SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Marty Block, (AD-78), announced today that the Assembly Higher Education Committee will hold a joint hearing with the Senate Education Committee to  review the excessive use of police force used on peaceful demonstrators at UC Davis and to examine proper procedures for handling peaceful protests at University of California and California State University campuses. "UC and CSU Policies, Procedures, and Response: Campus Police and On-Campus Demonstrations" will be held Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 10:00 am in Room 4203 of the State Capitol.

"Like many people, I was shocked and appalled when I watched video depicting the violent actions that were taken by police officers during recent protests at UC Davis," said Block. "I was saddened to see that students’ safety was jeopardized and their rights doused by pepper-spray during a peaceful demonstration."

Topics for discussion at the hearing will include an understanding of the policies and procedures of the UC and CSU police in responding to campus protests, as well as recent events at Berkeley and Davis campuses and the CSU Board of Trustees meetings, to ensure student and public safety and freedom of speech.

"Our UC system has been a bedrock for free speech and a model for tolerance in respecting the rights of students and others to peacefully protest," said Block. "As a representative of the higher education community and a retired professor, I value students’ rights to express themselves and exercise their first amendment right to free speech with safety and dignity."

CONTACT: Courtney Miller, (916) 202-0003