Police in Riot Gear Face Growing Protest at UC Berkeley During High-Ledge Standoff

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Police in riot gear and holding batons are facing off with a growing number of protesters lined up outside a University of California, Berkeley where other protesters have chained themselves together on the ledge of an upper floor of the building.

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Television video shows hundreds of protesters on the ground yelling and chanting, while several protesters have chained themselves together on a narrow ledge of the fourth floor of the building.

The protest Thursday comes after university police said they arrested 17 people late Wednesday when they refused to leave a campus building during a protest against state education cuts.

All 17, including seven students, were cited for trespassing. Police Lt. Alex Yao says three people in the group also were booked at the Berkeley jail on suspicion of obstructing police.

The protest Wednesday was part of a day of action by students around the country opposed to education cuts.