Students protesting California education cuts on Thursday afternoon marched toward Interstate 80 in Davis and threatened to shut down the freeway.



The confrontation came on a day when students around the state gathered to protest steep fee hikes, canceled classes and faculty furloughs. The protest, which is part of the Day of Action, comes at a time when the state is facing a $20 billion deficit.



Police fired rubber bullets into the ground in an effort to deter students, who stood toe-to-toe with officers.



The California Highway Patrol slowed down traffic on westbound I-80 as a safety precaution, but the road remained open.



Deputies from sheriff's departments from Sacramento and Solano counties responded to help the CHP and local police.



Protesters covered their mouths in anticipation that tear gas may be used.



Earlier in the day, a rally at the state Capitol in Sacramento attracted at least 1,000 students, teachers and other staff from University of California, California State University and community college campuses. Some protests also occurred at elementary and high school campuses.



Some violence was reported at University of California, Santa Cruz.



David Kliger, campus provost at UC Santa Cruz, sent a message to the campus community warning of reports of protesters carrying clubs and knives. He said it also appears that someone smashed a car windshield with a metal pipe.

This story was originally published by KCRA and is republished with permission.

