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From a distance, as you walk near the city hall of the city of Riverside, the statue of Martin Luther King Jr looks peaceful; the sun is out without a cloud insight. The small park is beautiful; simple, but beautiful. There is a faint chant in the background. As you go closer to the bronze work of art, your eyes can no longer focus on the statue of a memorable leader of the 1960s; no, your eyes turn to a group of people behind it. The chants, the beats, the postersthey all finally become legible to your eyes. As you go closer, you notice signs like Educat

ion First! Education Not For Sale!. This is March 2nd, the National Day of Action for Public Education.

I hurriedly rushed to this rally with a friend. I was anxious to become part ofitto chant and yell and display posters on the streets of downtown Riverside. Itwas exciting to actually stand up for something that you were not alone in prot

ecting! The idea of meeting others involved in this matter was, of course, the highest motivator for myself as I searched for details to cover.

Just for one hour, my friend lamely said. I dont want to pay for parking anyway.

I couldnt really hear his whines; there was a loud People-want-to-know! Who-we-are

! So-we-tell-them! We-are-STUDENTS! Everywhere, without shame, and with pride, posters were held up high. Organizers were in red; the rest wore ordinary clothes,with picket signs and water bottles, backpacks and a determination that was soo

n contagious. The group of about 150 students was a melting pot of individuals,of all ages and backgroundssome were parents, students, professors, and others, like my friend, were simply dragged in the fray.

There was strong support earlier, Jordan Rohde informed me. But as the day went on,many left to attend their classes.

Jordan was holding a poster sign in her right hand when I met her. It was obvious she was an organizer because of her red shirt, paired with a stripped black and white dress. She was a red-haired girl, slim, shorter than me as far as I coul

d tell, and in her early twenties. Blue-eyed, with some freckles on her face, Ms. Rohde was (sure enough) a student to be reckoned with.

The simple fact that this is going to affect so many people at one time should beenough for others to care.

Her voice was a matter-of-fact. Her focus in studies was Women Studies at the University of California Riverside, and already she was finished with three yearsat the University.

Im not properly informed, but you should ask the group over there. Theyre the masterminds. I came here because my friend told me about it. So you could say Im an or

ganizer and a peacekeeper.

Rohdes passions and values were quickly obvious.

She pointed at a group of students that were all in red (discreetly of course),standing behind the multitudes. I thanked her, and moved closer to the center ofa small platform where the masterminds were about to prepare a speech.

There are other ways to fund education! said a professor as he was given a microphone to talk.

He was easily in his fifties; the man had white hair, with a blue dress shirt and a dark dress pants. In his right hand he held the microphone; in his left, a p

iece of paper, which I suspect he used as reference as he spoke. I couldnt reallyunderstand what he was saying (well, he used much vocabulary that I suspect wasfound in the science of economics) but I understood the idea: tax the highest o

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ne percent of the state.

There are long term and short term solutions that the state could look into. Taxthe oil companies! Other conservative states do that. If they are using a non-renewable resource, then California should look into that!

(Students cheer)

And what happens to the railroads and other companies and estates in which then power always remains under the same name?

(Students boo)

Tax them too! Split the tax rolls! For a short term solution, there should be a passage of extension the taxes!

Though I couldnt grab everything he said, the student cheered for his words.

(Students cheer, applaud. Next speaker, David Castillo, speaks)

I just want to thank you who came from UCR, Cal Poly, Cal State, and Valley College!

(Students cheer; I yell as I hear my school called out)

Every year, students must try and try harder to just pay off their studies. We are here to go to school, not to fatten a fat politicians wallet!

(Students yell and applaud)

Because of us, they are in that seat! Because of my people, they are getting paid, while we stand here in disgrace!

(Students boo)

My sister is a part time student. But just to pay her classes, she works about 50hours a week, getting paid at minimum wage. Minimum wage, just to pay her class

es!

(Students boo)

Davids indignation was apparent.

These policies that we see in our states and nation just shows how this place isno longer meant for us, he told me. Ive met so many that say that the poor arent inthe best interest of this country. Ive seen many stupid and ignorant comments from politically narrow-minded people. Its really sad, but it is what it is, you know?

Dressed in a checkered white and red shirt with jeans, a black bandanna to emphasize his legal status, and a backpack, with a light goatee, Castillo was eager to spread the word. He had noticed that his problems were ones challenged by the SJA, and now he found himself becoming one of their leaders. Though the club stands for a good cause, it is not recognized at UCR.

Yea, when they knew what we were about, they refused to make us official. So everything we do is out of our own pockets. Sure, we do fundraising and all, but the

fact is that we are not recognized, while other fraternities and sororities are. We had to get up at four in the morning to publicize this event [in UCR], because we could get in trouble!

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I looked at my watch. Already 4 pm? My friend motioned me to leave. It was sad,but, as Castillo says, it is what it is. I received his contact information, thanked him, wished him luck, and walked with Joseph to his car.

The protest was spread in LA, Berkeley, and though this did get some media coverage, I quickly remember Castillos words as he spoke on the platform:

If you go to back home, thinking in your mind Ok, I we did our best. I

ll take a break now, then we would have lost by then. This is a struggle! Its an effort!

I left, and through the window, I watched as the posters, chants, and beats andprotesters slowly faded awaybut now, I was eager to spread the word