
The protest was made possible by a special event permit acquired from the LAPD by ASO Senator Jonathan Fackler, which made him liable for any altercations that might have taken place during the protest.
“I understand the legal consequences, but this is important to me because I’m fighting for something bigger than myself,” said Fackler.
Students attending the event to protest held posters with messages ranging from “You’ve gotta fight for your right to study,” to less playful sentiments like, “It’s easier to buy a gun than an education,” for passing cars to see.
One unique example of student activism present at the event came from Emily Jackman, who is a linguistics major and covered her mouth with tape displaying the message: Don’t muzzle my future.
In spite of the mixed messages presented in their signs and attire, most students involved in the protest expressed unity by wearing green armbands.
“I felt as if, during the event, there were at least 500 people present,” said David Bromberg, who is an ASO senator and chairman of its public welfare committee. “We gave out 400 armbands, and there were still many without bands at the event.”
According to Sgt. Thomas Mason of the LAPD, there were approximately 200 protestors present when the demonstration moved across Victory Boulevard to Mason Avenue.
Though the event was aimed at addressing student needs, some students had differing views on the event.
“It’s a good way to get out there and spread awareness, but do I think it’ll do anything? No. It’s not going to fix the budget cuts,” said Andrew Kitchen, a 20-year-old history major who claims he was unaware of the event before arriving on campus Monday.
Just as with students, many faculty members on campus disagreed with the execution of the demonstration.
“I don’t know if [publicly protesting] is the right or wrong way, but I think it’s an effective way,” said Fernando Oleas, who is chair of the modern language department and claims his classes were cut in half by the protest. “If the students are silent, no one will listen to their needs; silence doesn’t carry a good message overall.”
Richard Skidmore, who is an instructor of business administration, questioned the methods of the protest.
“There are different ways of protesting; one is the community meeting with the legislature responsible for fees and the quagmire that California is in,” said Skidmore.
Most of the promotion for the event took place via Facebook; however, Dean of Student Services Marco De La Garza sent a school-wide email to inform students of potential traffic difficulties stemming from the event that also spread awareness of the event.
The turnout for the event never exceeded the 500 students estimated in the special event permit, but members of the ASO were satisfied with its results.
“I think the most important thing is that it sets a precedent for the future,” said Bromberg. “We’re going to come back bigger, louder and angrier if those fee increases go through.”
In addition to Monday’s protest and a candle light vigil for the death of education that took place later that day, the ASO will send delegates to speak with legislators in Sacramento on March 21.
Additional reporting by Mayra Bocanegra and Rodrigo Carbonel.