By Henni Espinosa
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SAN BRUNO, CA—Students, teachers, and their supporters marched across the Skyline College campus, chanting, “Walkout! Walkout!” as part of a statewide strike and day of action against the billion-dollar budget cut to California’s public school system.

“We’re supposed to be the future, but what future do we have if they sacrifice our education?” asked Vincent Angat, a sophomore at Skyline.

California faces a $20 billion budget deficit. The massive cuts have led to school closures, lay-offs, rising tuition fees, course cancellations, overcrowding, and loss of student services.

“There are other ways to deal with this,” said Skyline freshman Robee Aquino. “Why don’t they stop building prisons? Or tax stuff like alcohol? They shouldn’t mess with schools.”

Nearby Skyline College, San Francisco State University students say it’s unfair that their education has to suffer. They say the more expensive public education becomes, the longer it takes for students to graduate.

“We want to graduate and be able to contribute back to society,” said S.F. State senior Ryan Bernal. “But they’re not making that possible for us.”

At Lakeshore Elementary School in San Francisco, teachers and school staff cheered and hollered at honking cars that passed by. They say they are trying to stay strong even as they brace for layoffs.

“We’re just trying to keep the morale high, keep everyone united as we fight these cuts,” said Maria Camorongan, a teacher at Lakeshore Elementary.

Thousands more are expected to join the protests, which are scheduled to go on through the night all over California.

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