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<h2><b>Students joined by professors as strike continues
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<a href="http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Students-joined-by-professors-as-strike-continues" eudora="autourl">
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Students-joined-by-professors-as-strike-continues<br>
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</a>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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
“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.<br><br>
Several non-teaching university employees watched the student protest
from a distance, without joining in, but expressing their support for the
students’ plight.<br><br>
“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].”<br><br>
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.<br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
“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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
The police chased the students along University Avenue towards Ponce de
León.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
The riot squad was finally ordered out of the area after the students
retreated to Ponce de León.<br><br>
“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.<br><br>
Burgos is an independent observer from the Puerto Rico Bar
Association.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
“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.<br><br>
“We urge the administration to desist from its intransigence and
negotiate. Otherwise, our demonstration will keep escalating,” the
student leader warned. <br><br>
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