Angered by increases in tuition and cuts in state financing, thousands of students, parents and faculty members protested across the United States on Thursday.

Called a "strike and day of action to defend public education" by organizers, the demonstrations were boisterous and even out of control, according to media reports.

According to New York Times, on late Thursday afternoon, more than 150 people were arrested after they stopped traffic along an interstate in Oakland, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Scattered tuition protests occurred in other states, too.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee police arrested at least 15 people protesting tuition hikes after protesters tried to enter an administrative building to deliver petitions to the school chancellor.

One of the largest demonstrations in California took place on the north steps of the Capitol, where more than 1,000 people used drums, bullhorns, and scores of young voices to try to get their message across.

The steep economic downturn has forced states to slash funding to K-12 schools, community colleges and universities to cope with plummeting tax revenue.