[News] Puerto Rico - Students joined by professors as strike continues

[Anti-Imperialist News]

Students joined by professors as strike continues

http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Students-joined-by-professors-as-strike-continues

A standoff between University of Puerto Rico 
students and members of the police Tactical 
Operations Division (riot squad) marked the 
second day of the strike that has practically 
paralyzed all academic and administrative activities in the Río Piedras campus.

The standoff, which lasted over four hours and 
covered the streets of Río Piedras, came around 1 
p.m. after a group of some 250 students stormed 
onto the Natural Sciences building clapping and 
chanting slogans along its hallways.

“We don’t want to study in a military camp 
 
We’re on strike, there are no classes,” chanted 
the students as they gathered at the building’s 
central plaza in an effort to interrupt the few classes in session.

Several non-teaching university employees watched 
the student protest from a distance, without 
joining in, but expressing their support for the students’ plight.

“We all support the students but the 
administration has threatened us with dismissal,” 
said an unidentified university employee about 
their presence on campus. “Otherwise we would be 
marching with them [the students].”

A little over 30 minutes later police officers 
now stationed on campus warned the demonstrators 
they were “violating the law” and could be 
arrested. At the same time, the police requested 
the press leave the area. Almost immediately a 
contingent of riot policemen approached the area.
The group of students decided to take their 
demonstration to the Botanical Garden, where the 
UPR central administration is located. The 
demonstrating students were closely followed by the riot squad.

As the students approached the Botanical Garden 
another group of riot squad came out and assumed 
formation in front of the garden’s gates. The 
students then decided to demonstrate in front of 
the gates along 65th Infantry Avenue. Again the 
police warned the students that they had to 
“clear the road.” Journalists were also advised to clear the area.

The group of students, who had formed a human 
chain, was then surrounded by the squadron coming 
from the Botanical Garden and the squadron that 
had followed their march there. They opted to 
retire towards downtown Río Piedras via Luis 
Muñoz Rivera Avenue. But even as the students retreated the police followed.

“We are students, we are not criminals,” chanted 
the students as they marched towards Río Piedras 
and several commuters honked their horns to 
express their support amid the massive traffic jam.

All of a sudden the police charged against the 
group of students, who scattered running through 
the back streets of Río Piedras. Some hooded 
students responded to the police action throwing stones at them.

The police chased the students along University Avenue towards Ponce de León.

Along the way student Luis Morales was arrested 
by members of the riot squad for allegedly taking 
down one of the banners that identified the “FREE 
SPEECH AREA” established by university administration.

As the group approached Ponce de León Avenue a 
group of university professors formed a human 
chain between the students and the police. The 
students in turn formed another chain behind their professors.

The riot squad was finally ordered out of the 
area after the students retreated to Ponce de León.

“The police do not have the authority to 
designate where one is to exercise the right to 
free speech 
 This is an attack against the civil 
liberties of the people,” attorney Osvaldo Burgos said.

Burgos is an independent observer from the Puerto Rico Bar Association.

By 5p.m.the students had occupied Ponce de León 
Avenue and were blocking traffic. After some 
negotiations the students agreed to keep the bus 
lane open, but would keep demonstrating on the avenue.

“There can be no doubt that this is a successful 
strike 
 We didn’t have classes and we controlled 
several streets,” Student Representation 
Committee member Ian Camilo Cintrón said.

“We urge the administration to desist from its 
intransigence and negotiate. Otherwise, our 
demonstration will keep escalating,” the student leader warned.




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