Hundreds of individuals, including UC Berkeley faculty, students, and community members, assembled at Sproul Plaza to protest actions they view as attacks on higher education by the Trump administration. The event was organized by a group known as the Berkeley Faculty for the Freedom to Learn.

The gathering, called the “Rally to Defend Our University,” addressed concerns over recent federal actions against institutions such as Columbia University and Johns Hopkins University. These universities have reportedly faced rescinded research funding and threats from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Organizers of the rally emphasized their commitment to academic freedom in a statement: “Let’s show each other and the world that we will defend and protect the right of every last member of our community to speak, learn, teach, research and work in safety and freedom.” They urged immediate action with the message: “Now is the time to act.”

Photographs from the rally were captured by UC Berkeley's Diego Moran.