The start of Saturday’s game between the No. 24 USC Trojans and Cal Bears in Berkeley got delayed when a group of protesters sat down at midfield.
The protesters, most UC-Berkeley students, were holding signs that read “NO JUSTICE NO GAME.”
Authorities rounded up the students, and the game was only delayed by about 15 minutes. There is no word on whether they will face any charges for disrupting the game.
The USC-Cal football game is delayed due to a protest at midfield. pic.twitter.com/mjySl9NsRE
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 28, 2023
While some online accounts reported the protesters were Palestinian rights protesters, San Francisco’s KQED reported the students are protesting for the reinstatement of suspended professor Ivonne del Valle.
UC-Berkley suspended the Spanish and Portuguese professor for allegedly stalking a professor at UC-Davis. Supporters have waged a months-long protest calling for her reinstatement, and they’ve stepped up their efforts in recent weeks, with one protest leading students to blockade a school entrance.
Protesters are also planning a hunger strike.
Protests like this are of course nothing new at Berkley, which practically invented the late 1960s anti-war protest movement. X (formerly Twitter) user Michelle K summed it up by saying, My law school classes at Berkeley were regularly interrupted by protesters either screaming in the hallway or sneaking into classes dressed as students and yelling at professors. This is classic Berkeley!”
My law school classes at Berkeley were regularly interrupted by protesters either screaming in the hallway or sneaking into classes dressed as students and yelling at professors. 😆 This is classic Berkeley!
— 〽️ichelle 🌹 (@Michellek4040) October 28, 2023
Other X users looked found humor in the moment.
This is why Cal wasn't invited to B1G football.
— Drew English (@DrewfusMcGoofus) October 28, 2023
I’m sure there a “the band is on the field” reference here but I can’t quite find the punch line.
— Chad Overacker (@chad_overacker) October 28, 2023
I just see this as a golden opportunity for Caleb Williams to practice his throwing accuracy
— RangersGoBlueJets (@MikeParliament) October 28, 2023
Protesting the collapse of the Pac?
— OSU_Drew (@MCUDrew122) October 28, 2023
[Brandon Huffman, 247 Sports; Photo Credit: Fox Sports
