During a walkout rally today at 1:00 at Pasadena City College, students Victor Mendoza and Marco Martinez were assaulted with pepper spray and batons by Pasadena police officers and arrested for helping organize the lawful, First Amendment-protected student protest.

Witnesses report brutal, unprovoked force used by police officers before the walkout had even begun. Several other students were pepper-sprayed, batoned, and detained, but Victor and Marco, members of Students for Social Justice and MECHA, respectively, were held on campus and then transported to Pasadena jail.

As of this writing, Victor Mendoza is being released within the hour with a citation for public disturbance, while Marco Martinez is being held on much more serious felony charges for inciting a riot--a riot which never occurred. The only violence in this peaceful student walkout and protest came from the Pasadena police, who assaulted students and their First Amendment rights.

Representatives will meet with Pasadena City College President Kossler tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in the C Building. Supporters of Marco and Victor will also converge on the quad area outside the C Building to demand that President Kossler and the PCC administration have these charges dropped and protect their students instead of attacking them.

Students are outraged that this school administration could allow the Pasadena police to attack its own students as they peaceful practiced their freedom of speech rights. But this is only the latest in a series of fascist crackdowns on freedom of expression on this campus. Several months ago, a shuttle driver was fired for playing KPFK radio in the shuttle while working.

Please come join us Friday, 3/21, at 3:00 on the Pasadena City College campus. Demonstrators will gather in the quad area outside the C Building. Victor and Marco and all students of conscience need your support.

The war on students has begun.