Protest delays start of No. 24 Southern California vs. California
Protestors sit down at the 50-yard line preventing the start of the Southern California vs. California NCAA college football game football game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. The protestors were demanding the reinstatement of UC professor Ivonne del Valle, who is currently on paid administrative leave. Credit: AP/JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO
BERKELEY, Calif. — Fifteen people, mostly California students, were arrested and taken away in handcuffs after storming the field and staging a sit-in that delayed the start of Saturday’s game between Cal and No. 24 Southern California at Memorial Stadium.
According to a statement released by the Cal police department, the people were protesting the suspension of a professor. The protesters, many wearing T-shirts that read “Justice for Ivonne,” sat back-to-back in the middle of the Cal logo.
Ivonne del Valle, a Spanish and Portuguese professor, was recently suspended by the university for allegedly stalking and harassing a professor from another school.
Police and security guards approached the group as players from both teams stood and watched. The fans were eventually placed in handcuffs and escorted away. According to the police statement, 13 of the 15 protesters were Cal students.
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