Although the University of California regents canceled a meeting scheduled to begin in Mission Bay this morning, thousands of students did not cancel their plans to protest.

Student organizers from Berkeley and other campuses, along with union representatives, were planning to converge in the Financial District, hoping to call attention to the professional connections several regents have with big banks, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The protesters said they would call for higher taxes on the financial industry rather than tuition increases to fund higher education.

Protest organizers said they would join Occupy SF protesters at Justin Herman Plaza at noon and then march through the Financial District. The march was scheduled to end at 4 p.m. at the State Building, at 455 Golden Gate Ave. Protesters said they would hold a “People’s Assembly” there after the march.

Meanwhile, in Long Beach, Cal State trustees this morning were in the midst of a heated discussion over whether to approve a 9 percent tuition hike. Student protesters had planned to demonstrate at that meeting as well.

acrawford@sfexaminer.com