In hopes of being heard by State Legislators, college students from across California rallied for higher education at the state capital on March 4, resulting in an arrest.

The March in March which took place in Sacramento is an annual demonstration for higher education which is organized by the Student Senate of California Community Colleges (SSCCC).

Students began the march to the capital from Ralley Field around 10:00am. After crossing the Sacramento Tower Bridge, they made a b-line to the Capital Building steps where a series of speakers advocated for higher education.

The estimated attendance was three to four thousand people, according to Darius Kemp of the UCSA. This was a significant reduction from last year’s event. The 2012 March in March had an estimated attendance of around ten thousand said Kemp.

SSCCC Region 8 Senator Taylor Herron of Rio Honda College stated as a part of her duties as representative, she meets with State legislators on a monthly basis.

Herron has been lobbying state officials to deny support the 90 unit cap limit which is being proposed. This cap would require any California resident student who has exceeded 90 community college units to the pay out-of-state per-unit fee which range between $140 and $170 per unit.

“The budget cuts we’ve experienced over the last few years have caused so much damage, it’s going to take us years to restore what we cut,” Sen. Noreen Evans, D, said.

Evans called for support of SB 241 which proposes an oil extraction tax. The estimated $2 billion generated would go to all levels of education Evans said.

Sen. Mark Desaulnier, D, said about the rally, “People get up here and [are] able to feel like the process includes them….”

Desaulnier stated that it is important for students to voice their concerns because in politics, sometime the “squeaky wheel gets the oil.”

A man who identified himself as Michael Jackson was coerced off the steps by a CHP officer soon after taking control of the microphone without permission. Jackson was arrested on unrelated outstanding warrants, according to CHP Officer Kennedy.

Santa Rosa Junior College student Victor Torres asked, “How can we get educated if the costs keep going up…I want a change.”

This dissent was echoed by DVC student Andrew Ramirez.

“We hope that the budget cuts and fee hikes in the future come to an end once and for all,” said Ramirez.