San Francisco State United organizers rallied at San Francisco State University on Tuesday in an effort to draw attention to the students arrested in the business building lockdown Dec. 9 and continue to protest the way the University is handling budget cuts from the state.

Students occupied the business building at San Francisco State University for 24 hours last semester, shutting down classes in the building the week before finals to protest the rising cost of tuition and fees, faculty layoffs, cut classes and high administrative salaries.

In addition to protesting rising fees, Tuesday's rally emphasized the connection between the high cost of college education and high military spending. "What got lost in the media was that the protest was also an anti-war and anti-capitalism demonstration," said Aaron Salazar, a member of Students, Faculty and Staff United.

"When students are under attack, what do you do? Stand up and fight back!" yelled a protester into a bullhorn outside the administrative building, while other protestors held signs demanding pay cuts for administrators and a halt to rising student fees.

High education costs first sparked widespread student protests in California last September when over 7,000 members of the University of California community gathered to speak out against budget cuts to the system.
 
A walkout is planned on campus for Feb. 11, and a statewide day of action is planned for Mar. 4. The day of action will incorporate protests at both state and community colleges throughout California.

More from the Golden Gate [X]Press at San Francisco State University