"International Student Movement"

San Juan:
Riot Police shooting at Protesting Students

For over a month students have been resisting the introduction of new fees (US$800) at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), which threaten to exclude about 10,000 people from higher education. [emancipating-education-for-all.org]
Following a call to strike riot police began to control various campuses, especially the one in Rio Piedras, the heart of the protests, at the end of last year.

Only two days ago about 30 students were arrested in front of the main entrance at the Rio Piedras campus during acts of civil disobedience. [pr.indymedia.org + II]
Hundreds were detained in the past few weeks and rumours of torture tactics being used by the police forces against students spread.

Today once again thousands of students gathered at different points near the Legislature building in San Juan. The House of Representatives voted if US$50million were to be passed to the UPR, which would have have made the new fee redundant. But the bill was not passed. It was argued that the university already has enough money, considering that the students pay the fee. The protesting people who were blocking streets around the building were violently cracked down by riot police. More than 30 students were arrested. Protesters and the press were attacked with pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets. At least one person was hit in the face by a bullet.
Following the attacks the protesters were chased through the streets by police forces and ran towards Condado, a popular tourist district.

We are all in this together. Let's unite for the "Spring of Resistance" (March - May 2011) - worldwide. We have all the tools.

Further details and visual material:

~ iReport.CNN.com ~ wapa.tv (report in Spanish) ~ especiales.primerahora.com (recorded "live-stream") ~
~ facebook + II (pictures) ~