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BERKELEY — A group of 40 to 70 protesters stormed UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau's home late Friday, smashing windows and tossing incendiary objects at the house, UC Berkeley said in a statement.
Eight were arrested and charged with rioting, threatening an educational official, attempted burglary and attempted arson, the school said. At least two of those arrested are believed to be UC Berkeley students.
The group was apparently protesting student fee hikes and budget cuts. They carried torches as they surrounded the chancellor's residence Friday night, chanting, "No justice, no peace."
"These are criminals, not activists," Birgeneau said in a statement. "The attack at our home was extraordinarily frightening and violent. My wife and I genuinely feared for our lives. The people involved in this action will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I want to emphasize that they represent an extreme minority of our students."
