The Barricades and the University: A Post-Occupation Reflection

*****For Immediate Release*****

The Barricades and the University: A Post-Occupation Reflection

The Occupation Maintenance Council-SFSU Chapter

When:
Saturday December 19th 2009
12 PM – Centro Del Pueblo
Room # 120
474 Valencia Street (16th and Valencia)
San Francisco, CA 94103

What:
On December 9th, 2009, roughly 20 students entered the Business building at San Francisco State University to barricade the doors and launch the occupation of the Business building. This action sparked a significant protest, which included the participation of hundreds of students and lasted 24 hours before ending with 30 arrests. While the occupation was an attempt to reclaim space, the administration saw the need to forcibly evacuate the students and arrest supporters at some of the entrances. Students not only defended the space but also blockaded police vehicles from leaving during the final face-off at 4 AM on December 10th.

This event is a critical reflection of the actions that emerged and an attempt to build towards a larger discussion on strategy for moving forward in the struggle for public education. Students from other campuses are invited to participate and collectively analyze the actions and the larger impacts reverberating afterwords.

I. Report back from students at different universities and their occupations.
II. Open discussion on Occupations
III. Moving Forward

A hat will be passed around for the Legal Support of those that participated in and were arrested in the occupation of San Francisco State University.

This event is open to the community.