Several students were injured and many manhandled and arrested in a violent incident today at midday in front of the José M. Lázaro Library, at the University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras (UPR). The clash, the most violent on campus since the students proclaimed a strike, occurred when a group of students painted slogans on the ground on Conciencia Street [oh, irony of life, Conciencia translates as consciousness or awareness], the street in front of the library. This street has been used for the past three decades as a space for expression by students, and the university administration had never before intervened.

The day culminated with the arrest of 28 students, as confirmed the by the police. During the incident both students and police threw stones. Videos show arrests of students that were repeatedly beaten by officers of the Riot Squad. Students, teachers, and staff, along with people from the community, remained in vigil in front of the university tower (the UPR campus landmark) until about 10:30pm.

See video at

For other videos and news items on the ongoing UPR struggle, see http://www.elnuevodia.com/huelgauprconcluyelavigiliaenlaupr-886195.html