SAN DIEGO -- Dozens of people took to the streets of downtown San Diego Tuesday afternoon to speak out against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to education and social services.

---

View Images

---

The protest began around 5 p.m. at Horton Plaza.

Chanting, "Education, yes. Budget cuts, no," protestors held signs saying such things as, "Protect Our Future," "Every Child Left Behind," and "People Are Dying To Be Insured." Also in the group were "mourners" who marched behind a coffin representing cut services as the march made its way down Broadway.

Traffic during the afternoon commute was brought to a standstill for quite some time as the marchers made their way through downtown streets.

The group said they were representing San Diego's most vulnerable populations and found it fitting to protest the cuts on tax day. Organizers of the event said their message is to demand that legislators create a budget that protects our children, students, seniors, people with disabilities and working families.

The proposed cuts by Schwarzenegger would impact education, health care, and other public services throughout the state.

"Low-income families take it in the shorts, all the time, everytime the governor wants to close the gap in his budget. Why can't he go lean on someone who can afford it instead of the people who can least afford it," asked protestor Joni Halpern.

Rachel Vega of Access to Independence said, "Our elected legislators should be defending not attacking our children who cannot vote, our seniors who have contributed to our society all their lives, our students who will become our future, and the people with disabilities who are seeking independence."

Among the groups participating in the march were AARP, Access to Independence, ACORN, Affordable Housing Coalition of San Diego County, California School Employees Association, and San Diego Disability Action Coalition.