UC Berkeley News
In Brief

UC Berkeley News Brief

18 sweatshop protesters arrested in sit-in at California Hall

– Eighteen students who said they want the University of California to adopt new policies for companies that manufacture collegiate apparel were cited for trespassing when they rushed into UC Berkeley's California Hall at approximately 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday. They staged a sit-in in a foyer outside a suite of offices that includes the chancellor's office.

UCPD officers arrested the protesters for trespassing and refusing to leave the building, a misdemeanor. All were cited and released. The group included 13 UC Berkeley students, two UC San Diego students, two UC Santa Cruz students and one UC Davis student.

The chanting protesters were repeatedly asked to leave, and informed that they would be arrested if they did not leave the building. During the arrests, the protesters cooperated with police, and all were removed from the building by 2:20 p.m. Operations inside California Hall continued throughout the day.

The protesters asked UC Berkeley administrators to forward to UC President Robert Dynes a list of their demands, which was done. The list called for adopting additional policies for manufacturers of UC apparel.

The UC system has for some time required that companies that manufacture clothing with campus logos follow established baseline standards for humane working conditions. A UC committee has been studying the students' proposal and is expected to reach a recommendation for the UC system next month.

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