2010-10-28 University of Puerto Rico Student Striker West Coast Speaking Tour

This past spring, Puerto Rican students organized a two-month strike that won victories against ongoing tuition hikes and threats to sell college resources at the University of Puerto Rico. They were inspired by California students, staff and teachers who opposed fee increases, layoffs, and the slashing of billions from school budgets. Gamelyn Oduardo, a representative of the Law Student Action Committee at the Rio Piedras campus, will tour California and speak on several campuses about the strike and what lies ahead in the struggle.

Here are the times and locations.

When: Thursday, October 28 at 7:00pm
Where: Royce Hall, Room 190, UCLA
What: Forum, "Reclaiming the University: Successful Resistance to Tuition Hikes and Privatization at the University of Puerto Rico"
Sponsor: Puerto Rican Student Tour Committee and the Freedom Socialist Party
Contact: call 415-864-1278 or email bafsp - at - earthlink.net

When: Saturday, October 30 at 7:30pm (Caribbean dinner at 6:30pm)
Where: New Valencia Hall, 625 Larkin Street #202, San Francisco
What: Forum, "On the Barricades for Public Education: Defying Privatization from San Juan to Berkeley"
Sponsor: Puerto Rican Student Tour Committee and the Freedom Socialist Party
Contact: call 415-864-1278 or email bafsp - at - earthlink.net Cost: Door donation $3-5 - Buffet $9 - work exchanges and sliding scale available for low income

When: Tuesday, November 2 from 12:55pm to 1:55pm
Where: Room 105, Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley, at Bancroft and College Streets
What: Public meeting, "On Strike, Shut It Down! Eyewitness Report from the University of Puerto Rico"
Sponsor: Puerto Rican Student Tour Committee and the Freedom Socialist Party
Contact: call 415-864-1278 or email bafsp - at - earthlink.net

Other events on the tour include

Thursday, October 28 -- presentations at California State University, Long Beach
University of Peurto Rico student to give the opening welcome to the Statewide Conference to Defend Public Education, 9:30am to 10:00am
Monday, November 1 -- presentations at City College of San Francisco
Plus media interviews, community meetings and more

Donations are needed to offset the cost of the tour. Please call 415-864-1278 or email bafsp - at = earthlink.net for more information, to endorse, donate, or to get involved. For child care arrangements please call three days in advance.

For further details including endorsers, click here.

The Peace and Freedom Party has not formally endorsed these events.