Day X3 - MPs vote, students revolt
imc-uk | 09.12.2010 09:46 | Education | Policing | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles
Article last updated on 15 December.
Another student Day of Action was called for Thursday 9 December, the day that MPs voted on changes to higher education including an increase in tuition fees to up to £9,000 a year. Actions took place around Parliament, at schools, colleges and universities, including the many currently under occupation, and in town and city centres across the country. The protests in London were marred by police violence and featured an appearance by Charles and Camilla, who popped by on their way to the Royal Variety Show.
Read on...
photo by rikki
On the newswires:
London: Feature | Book Bloc 1 | Book Bloc 2 | Photos from start of march | Demo leaves Malet St | Photos of march | Photos of protest | Bristol student hospitalised | Vigil for hospitalised student with life threatening injuries | Police pull a disabled protester from his wheelchair | wheelchair sans protester | Seriously dehydrated we need water in this kettle | Parliament square 1 | Parliament square 2 | Video | Paintbombs | Report and photos by rikki | More reports and photos 1 | 2 | 3 | Student suffers brain injury | A-level student's account of being kettled | London student's account | Bristolians in London | The fight for Parliament | Christmas tree on fire | Westminster Bridge | Cops try to commandeer hospital | Alfie Meadows and how to complain to the hospital | Press conference for Alfie Meadows 1 | 2 | 3 | Analysis | Accounts from inside the kettles | Fitwatch advice for those identified by the Met | Green and Black Cross legal appeal | David Cameron speaks out on police violence
Elsewhere: Birmingham: Guerilla Orchestra | Newcastle: A week of actions | Bradford: A week of actions | Glasgow: Report from Glasgow protest | Witney, Oxfordshire: Protest in David Cameron's constituency | Belfast: March and demo | Derry: Rally and planned walkout
International: Quebec: Solidarity demo | Puerto Rico: More student strikes | Ireland: Students walk out in Castlebar | Iran: Solidarity from Iranian students
Previous features on recent student actions and occupations: UK features 1 | 2 | Sheffield 1 | 2 | 3 | Oxford | Birmingham | Nottingham 1 | 2 | 3 | Northern | Scotland 1 | 2 | Bristol 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | London 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Timelines: Last hours twitter | Day X3 twitter | london indymedia timeline | tumblewire | indy.im #shutdownlondon
Day X3 March on Parliament: summary from the timelines
At about 12.30pm, students from the University of East London and school pupils demonstrated outside the Bank of England.
An estimated 10-15,000 strong crowd set off from Malet Street soon after midday, only for the front end to be stopped by the cops after a short way for unclear reasons and also by would-be organisers at the back anxious to deliver speeches ad nauseam to a captive audience. Eventually, after calls for the speakers to shut up, people got moving in what has been described as a 'moving kettle', but with some taking a jog through Covent Garden en route. The marchers eventually joined several thousands more in Trafalgar Square by about 1pm. Later estimates of numbers suggest that as many as 30,000 protesters may have been on the London demo today.
The march was joined by the Book Bloc carrying a mobile library of large print volumes 'to affirm and defend what is under attack: Our universities and public libraries, literacy, thought, culture and jobs. In the past few weeks our attempts to do so peacefully have been met by police with batons, riot shields and horses. These are not isolated incidents of brutality but part of a system of institutional violence. By bringing books into the streets we are drawing attention to the violence at the heart of the neo-liberal ideology of the Con-Dem government.'
At Parliament Square, riot cops two deep had effectively kettled the Houses of Parliament and had also blocked off the Victoria Street exit from the Square. Eggs and paint bombs were thrown at cops and vans. The fences around Parliament Square were dismantled and the space reclaimed. Mounted cops charged the crowd, apparently forcing some protesters to climb barriers to avoid being crushed and leading to casualties on both sides. One mounted cop was thrown by his horse in Victoria Street. A disabled protester was dragged from his wheelchair by the cops. The crowd used Harris fencing to keep the mounted police at bay. Fires were lit to keep people warm including one huge one in Parliament Square after a security cabin was set alight. Back in Whitehall, lines of cops for some reason decided to try to stop two groups of students from meeting up, effectively making themselves sandwich filling and resulting in gleeful chants of 'Who's kettled now?' from the students. In a surreal moment, Charles and Camilla passed through the protest on their way to the Royal Variety Show, acquiring a new paintjob for the royal car en route. The Treasury building was beseiged amid chants of 'We want our money back', windows smashed at the Supreme Court and at Oxford Street Topshop
.At around 8.30pm, the police started to move the Parliament Square kettle onto Westminster Bridge, where people were kettled for several more hours.
Cops attempted to secure Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their own use and to deny immediate, lifesaving treatment to student Alfie Meadows, injured by a police baton and needing emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain. Fortunately, the ambulance crew were having none of it and insisted on him being admitted. This report includes details of how to complain to the hospital. A demonstration for Alfie Meadows has been called for Tuesday 14 December.
Bristol student, Paddy Besiris, elected rep. at the University of the West of England, was also hospitalised after sustaining a head injury.
Soon after 5.30pm, the results of the parliamentary votes were announced. On the vote to raise fees to up to £9,000, the Con-Dem government won the vote by a narrow 323 votes to 302 against. Two Lib-Dem parliamentary aides resigned their posts today, along with one Tory.
Later actions and more
Although only about 100 students turned up to protest at the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills about the withdrawal of EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) on the evening of Monday 13 December, the cops, including the TSG, were out in force.
Students began an occupation at Hull University on 13 December, taking over the upper floor of the Staff House building. Occupation blog here.
The occupation at Goldsmiths University Library has succeeded in reopening all facilities over the weekend while the students are still occupying the space. The occupiers reported on Saturday 11 December that 'After negotiations today, Goldsmiths’ Senior Management Team agreed to our demand that the library be opened to students as of 9am Sunday. The building shall remain open until midnight. No library staff will be working, but the whole building will be available to students for study purposes. IT services and electronic issuing and returns will also be available.'
Analysis and advice
Analysis and advice for those taking part in protests from Past-tense.
Fitwatch have issued advice for anyone who features in the Met's 'wanted' photos. See also information about blocs at protests, thoughts on violence against the police and how to repel horses.
imc-uk
Additions
Cavalry
09.12.2010 18:25
5pm: Kettle at Parliament Square broken and protesters escape up Whitehall. (Yay)
El
What can you think part 2?
10.12.2010 08:11
Supposedly intelligent people committed to reporting accurately events and issues?
Pah!
As if.
A bunch of tossers who never miss a chance to thrust a camera into the melee and pontificate in the most toady arse-licking and slimy reverence to the status quo.
They will get your mug shot and scream for prosecution as loud and hysterically as any deranged 5 year old.
Listen kids, on the next demo - realise that sky, the bbc etc are not there to document events, they are there to stitch you up.
Cover your faces and express your feelings to them.
Irritant
Correction to 'Addition'
11.12.2010 19:24
Delete:
"between Whitehall and Middlesex Guild Hall."
and insert:
"between Westminster Abbey and Middlesex Guild Hall (AKA the Supreme Court Building)"
El
Comments
Hide the following 14 comments
People VS the Police State (Protest on the 9th of every month)
09.12.2010 21:42
Just because the vote has happened does not mean we can not stop it. The government work for the people; and the people want change so let us demand it until they listen to their boss!
Protest on the 9th of every month until we get our democracy!
Acitizen
No more broken promises
09.12.2010 22:12
Liberal Election broadcast
Jilted by Nick
New video of police crushing student protesters
10.12.2010 04:49
Ceasefire
The BBC Helitelly was very useful this time
10.12.2010 15:33
HeliTelly
DDoS the lib dems main page
10.12.2010 19:45
Get some computer science students on board and you'll find other ways that don't need the cannon. I'm sure anybody interested in this idea can find somewhere to go and discuss it.
Do it. This will give you peaceful mass participation, and the media will be huge.
p.s.
Using Tor for communications might be good idea as well.
loic
A big who-har about nothing
10.12.2010 23:50
Well tough. Nothing is free in this world. You want an education - then pay for it. Times have changed, labour blew all the cash. The time for free degrees in Beckham studies has passed for now - deal with it.
"Theres no where to go" is all i can hear in that video.
Sure, "Theres no more money to handout." so piss off home.
Anyway, a degree is a waste of time. All what will happen is your end up working in a call center. Better getting some hands on skills and go self-employed.
Thats it. I'm done. Stop bitching about how there isn't enough on your silver plate. Kids are starving in Africa for fucks sake, and you're bitching about how you can do your Arts degrees. FUck off
cowards
another vid
11.12.2010 00:54
ok, from the coporate press, but this newsnight footage seems to provide quite a good summary -
X
Aim higher!
11.12.2010 10:18
anon
Common Sense
11.12.2010 11:46
The vote will divide society further; only rich people's offspring will be able to afford the 'better' Universities so lockin majority out of being able to improve their situation n help the world to more understanding.
Next people with degrees help us all by increasing knowledge (which unlike yours grows with each generation) n improving both our society n the world. Check your grand parents lifestyles (if you are originally from the working classes, which I doubt you sound like a stooge to me) to see how life has improved due to the struggle of our forebears during the second world war n after; this is the heritage being betrayed by the Millionnaire club called the Coalition Cabinet..
Next, this year £9000 cap next 5 years £15000 £20000 ?
Next, public goods are not provided by the market in large enough numbers..NHS will be next, what then when you break your neck..but then your probably rich enough to pay...
Next, this so called Gov. has no legitimacy, no mandate, both parties manifesto's made no mention of what they are now doing n both parties lost the election anyway (all together Cons & LyingLibs only got c30 of electorate vote). Every citizens duty to resist an unrepresentative Gov by any means necessary.)
Re-eductate yourself; agitate n organise.
Tom Paine
The Big One
11.12.2010 12:13
Let's do this!
Discuss.
worker
kettle the met
12.12.2010 13:59
Disposing of your old kettle in an environmentally friendly way is difficult. Since the police seem to like kettles so much help them out by sending your old kettle to:
Metropolitan Police Service
New Scotland Yard
Broadway
London
SW1H 0BG
Pass the idea on to anyone you know who has an old kettle they want to get rid of or who wants to protest against police tactics. A few thousand kettles should restrict their mobility somewhat.
maybe we can agree a coordinated day of kettles...
Lady Grey
Homepage:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=82210837463
We either take now or stay the same.
12.12.2010 14:43
We either take now or stay the same, is not time we made The Middle Class History and pay for there crises.
We want to help to enable The Working Class to steer a course to a future of co-operation, peace, sustainability, equality, autonomy and non-hierarchical community, this can only be done from serious social change.
“Anarchism, really stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government.”
Emma Goldman
Ann Archy.
The NHS is Next
15.12.2010 23:59
Statement
Reaction to the recent protests and movements by police and media
17.12.2010 10:08
On the other hand, however, civil resistance, or non-violent resistance, against the commands of a government has been seen to have huge effect when practised correctly. It takes huge effort, self restraint, bravery and organisation, but as far as I can tell it more most importantly seems to require an understanding of human behaviour, psychology and the heart. Objectivity and compassion are essential is achieving success through protest.
Having been present at demonstrations that have ended violently, I have witnessed that the aggression presented by protesters or civilians caught up is often due to kettling, or protesters reacting aggressively to the frustration of not being able to manoeuvre as they had intended or would like to, ie. going home when the protests start to turn bad, or when the police trun up with riot gear on and start insulting (...that is when I know it's about to turn bad). I've felt such frustration and anger when faced with a snarling, ignorant police officer, calling me names, swearing at me while I've stood, calmly and politely asking to leave the area before the violence kicks off. I'm not interested in fighting police. I'm not interested in getting pulverised when caught between them and the very brave, but very ignorant and reactionary protesters who may want to fight. Thugs meeting thugs... It's time for me to duck out.
The students and young people at these protests, I personally feel, have every right to fight if they so wish. The government does what it likes and the police tend to do as they like - it is deeply unjust to proclaim that these young people, who are having what they know of their futures torn up and trampled on, are wrong to resist that. However, even though it may be an animalistic and instinctive right of any human being to fight back and defend through violence, further study and thought about how to stand against the government may provide an alternative, and most probably optimal, outcome.
Through reacting violently, this again falls into the hands of the state. There may be feelings of achievement; the battle is easily justified by the wrongs that the defendants, or civilians, face. However, in this particular political climate, much of the support from working class average Joe or Jane, middle class individuals who reads the news, upper class artisans and entrepreneurs and so many other other people who support the fight to keep tuition fees low and provide a fair higher education, is lost or retracted. The public face of this very fair call for justice has become angry, shouting and covered in blood. That is a 'bad look', and a lot of this has got to do with how things look to other people, as a lot of civilians do not leave the comfort of their homes and instead view and review the situation through the media. 'Look' and portrayal is key. Images of violence and aggression from protesters caught up in police kettles are so easily warped and spun AND THAT IS WHY THEY DO IT.
Everyone who wishes to protest publicly or resist that actions of the government should read about Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and satyagraha. Before I researched this I had no idea about the reality of civil resistance; how brave one must be to walk, not fight, into a line of armed officers to exercise their right to protest. There are examples where lines of civilians have been organised to stand by just to pull harmed people out to the side and tend to serious head injuries and other wounds. People who protest in this way are not pushovers. It is not the same as the allocated, cordoned protest paths we have seen organised for anti-war marches or so on. It is also not the bustling, chaotic scenes we have witnessed at the G20 protests, or the poll tax riots. It is somewhere in between. The blood of the riots is there, but the chaos of the demonstrators is not.
If, or when, police smack and beat a man or woman who calmly wishes to walk into an area they wish to walk into, a police state is clearly identified. When reports of this come up in the media amongst other reports of violence at a protest, the calm civilian is damned as the actions by the police are'justified' and the rights that are being lost and abused are lost in a sea of negative, exaggerated and spun coverage: "Police battling to hold back protesters"... "A police officer lies on the road, apparently out cold after clashing with protester"... "Protesters tried to use a barrier to smash through the police cordon"... All these excerpts from reports following the student fee protests seem, to me, to condone the actions of the police state as they create a scenario where 'adequate' measures would need to be taken to protect person and property.
The educated and objective protester must consider the position of the media highly. If one actually wishes to see genuine change from the government, they must ensure that protest is not be about personal gain or release of anger. To achieve change, and to reveal the state as it really is, scrupulous measures must be taken to ensure that protest is organised and with direction and aims. What do the protesters wish to achieve? How will they reveal the truth? How are they going to challenge to media portrayal? What does kettling do to ones feelings? How can I stay calm?
The greatest key is to understand that they have a heart.
Do not reinforce their self trickery; violence towards them reinforces that what they are doing is just and right!
By smacking you when you are calm, it hurts them.
If an entire crowd is calm but calculated and organised, the police aims will be revealed.
In the end it will eat itself from the inside out.
Peace x
Daisy
e-mail:
dizzadaze@gmail.com