SAO PAULO (BDCi) – Around 70 people were arrested Tuesday after some 300 riot police cleared out a university building that was being occupied by protesting students.
AP reports that the students had been occupying the building for a week and that they refused a judge’s order to vacate the building by late Monday.
The protest came as a result of three students being arrested late last month for marijuana possession. The students began occupying the University of Sao Paulo building in response to police patrols on the campus.
Students say they are subjected to on-the-spot searches and even intimidation by the police on campus.
After a wave of assaults on campus, one of which led to the death of a 24-year-old student, police and university administrators signed an agreement in September to begin police patrol on the campus.
The majority of the students were asleep when the “dawn raid” took place. Police smashed doors down while a helicopter flew above; students did not resist arrest.
Those arrested will only be released after they pay a $600 bail.
By: Diego Díaz Source: AP Photo: Google 8 November 2011
10:45 a.m. P.D.T.