Occupation of UC Berkeley building in protest over fee hike, budget cuts ends

Occupation of UC Berkeley building ends

BERKELEY, Calif. — The occupation of a campus building at the University of California, Berkeley, in a protest over fee hikes and budget cuts has ended peacefully.

UC Berkeley spokeswoman Claire Holmes says 41 demonstrators who had barricaded themselves inside Wheeler Hall were arrested on suspicion of trespassing around 5 p.m. Friday. The group, which included university students, was cited and released a little more than two hours later.

The demonstrators had occupied the building on Friday morning to protest a 32 percent increase in student fees and job and program cuts.

They were demanding laid-off custodial workers be rehired and amnesty for anyone arrested in the protest.

A group of students also rallied outside the building.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Officials say dozens of people occupying a campus building at the University of California, Berkeley, in a protest over fee hikes and budget cuts have been arrested.

UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof told KGO-TV late Friday afternoon more than 40 people, at least some of them students, had been arrested and the protest appeared to be coming to a “safe end.”

Demonstrators occupied Wheeler Hall on Friday morning to protest a 32 percent increase in student fees and job and program cuts. Campus police said earlier in the day the demonstrators were barricaded behind fire doors on the second floor.

A group of students also rallied outside the building.

The occupiers were demanding laid-off custodial workers be rehired and amnesty for anyone arrested in the protest.

Information from: KGO-TV