Thousands of community college students from all overCalifornia descended on the state capital Monday torally against a proposed 44 percent increase intuition fees.

The students marched chanting and cheering from RaleyField to the steps of the capitol, where they gatheredin the hot sun to protest raising community collegefees from $18 to $26 per unit.

Nora Kurdi rode a bus for seven hours from IrvineValley College and slept overnight in Sacramento toparticipate in the rally.

“The budget should not be balanced on the back ofstudents,” Kurdi said. “If we don’t come stand up forourselves, who will?”

The rally featured several speakers, including studentrepresentative from many of the college campuses, andmembers of the legislature.

See photos from the State Capital Rally