The kids will be all over the street today, and school's not even out for summer.

No, it's the annual Day of Action protest to decry those massive hikes in state college tuition and fees that make gas prices look friendly. And although it's a UC-and-Cal State-wide movement that seems to have bled to other states, the focus around here seems to be on Cal State Northridge.

Thousands are expected around the campus Wednesday. And on that note …

… the LAPD will be out like gang busters and even has a plan ” … in the event of a civil disturbance.” Guess helmets are required for this one.

Day of Action comes to Northridge.

Day of Action comes to Northridge.

But don't fear. Here's what the department states:

The Unified Command will be established to assist university students in the exercise of their First Amendment Right to rally and express their concerns over the rising costs of education. The students plan to march, play music, and deliver speeches in and around the University Campus. There is no indication this rally will be anything other than peaceful.

Last year's event ended in some unruliness and arrests near CSUN. One teacher even said her arm was broken as police tried to break up the protest after-dark.

The fun starts at Oviatt Library at 10 a.m.

The Northridge Daily Sundial reports that organizers have an “all-day permit” for the festivities.

Co-organizer Randi Rulayne Picarelli, a CSUN communications and gender studies professor, tells the Weekly students are inspired to show up because their school costs have gone up almost fourfold since the late 1990s, when she was a student there:

“I love the institution and I never want to leave, but I've never seen it this bleak.”

We'll be watching. On TV.

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