The University of California campuses are known for being prestigious research-based public universities.The University of California campuses include Berkeley, Davis, Santa Cruz, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Merced. Since the results on Election Day, some of the students from the UC system have expressed their strong dislike towards Donald Trump becoming President of the United States. Immediately, after election results November 8th, 2016 all the UC campuses went on Anti-Trump rallies. The students who did not agree with Trump’s agenda from these schools chanted “Fuck Donald Trump” and mainly united in an area of their campuses. On December 6th, 2016 the students of UC Davis Medical School held an Ati-Trump rally. Over 100 medical students protested and chanted “Code Blue” or medical emergency. The meaning behind chanting “code blue” is because Trump’s Presidency is a threat to people’s health care. On Inauguration Day all UC schools held a walk out to express their emotions against Donald Trump becoming President.
Recently on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, the undergraduate and graduate students from all UC campuses had a protest. The Activist students from these schools are very concerned with President Trump’s decision to build the Dakota Access Pipeline, ban Muslims, and build a wall. In UC Riverside and Irvine protest were held at on campus. Also, at a Republican congressional office in Irvine.
The most notable UC school who held a protest and captured the attention of Donald Trump was UC Berkeley. On February 1, 2017, the students of UCB, held a violent protest at Sproul Plaza against the Conservative speaker Milo Yiannopoulos. Yiannoupolous is an avid Donald Trump supporter who propagates “racism, misogyny and anti-Islam views, but he styles himself a champion of free speech” Additionally, students of other UC campuses such as UC Davis have expressed anger and generated protest if Milo Yiannoupoulos speaks in their schools.
In reaction to the violent protest against Yiannopolous, President Donald Trump treated to take away the federal funds from UC Berkeley. The problem with taking away funds from UC Berkeley is that it does not only affect UC Berkeley but the entire UC system. Since the Federal funds are given to the University of California and distributed to other campuses, it has an impact on a multitude of students. If Donald Trump were to cut funds from these school, it is clear that students would not be happy.Especially, how these students reacted on election day, inauguration day, and continue to hold protests against Trump’s executive decisions.
If U.C. Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view – NO FEDERAL FUNDS?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2017
Although I do not agree with the use of violence in a protest, I think it is very petty that Donald Trump would threaten to take funds away from a high ranking University and University system. I think that Donald Trump should wake up and ask why students from the University of California are holding protests and are angry over his executive orders. Also even, if it was a tweet he should think about how does threatening to take away funds affect a students mental health.
