Student Protest Over UC Fee Hike Turns Violent

A 300-person strong protest against raising University of California fees got out of hand yesterday, and 13 people—mostly students—were arrested. The demonstration took place outside a UC regents meeting about the proposed increase in San Francisco. The UC San Francisco police chief called the crowd "angry and unruly and aggressive" and said some protesters threw barricades and other objects at university and city police, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Four cops suffered minor injuries and about 15 protesters were sprayed with pepper spray. One police officer, who was allegedly hit on the head with his own baton, pointed his gun at the protesters but didn't fire. The regents were discussing a controversial 8% fee increase, which would follow a 32% tuition increase last year, and students said that most of the demonstrators wanted to be allowed into the meeting to hear the discussion. Approval of the increase is expected today. Click here to read about last year's protests.
(More University of California stories.)