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Tuition Fees Protestors invade Cambridge shopping malls

Cameraboy | 08.12.2010 21:52 | Education | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles | Cambridge

Today in Cambridge, both of the local Cathederals of Consumerism were invaded by several generations of angry students, fighting for a future that doesn't involve getting themselves into vast amounts of debt.

Kings Parade, rapidly becoming the 'traditional' starting point.
Kings Parade, rapidly becoming the 'traditional' starting point.

Rising above it all!
Rising above it all!

Sounds like a good idea...
Sounds like a good idea...

The prelude to...
The prelude to...

,,,Another mass invasion of The Grand Arcade...
,,,Another mass invasion of The Grand Arcade...

...Who needs Xmas shopping anyway!?
...Who needs Xmas shopping anyway!?

Check yer pants!
Check yer pants!

Onwards...
Onwards...

To invade The Grafton Centre!
To invade The Grafton Centre!

A nice sign.
A nice sign.

An interesting juxtaposition.
An interesting juxtaposition.

Reclaiming East Road!
Reclaiming East Road!

This protest turned a corner...
This protest turned a corner...

...And then reclaimed Newmarket Road too!
...And then reclaimed Newmarket Road too!

V Signs...
V Signs...

Another interesting juxtaposition.
Another interesting juxtaposition.

Outside Julian Huppert's office, taking the issue right to his doorstep.
Outside Julian Huppert's office, taking the issue right to his doorstep.

Some already are, by all accounts.
Some already are, by all accounts.


It seemed wholly fitting to reclaim and invade the private commercial spaces of The Grand Arcade and The Grafton Centre, in which during the lead up to Christmas, people are lulled into collective consumerist reveries and encouraged not to think about the world beyond their Credit Card balances.

Today the current and next generation of Higher Education students woke everyone up, starting on Kings Parade, then reclaiming The Grand Arcade, and heading en masse across town to The Grafton Centre (much to the confusion of the private security gaurds), then onwards up East Road, up Newmarket Road (very effectively fouling up rush Hour traffic along the way by reclaiming the streets), and finishing their long journey at the doorstep of the offices of local Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert, whom has recently sent out mixed messages by saying he disapproved of the student occupation of Cambridge University Old Schools building, but would vote against the rise in Tuition Fees anyway.

Make of this what you will!

The fateful day is almost here, and tomorrow, on Thursday 9th December 2010, every MP in the country will cast their votes to decide upon the fate of current and future students, determining whether or not they should inflict vast amounts of debt upon anyone who dares to think that they can improve their lot with a bit more education.

Such is the bizarre country we live in.

Cameraboy
- Homepage: http://www.defendeducation.co.uk/

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