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As noted earlier this week, some activists have called for a third March Day of Action in defense of public education today, building on the protests of March 2 and the high school walkouts of March 11. Today’s actions, whatever they may be, build on yesterday’s protests at the New York state capitol and the ongoing occupation — launched earlier this week — at the University of Minnesota.
I’ve heard about some stuff that’s on tap for this afternoon, but given the nature of the call, I expect that there may be surprises as well.
I’ll be updating as the day unfolds.
Early this morning, as a thousand students and other activists protested at the capitol, New York’s state legislature passed a budget for the coming year that includes deep cuts to education — and a tax break for the wealthy.
As demonstrators chanted, yelled, and negotiated with Albany police over pizza delivery, the two houses of the legislature made their way through the long list of votes required to approve the state’s spending structure. There was no drama in the chambers to match the drama outside, and final approval came without any surprises at about one o’clock in the morning.
A fascinating breakdown and analysis of the demonstrators’ tactics can be found here.
I’m on the road right now, so full posting will have to wait for later, but students and other activists are staging an occupation of the New York State Capitol building right now.
Modeled on the recent Wisconsin statehouse takeover, and protesting new (Democratic!) governor Andrew Cuomo’s state budget plan, the demonstration aims to occupy the capitol overnight … at least.
More soon. In the meantime check out the Twitter hashtag #WeAreNY for up-to-the-minute news.
Morning Update | The budget passed early this morning amid massive protests. Here’s a wrapup of the night’s events.
Students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities launched an “open and soft” occupation of the university’s Social Sciences Tower yesterday. Though the building was officially scheduled to close at 11 pm, they were able to stay through the night, and they seem to be consolidating and expanding their presence today.
The group has a blog and a Twitter account, both set up before the occupation. They released a list of demands this morning, and a schedule of activities for the day early this afternoon. They’re planning what one of them calls a “webcam date” with students occupying a building at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and tonight is going to be movie night, too.
Oh, and someone in Iowa sent them pizzas for lunch. Seems like a pretty good day so far.
The students occupying a building at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have made it through their first night, and they’ve released a list of demands:
Because we are residents of Minnesota, and because this is a public, land-grant university,
We demand the right to peacefully occupy space at our university,
We demand that the general public has reasonable access to university resources;
We demand that the university respect the rights of all workers to organize and to earn at least a living wage;
We demand tuition and fee reductions;
We demand that regents be democratically elected by the university community;
We demand that the university treat student groups fairly and equitably with respect to funding and space. We demand student groups on the 2nd floor of Coffman Union be able to keep their spaces.
In doing so, we stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin, and students and workers worldwide.
More soon…
studentactivism.net 
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