A tuition protest at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee turned violent.

A university spokesman says at least 16 people were detained by campus and city police Thursday.

He says a crowd of about 125 students gathered outside an administrative building to deliver petitions to the chancellor.

The crowd reportedly rushed the building, and when police turned them away some of the protesters started throwing punches and tossing chunks of ice.

"I was pepper-sprayed in my mouth. My throat still hurts, and other people were hurt pretty badly as well," one of those arrested, Rachel Mattson, said.

"The people that got arrested go arrested for violations of the law. That's the bottom line. We reacted to their behavior. It's not something we wanted to happen, but they violated the law by doing what they did; it was no longer a peaceful protest," UWM Police Chief Mike Marzion said.

The protest was part of a national Day of Action, challenging lawmakers in each state to stop cutting funding from education.