Communication is Key!

March 4th, 2010. A date that will resonate in the memories of many students. It was similar to what the marches towards immigrant rights were - for the academic institutional world. This world is made up of students, faculty, staff, community members, state officials, and other elected members.

It was these people that I saw marching aside of me on March 4th. The campus was made alert of the protest far in advance to the actual date. Posters were displayed all throughout the university that read: "WAKE UP! WALK OUT! MARCH 4th!". Others handed out fliers with times and information about the protest.

The day came and people gathered in much frenzied excitement, but ready with fire in their eyes and movement in their feet. I anticipated the numbers, but what I witnessed was beyond my expectations. Members from all levels came to support the protesters: community members, teachers, staff, faculty, representative from numerous organizations and even the police! Yes, the police were amongst the many who followed and endured the length of the protest with all the protesters.

We left the campus library and headed west towards the main streets. We headed south down Prairie St. Afterward, we made a left on a small street ending up on Nordhoff St where the crowd made another left. The group peacefully walked through oncoming traffic that was forced to experience the protest. Although the traffic jam was surely displeasing, many of the people in their cars showed their support for the protesters by honking and displaying thumbs up or peace signs. The on-lookers enthusiasm motivated the protesters to march on!

March on we did! We continued down Nordhoff and were being lead back to campus through Lindley, surely back to the Oviatt Library. However, the protesters were not satisfied. We made yet ANOTHER left on Zelzah through the oncoming traffic, passed Northridge Academy, the student apartments and dorms on both sides. Realizing that some still waddled behind, we all sat down near the parking lot on Zelzah to catch our breath and allow the rest to solidify with the rest of the group. Once we were whole again, we marched on chanting "Hey! Ho! Budget cuts have got to go!". Others used musical instruments such as snare drums, congo drums, bongo drums, tambourines, kazooes, harmonicas, and some simply used their hands. Contrastingly, many carried signs silently with words like "I just want to graduate" to express their perspectives. Whatever medium, each member of the march voiced their insight using their specific weapon of choice. In this way, the protest was unified!

However, as easy as it was for members to waddle behind or to push foward ahead of everyone, struggle for control of the collective began at Lindley and Nordhoff. Instead of returning to campus as the CFA organizers insisted, the protesters turned on Zelzah. From there, the students were met by police at the intersection of Zelzah and Lassen. The police were there to help guide the protesters back to the university. The students had a different direction and arrived at their first confrontation with the police.

Instead of returning to campus, the students simply walked around the thin line of police motorcycles, vehicles and baton carrying cops. A few students were pushed back by the police, but the majority walked on through towards Reseda Blvd. All the way around the university, protesters walked through happy, smiling faces and the occasional disconnected passer-by in their vehicles. We encouraged these people by voicing the words, "Wake up! Walk out!". Moreover, students were on the dorm balconies with their own signs and shouting in support of the protesters.

The second police interference was at Reseda Blvd and Lassen St where access to Lassen St beyond that point was blocked off by the LAPD. The group was forced to turn on Reseda Blvd where we continued peacefully towards Nordhoff St. We never did make Nordhoff St and Reseda Blvd. The protesters never made it beyond Reseda Blvd and Prarie St. In the middle of numerous local businesses, the police had isolated the protesters between Prarie St and Lassen St. Once the protesters met the wall of police on Prarie St, they were unsure as to whether return to campus or maintain their protest.

By this point, there had already been disagreements amongst participants as what the direction of the protest should be. This is the point where the unity of the protesters became disrupted. Ultimately, there were three parties. One who stayed through the entire protest, others who stayed as witnesses with their SLR's and video cameras, and others who left because of individual reasons.


The first were the ones who sat at the intersection yelling "Hell no! We won't go!" and planted themselves before the police barricade. Despite the numerous people questioning their motives, attempts to persuade them to quit and disassociate them by joining other groups, these were the strongest of the bunch. Most of them laid down comfortably on the asphalt in a circle, while others stood facing the police, linked arm to arm. This group offered food and water to others as incentives to join them in solidarity.

The second were rightfully intimidated by the presence of the LAPD who had holstered guns, held batons ready in hand, tear gas gun ready to fire, plastic handcuffs freely displayed and the authority of "to serve and protect" somewhere in their memories. This second group divided into two divisions. The first wanted to return to campus where more were congregating in front of the Oviatt library. The other division became part of the "on-lookers" by standing on the sidewalk and witnessing the protest.

The third group acknowledged the police but stood in unity to confront them. Many inquired peacefully with the police to know the exact reason they're protest was being disrupted by the police. Many of the police offered little to no dialogue. Instead, they stood as stoic scarecrows. However, amongst the scarecrows, there were the individual police officer who would communicate with protesters in a friendly manner despite the hostile feeling the police presence put forth.

Others unified on the sidewalks to continue the protest to Nordhoff St despite the police. However, they were denied, pushed and arrested by police. Once the police initiatied physical contact, some of the students pushed back and indirectly pushed others forward toward the police. In this divison there was further division. There were ones who wanted to push forward and risk physical confrontation with the police, while others held those people back and chanted the word "Peaceful Protest!" over and over until the divisions unified and the collective was calm.

With police intimidating protesters with warnings of arrest, tear gas, and other fates, it was difficult to maintain a solid collective of protesters. The question arose, "Why are we still here?" from many of the on-lookers, passer-by's, police, faculty and protesters themselves.

Individually, protesters shuffled from one group to another. As the sun set, protesters sat in the dark, illuminated by the police helicopter's light that shined on them from above. The protesters were literally surrounded on all sides. The only exit lead to campus down Prarie St, and even that was walkway was lined with policemen-like statues.

Eventually, it was agreed that the protesters were not satisfied because the interruption by the police seemingly was meant to redirect the focus on the protest. Instead, the presence only inspired the students to endure their protest. The protesters wanted to raise awareness and effectively display their points of view to their community. CSUN is a public university and the community is made up of students from the university that live, work and study in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Finally, media coverage arrived from local news stations. By this point, two students were arrested, one professor was injured and others were injured by blows of a baton. Individuals came and went,but the collective maintained throughout the night. However, it took hours before the protesters were acknowledge by local media. Actually, it was the protesters themselves who are responsible for most of the video footage, photographs, and interviews from the actual march.

This proves that we are responsible for supporting one another. We must motivate one another to voice our frustrations logically and responsibly. We can only overthrow the current circumstances together. As a community, we can strive to unify in solidarity. Let us plan ahead for future protests and demonstrations. Together we can make this a more commonplace thing. Moreover, we can learn and support one another using our different resources and networks.

I encourage you to submit your own posts to boldmindsmakechange@gmail.com Your words may motivate someone to voice their own, inspire others to act, provide insightful responses to your perspectives, and inform others on the all related happenings.

Thank you for your consideration.

Professor X.

Questions to consider:

Did you attend any of the CSU protests? Why/Why not?
Who did you attend with? Individual or with organization? Friends?
How did you voice your opinions?
Which group were you a part of? Why/Why not?
Are you satisfied with March 4th results?
How much of an impact do you feel the protest made? Why/Why not?
What could have been done different about the protests to make it more effective?
Did the protests gain enough media coverage?
Were other CSU campuses highlighted more than others?
What was YOUR experience at your place of protest?
Did the media accurately portray the CSU protests?

All of these questions could be their own post. Feel free to e-mail me your voices. :)