Students protesting hope to educate others about the budget cuts and the negative effects they are having on education.

Brian De Guzman, 22, Asian American studies major and one of the student organizers, said there are people out on street corners trying to gather a bigger crowd.

“This day is to inform decision makers of our collective student voices,” he said.

He said they are planning to be out protesting until 6 p.m. and doesn’t know what will happen after that.

Another student protesting is senior Jonnae Thompson, 23, English major. Thompson is one of the students that was arrested March 4, 2010. She said she is out to awaken people to what is going on.

“Last year’s March 4 changed my life,” she said.

Thompson said the more students don’t do anything about it, the more they’ll continue to be “screwed.”

“Everyday I am on campus and I see individuals walking around like zombies not aware of what’s going on,” she said. “We are not getting a quality education.”

Thompson has been at the university for six years and said it is ridiculous how difficult it is to get into classes. She said she has had difficulty getting into the classes that she needs to graduate.

She said she is saddened at what is happening in the education system.

“We’re being scammed constantly and its disrespectful,” she said.

Thompson’s goal is to wake people up.

“I remember when I was asleep and none of this made sense to me,” she said. “This needs to stop.”

Freshman Jorge Ramirez, 18, biology major, said his goal for today is to send the message to more people and make them aware of the situation. He thinks the media will help send the message and hopefully reach Gov. Jerry Brown.

“We’re not going to let them push us around,” said freshman Lisa Gutirrez, 19, Biology major.