UK Promoted Newswire Archive
Occupation at the University of Cambridge
26-11-2010 15:47
This morning Old Schools, the nerve centre of the University of Cambridge, has been occupied in protest against fees and cuts.We have claimed this space to give students a voice in their University; everyone is welcome to join in or support the occupation in any way they can.
End of Week Ratcliffe Trial Update
26-11-2010 15:26
Update following the first week of the month long trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
Hello All!
Well, we've got to the end of the first week of the month long trial. The Prosecution wrapped up their case yesterday afternoon, and on Monday Morning the defence begins.
Firstly a massive thank you to everyone! Whether you've been out there spreading these blogs around the internet, or chopping vegetables for the defendants at the Sumac Centre, your help is greatly appreciated by all.
If you are wanting to help in other ways, pleae do check out the page on our website with some ideas as to what you can do. Donations are gratefully appreciated at this time.
While the Prosecution's case this week was rather dull and tedious at times as she read through every single digit of every single phone number found in the evidence, it did make clear just how sophisticated the plans to shut down Ratlciffe on Soar coal-fired power station were. Not only were they designed to be effective in stopping emissions, but they also placed the safety of participants and workers as a top priority. The jury have the seen the detailed safety briefings all partipants were equipped with, and witnessed the comprehensive set of safety equipment given out to participants with everything from gas detectors to ear defenders.
So what's coming next?
Having admitted that they did indeed plan to shut down Ratcliffe on Soar power station, the defendants will now explain that they were acting out of necessity to prevent carbon dioxide emissions that would cause catastrophic climate change.
Monday will see the first defendant give evidence, followed by expert witness and NASA scientist Jim Hansen.
Ed Rees QC, defending, set the tone the defence will take when he said:
"You're not going to hear about forlorn looking polar bears floating on dwindling ice sheets. This case, if anything, is about getting real."
Court begins 10am Monday. Supporters very welcome.
mounted police charging protesters at whitehall
26-11-2010 15:25
mounted police charging protesters, they said they didn't, my camera says they did.
Loughborough Walkout success
26-11-2010 13:44
account of 24nov demo in Brighton
26-11-2010 11:58
http://brightonstudentwalkout.wordpress.com See also
http://brightonresistance.wordpress.com for details of ongoing Brighton University arts building occupation. UWE Occupation Still Going Strong
26-11-2010 11:22
BE REALISTIC...DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE!UWE occupation against cuts and fee is on the fifth Day. Here's an update, and the programme for today.
UWE students remain in occupation for the fifth day running. We have expanded to take over most of Core24, and have gained support from UWE students union in the agm yesterday. We are planning to hold the space over the weekend. Please come along to help, bring food or messages of solidarity. Every message of solidarity and support throws fuel on the fire so get involved. A wide range of teach ins and activities planned for today (Friday). All welcome. Plus students have occupied the leaning tower of Piza and the colosseum. ONE WORLD ONE STRUGGLE!
Planned teach-ins at Education camp (formerly Core 24)
26th Nov
15.00 Shackle ‘em early- Student debts and the fight back
17.00 Resistance at all costs?: Violence and the movement
With Special Guest Speaker David Graeber
19.00 Resistance & militancy: Where do women fit in?
Join us for an exciting day of talks and discussions on these subjects and more.
For more info visit us or email Uwe.better.together@gmail.com
Ratcliffe Trial Day 4 - Prosecution case concludes
25-11-2010 23:23
Continuing from yesterday, Barrister for the prosecution, Miss Felicity Gerry continued to hack her way in reading through the significant sized list of papers, maps, equipment and property. Laying out the sophistication of the plans.
We now got to the technical kit including
3x walkie-talkie radios [460hz] with approx. 3km range
Camcorders and batteries
A microwave transmitter. [Police experts suggesting that this equipment was for a directional video ‘downlink’. The signal to be able to be received at a distance in line-of-sight. A compass was also listed, used to assist in this process.]
Assorted digital cameras
Laptop computers found secreted in various rooms within the school.
A ‘dongle’ to enable an internet connection. The judge helpfully unplugged and held his dongle up for the jury to see!
{Yesterday, a bit of a chuckle went round the court, when the judge gave a short weather forecast; as there was concern about the bad weather today. Pointing out that that he was the only one in court allowed to google!! }
Taken together with the equipment and preparation listing from yesterday, the prosecution’s comments have unveiled the extent of the 114’s safety measures. For example using gas detectors, respiratory protection, ear protection, as well as first aid kits. These details demonstrate the hard work and planning that went into an action that the prosecution have been trying to portray as ‘a bit of a laugh’.
On now to catering matters. There was fair amount of equipment found there, not belonging to the school. Miss Gerry introduces documents that mention ‘Veggies’ [yet again] and an order to supply 120 people over a week. Noted “don’t tell anyone about it” There is another paper presented quoting “At Veggies, we like a challenge”
A while was now spent on a description of fingerprint evidence. This was presented such to describe the positioning of the defendants dabs that had been found on assorted papers and folders and phones..
Miss Gerry now moves onto the positions and circumstances of the arrests made on the morning of the 13th April 2009 at the Iona School, Sneinton, Nottingham. All 20 defendants were arrested cautioned and mostly remained silent. They were taken to a variety of police stations across the region.
Although there would have been taped interviews, none were played in court.
She read to the jury, the words of the police caution:
“You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence”.
Now, as the defendants had largely said nothing on their arrest or interviews, she seemed thus to be asking the jury to make an inference of their guilt.
Now, back into ‘list mode’ she starts to list the defendants arrest location, reference to the ‘no comment’ interviews of each and very long lists of seized personal property taken and returned. Right down to assorted screws, pens, water bottles, biscuits, portions of cheese !! Descriptions of the police processing of times dates and places. We get through the first few. Mr Rees for the defence rises and asks if we need this level of details, but Miss Gerry says she has already summarised the material …. And perseveres for another hour or so!!
On a personal note, I was a bit perturbed during all this to discover that there was a police officer involved in the processing, called one Detective Constable Lodge. Uummmm! I guess we might meet in the street sometime.
The monotony of this listing was broken briefly when Miss Gerry quoted the response of MS replying under caution said:
“There may be a bail-out for the banks,
but not for humanity with climate change. Nature doesn’t do bail-outs”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw me suddenly spring into action with my pen to get that down. She said that Mr MS has helped the press with the ‘quote of day’.
After lunch, further mention is made of legal advice papers. Listing documents such as the climate camp ‘bust card’ and papers including reference to ‘no comment’ advice.
In sum, Miss Felicity Gerry says that all 20 people were arrested at the Iona School on the 13th April 2009 as part of the larger group of 144 detained. That they conspired to carry out the action described. The prosecution closes.
The defence will open its case at 10.00am on Monday 29th November 2010.
Their first witness will be Dr. James E. Hansen, Head of National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA’s Goddard Institute. He will be arriving from the United States and is expected to give his opinions on climate change and mans influences on these processes.
the case still continues etc ........
Ratcliffe Conspiracy Trial Begins [Feature]
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/701
Ratcliffe conspiracy to trespass trial opens today
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/693
Ratcliffe Trial Day 2 - Prosecution’s Opening
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/702
Ratcliffe Trial Day 3 - Prosecution case continues
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/710
Ratcliffe Trial: Prosecution Opens [Feature 2]
http://notts.indymedia.org.uk/articles/714
http://ratcliffeontrial.org
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________
<ends>
Dear diary...describing the march ULU to Whitehall
25-11-2010 23:22
If I kept a diary yesterday, this is what it'd look like...
Wednesday, November 24th, 2010
The day started with getting up fairly early, about 8am, feeding myself a nice, hot carb-heavy breakfast and a big cup of tea, dressing myself in multiple layers and heading out the door on my bike across town to the University of London Union.
I arrived at about 11am on the dot and I was underwhelmed with the number of people on the street (about 50-70?) and fairly irritated to see an equal number of mainstream media photographers already set-up and ready for their action shots as well as a TV van.
The SWP and Coalition Against the Cuts had tables with their propaganda. About 5 minutes later a group of protestors with placards came marching 'round the corner onto Malet Street. Things instantly got more lively with folks chanting "No ifs! No buts! No education cuts!" and the other standard slogans. I spent a couple minutes listening and looking at the banners, admiring the original ones and even admitting to enjoying the "Tory Scum here we come!" SWP banner...I decided to take this opportunity to visit the facilities at ULU, figuring I might not get another chance until we hit Trafalgar Square or even much later.
I emerged to find the group, which was growing slowly, still chanting. I walked through the crowd, handing out leaflets, complimenting people on unique banners and chatting to people I recognised in the crowd.
The crowd moved south on Malet Street and the Samba Band appeared and marched at the front - leading us like the piped pipers they are at about 11:40. The Dissident Island sound system turned on, with the customary dubstep bass-heavy tunes pumping out a rhythmic beat towards the back of the crowd, and I stuck nearby to enjoy the music.
There were a couple hundred protestors at this stage - and we snaked round Russell Square to pass by the SOAS campus where we seem to have picked up more people to walk with us. All the while cops almost completely surrounded the marchers (on three sides) and vans made up the rear. Spirits were high and really positive. The sun was shining and it was a gorgeous and brisk day for a walk in central London - near perfect demonstration weather! Folks pretty much ignored the cops and enjoyed themselves. I spotted some folk in fancy dress. Edward Scissorhands was out again, a lots of creative face painting, feathers, accessories and fun things - living up to the 'carnival of resistance' theme that was announced for the day. As we walked down Southampton Row, students and staff from another college (St. Martin's?) leaned out their windows and waved enthusiastically and received shouts, waves and smiles in return.
Around 12:00 the march was passing Holborn. Traffic was stopped to allow the march to proceed unhindered. We walked all the way down Kingsway and veered left, round Aldwych, and then it seemed that the police had formed a cordon to prevent the march from proceeding onto the Strand. This sucked - as I was looking forward to taking up one of the most traffic heavy areas of London! Instead we were suggestively escorted onto Arundel Street, where we weaved in and out of traffic and the cars that were forced to park and wait while a couple thousand people and cops made their way past Temple Tube Station onto Embankment. Not exactly a smooth police operation! Or perhaps it was intentional, to avoid a problematic traffic situation, or to break-up the momentum of the march (which was getting comfortable taking over huge streets and making lots of noise) and to generally confuse us. Or perhaps it was a gesture by the shadowy folks in charge of the police, watching us from their CCTV and helicopters, to indicate to us protestors that the police could change our course at any time - essentially our will was subject to their OK.
We ended up on the Strand eventually - after walking along the pavement of Embankment for a bit (traffic was halted on both sides, with a long line of police vans parked on the side closest to the Thames) and then walking up Savoy Street. At this stage I was a bit tired of marching and got on my bike and slowly rolled past Charing Cross Station onto Trafalgar Square at about 12:45. There were LOADS of people in the Square, and lots of noise and colors, lots of tourists looking on and being confused, lots of cops running around. It was a demonstrator-soup of many ingredients. The marchers from ULU didn't halt at all but went straight through the intersection down Whitehall.
Now, many experienced protestors say that "Whitehall is where demonstrations go to die". This probably has to do with its layout and how easily it fulfills the requirements allowing the infamous Metropolitan Police of London to practice their ridiculous 'kettling' tactic in which the people on a demonstration are contained within a confined area, with police officers standing shoulder to shoulder at every possible entrance and exit, and which prevents people from joining the protest and, most importantly, leaving.
If kettling is the aim, Whitehall is the perfect stage. Whitehall is a big street with few side streets and exits to allow people to escape a cordon. Whitehall, being the seat of the imperalist government of the United Kingdom, located in the centre of the most surveilled city in the world, has got excellent CCTV coverage on its side. No need to be present on the street when it's 2 degrees outside - Mr. Police Detective can sit on his fat arse with a doughnut and a coffee in a warm office looking at a TV screen instead! Fucking brilliant! I can imagine he even has zoom and instant replay facilities available to pick-out the "criminals" and "terrorists" and "trouble makers"...
So we walked down Whitehall. Everyone was still in great spirits. We got to Parliament Street and realised that this was it. There was a great cordon of police and vans corking the end of Parliament Street that led onto Parliament Square. Police were gathered on the side streets. And eventually the top end of Parliament Street was corked with a line of cops and vans too. Ah well. The big dissident island sound system still had some battery left so that played on for a bit longer. It's about 1pm at this stage. People really rocked out to the dubstep and drum'n'bass! It was really like a street party.
From afar, where we were with the sound system, we could see a cop van had been abandoned in the middle of the cordoned area. We could see it being rocked back and forth, like someone was going to topple it (it didn't get turned over in the end). I reckon once everyone realised we were contained, that it was payback time, and public property damage was fair game. I'll mention at this stage that the only private property damage spotted included a window smashed to a building, but the Red Lion pub, the small sandwich store and the photo development shot were left untouched. I'll also mention that the Red Lion was very uncool in closing almost immediately when the cordon developed. Perhaps they were forced to by the cops, or perhaps they've read too much Daily Mail and are scared of violent protestors. Reality is, they'd have made a killing that day selling beers to bored protestors...
Walking around the area, I saw lots of smiley young people and realised I was one of the older people in this crowd! Kick ass. It seemed that a whole load of school kids who'd managed to get out of school had joined the march at some stage, many still in uniform, and had painted stuff like "cuts hurt", "cut the cuts" and anarchy symbols on their cheeks. I heard a tale of a group of kids demonstrating in front of Hackney Town Hall earlier that day and a group of rather shy 15 year olds admitted to me that they were certain they'd be expelled if their school found out they were here but found it important to make their voices heard and do to /something/ about all these cuts effecting their future. To which I replied "Hell yea! You're awesome!" congradulating them on their courage to take and stand and express themselves despite the authoritarian nature of their school administration and the potential consequences of their political choice that day - and then shared a couple bust cards I had one me, along with indymedia leaflets.
All around me I saw young people, some as young as 12, getting creative and making the most of this odd situation. People were climbing everything worth climbing. Some folks got up and spray painted "REVOLUTION" in red on the 'War Rooms' building facade, and soon after, another person painted "SMASH THE STATE" just down the wall from the other graffiti. Everywhere you turned your head, someone was letting off a bit of steam... the bus stop on the west side of Parliament Square was decorated with "FUCK COPS" and other eloquent messages of dissent as well as some anarchy symbols. A crowd had gathered around another sound system, jumping up and down. The crowd near the abandoned cop van were smashing and defacing it. Others were laughing and taking pictures of themselves and their friends in front of this symbolic expression of police-hatred. Another couple people managed to gain entrance to the back of the van through the window and promptly climbed in and 'liberated' some police gear and eventually let the siren sound. At one stage a young person stepped in front of the van, urging people not to deface it further as it was a 'plant' by the cops, 'baiting' people and encouraging and inciting them to violence, and to exercise self-control and not get taken up by these urges. To which some of the masked youth next to be shouted "So?! GET OUT OF THE WAY MAN!" - other youths were shouting stuff along the lines of "WE KNOW IT'S A PLANT! That or the cops are really fucking stupid to just leave their van in the middle of a cordon..." and other similar ideas.
Few were complaining, and making a big deal about being in a kettle. The sound system battery was drained by 2pm so we shut off the tunes. It was great while it lasted - and fun to see the small mosh pit form in front of the sound system as well as a steady flow of admirers asking who it belonged to and how to build one like it... There was another sound system that kept playing all night.
The rest of the day and evening blurs. Several significant things come to mind:
1) At one stage, myself and several of my female comrades had to pee. We searched for a viable option that allowed us to maintain a certain amount of integrity (i.e. to not expose our privates to the entire world). We ended up peeing in a cleverly sheltered spot which happened to be about 10 feet away from a police cordon line. We each took off and lowered our jackets to allow for a bit more privacy. As one of my comrades squatted to take a piss, several male cops (or should I use their more appropriate nickname "pigs"?) started sniggering, actively mocking our attempt to make a toilet for ourselves. So much respect and serving the people! And to think my taxes go to pay these people's salaries?! It seemed like quite a sadistic thing to laugh at and I imagined myself finding a container to piss into and then throwing it in their laughing face. Un/Fortunately my bursting bladder demanded to be evacuated as soon as possible so I had to forego the dream of seeing the sniggering coppers splattered with some steaming golden liquid...
2) I walked around a lot during the 7 hours in which I remained inside the police cordon in an attempt to keep my blood pumping. My feet were the coldest body part and walking seemed to stop them from going numb. It also allowed me to do 'rounds' and keep informed as to many things - like the (mis)information from the cops and what was going on in different areas.
Lots of folks made impromptu fires using placards and sticks, some even scaling the tree branches. Considering how cold it was, a lot of people were severely under-dressed. You could catch snippets of conversations with folks starting to complain of cold, hunger and thirst, saying that hadn't eaten or had a drink all day. Some folks decided to burn more caustic materials, perhaps for fun or maybe because there wasn't so much wood around - things chucked into the fire include plastic banners, bits of the bus stop (there goes the nice decoration!) and even two bus ticket machines (which let off terrible fumes and explode and pop in surprising ways).
At one stage I came across a copper authoritatively telling a group of relatively young folks that "cordons are the only way to police protest" to which I could not contain my frustration and yelled back "What the hell are you talking about?!" - the surprised copper turned to look at me and asked me "What, don't you know what happened two weeks ago?" I replied, "What, you mean when people smashed some windows at Millbank?" He laughed mockingly and turned his back on me, waving his hand about in a dismissive manner, saying over his shoulder that I'd "lost my argument right then and there". I yelled back at him telling him to come back and finish what he'd started, that I wasn't making an argument and that he had yet to justify his ludicrous statement to our group. I turned to see the faces of some surprised onlookers. Perhaps they hadn't seen someone talk back forcefully to a copper before. But then again, the coppers love it.
I should mention that at several different police cordons, folks were told that they were being held because a couple people had done criminal things. Like that's justification?!? Punish everyone for the doings of one or two people? It was a blatant attempt to turn people against and demonise anyone doing or intending to do property damage.
I stumbled upon a group of about 40 people that had gathered at the Parliament Square end of the cordon around a man and his guitar, who was having the time of his life singing some crazy rhyming nonsense songs. Two youngsters were particularly into it, screaming "SING IT AGAIN! AGAIN!" to which he obliged. And during the next song, these two broke into an impromptu satirical MC session, ranting cleverly about "this is what democracy looks like".
On my rounds, I realise that many folks were caught in a game of 'protestor ping pong' - with cops on one side of the cordon stating definitively that we'd be let out in 45 minutes at the other end - only to catch the same group of people 45 minutes later on the opposite side of the cordon asking the other line of cops why they weren't being let out. People become increasingly frustrated as time wore on and started accusing coppers of lying. Coppers caught on and started being a bit more cautious when issuing statements in regards when we'd finally be freed.
My friends were getting dangerously cold and hungry. I was getting achy and tired myself. My numb feet were being to burn with lack of sensation. A bit worrying. At about 7:30pm we received word that they were going to slowly release people on the Whitehall end of the cordon. We all rushed over there, bikes and all, and stood in a claustrophobic queue for 45 minutes. We edged forward one foot at a time and eventually I found myself in front of a smiling, jolly copper, who admitted to the protestor to my left that he sometimes used his shield as a snow-sled. To which I couldn't help but laugh and asked him if he ever got in trouble for it. I suppose that's one thing to look for you youtube!
The police cordon would open up for a couple seconds and would let through 4-5 people at a time. It was finally my turn! Once released though I still had another 40-50 cops to walk past all actively staring at the newly released in what I can only deem is an attempt to ID the so-called "trouble-makers". I put down my face and shuffled along.
Once told I was free to go, I walked for a couple seconds and then cycled and remembered all my friends behind me still in the cordon and all my friends who were eagerly awaiting to hear of my release. I decided to stop at an island in the middle of the round and make a call to one of these friends and also to take a look at the grand police operation that was in place. In the middle of my conversation, a copper interrupted me and asked me to keep moving. I moved a bit further up the road and picked up a telephone call and stopped. I was told by another cop, more aggressively, to evacuate the area immediately. Apparently they were adamant that no one hang about the Whitehall area. Eventually I passed to the other side of the tape and was out of the jurisdication of "you can't stand here even though it's public property" and found one of my friends.
We popped into one of the pubs nearby for a shot of rum and a pint of beer, and to let the warmth come back to our limbs. We parted ways after our drinks and I went on to meet some other friends who wanted to congradulate me, give me some hot food! As well as hear a first hand recount of the days demonstration. We looked at online coverage of the days events in London as well as the other student demonstrations that happened that day. I got wind of the occupations in places like Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Manchester... by the time I finally got home and crawled into my warm bed, I could barely have a though before I drifter off to sleep.
LSE students Occupy Simon Hugues office
25-11-2010 18:22
Recent Student Protests news:
20 LSE students are currently occupying the offices of Simon Hughes, LieDem Deputy Leader at the Blue in Southwark.See pic below ...
Also, the SOAS occupation got an injunction and bailiffs are expected to move in this afternoon at around 7pm. The occupiers are asking people to head down to SOAS's Brunei Gallery and defend the occupation by stopping the bailiffs.
More information about the occupation here and here.
Oxford occupation evicted
25-11-2010 17:57
The occupiers of the Radcliffe Camera have been evicted by police smashing their way in and dragging everyone out.Royal Holloway Occupation a Success!
25-11-2010 17:45
After 48 hours the Royal Holloway Anti Cuts Alliance occupation has been a success - public management meetings in the pipeline!Students occupying UEL Docklands
25-11-2010 17:22
Students occupying a room in the East Building join rally in solidarity with UEL contract cleaners.
A group of students have occupied a room on the University of East London Docklands Campus demanding that the university pledge not to introduce tuition fee increases, not to implement cuts, staff redundancies or wage reductions and that the London Living Wage must be immediately implemented for all staff including contracted workers. Students are also demanding that the Vice Chancellor issues a statement against fees and cuts as well as pressurising other members of the Million Plus group to do the same and that there must be absolutely no victimisation or disciplinary action taken against any of the students, staff and representatives involved in the occupation
Students hanging out of the windows of the aptly named room 101 on the first floor of the East Building joined in a rally in support of UEL cleaners who management have agreed should be paid the London Living Wage. However, they have have not committed themselves to a timetable, other than a vague promise that the rise would be insisted on 'when contracts are renewed'
Palestine Today 11 25 2010
25-11-2010 16:58
Glasgow Student Protest Direct Action thwarted by Self-appointed Police.
25-11-2010 16:22
If you are wondering what happened in Glasgow yesterday:
There was an occupation of part of the Strathclyde Uni building on Ingram St.
SWP types at Glasgow Uni openly liasied with the cops and prevented students from gaining access to the university administrative offices, Physically barring the way. (Photographic evidence coming in a report from other sources).
Video: Leeds Protest and Occupation on the National Student Walkouts
25-11-2010 15:12
Footage from the protest in Leeds yesterday.Direct Action at Scottish Liberal Democrat HQ
25-11-2010 14:22
After one of the most extensive, vibrant and wide-ranging days of activism in recent memory, with students and young people across the country taking to the streets to protest against the goverment's plan to slash education funding and treble fees, activists in Edinburgh took direct action againts the Lib Dem HQ on Clifton Terrace.
The site had been the scene of a peaceful 'teach in' in
Full article | 1 addition | 1 comment
University Security Attempt to Evict Student Occupation at Sheffield
25-11-2010 13:26
BREAKING NEWS on the current situation of the student occupation at Sheffield University. Security attempt to forcefully evict protesters, when this fails they set off fire alarms to force legal evacuation of the building.Day of Action 24/11/2010 Nottingham
25-11-2010 13:25
Students from Nottingham University and Toot Hill School in Bingham protest against higher university fees and the axe of EMAs.
Around 60 students form Toot Hill school in Bingham walked out of classes as part of the Day of Action against Eduation Cuts. Students congregated on the steps of the Counicl House at around midday. The students, majority from sixth form, said that they had the backing of the headteacher.
Around a similar number of students from Nottingham University gathered on the steps of the portland Building at 2PM. They marched to the Trent Building where they demanded to see the Vice Chancellor. Coincidentally, the VC was on holiday and students regrouped outside one of the libraries. A teach in was planned for 4PM.
SOAS Occupation Delays Court Injunction in High Court Battle
25-11-2010 12:56
As the majority of occupiers joined 20,000 university, FE and school students from across London on a demonstration in central London, a few SOAS students stayed behind to defend the occupation space. University management chose this moment to pursue their legal challenge.
Statement from Bristol Student Union Occupation
25-11-2010 12:36
At approximately 2.30pm on Wednesday the 24th of November, following a mass demonstration around the university precinct and Park Street we occupied Bristol University Students Union. We occupied this building ostensibly to hold a people’s assembly – that is an open participatory forum – on the future of higher education in England and what steps we want to take to defend and improve it.At approximately 2.30pm on Wednesday the 24th of November, following a mass demonstration around the university precinct and Park Street we occupied Bristol University Students Union. We occupied this building ostensibly to hold a people’s assembly – that is an open participatory forum – on the future of higher education in England and what steps we want to take to defend and improve it.
After collectively discussing the problems assembly made the following agreement:
1. To express our solidarity with everybody affected by the education cuts including but not limited to university staff and current school and university students.
2. To express our solidarity with all those in society negatively affected by the cuts to social spending.
3. To call upon the University of Bristol Students’ Union to genuinely represent the interests of all students and to call an Extraordinary General Meeting.
4. To demand that the plans for university spending cuts are made public; we demand an open accounting policy.
5. To demand that the Vice Chancellor, Eric Thomas, take a stance against cuts to higher education.
6. To continue learning and theorising a new university within the space we have occupied and to be allowed to come and go as we please.
7. That we condemn the violent and heavy-handed policing tactics used against students, staff and their supporters.
8. To demand no disciplinary repercussions for those involved in the protest
We took this form action because we have been consistently denied by the students union (specifically, President James Ashton-Bell) the space and opportunity to discuss the proposed cuts to higher education and to formulate a response. Despite the clear negative impacts on the learning experience at Bristol and to accessibility and quality of higher education more broadly, the students union has failed to take a stance, or up until yesterday, to facilitate debate on this issue of crucial importance.
As a result of the massive turn-out at the demonstration and subsequent occupation, the Student’s Union Officer Team have decided to act, communicating to all students across the university, their intention to hold a Forum on Monday the 29th of November at the Epi Bar.
Whilst this is an absolutely necessary first step, it is important to note that the outcome of a such a forum would not be binding – that is, it would not democratically mandate our Union sabbaticals to take action. As such, in addition to this forum, we call for an Extraordinary General Meeting to take place as soon as is feasible and that we are able to use the Union building (despite not being a university society) for the purposes of holding workshops and debate around this issue. At the point at which these specific demands are reasonably met we will end the occupation of the Student Union Building. Crucially, we would like to underline the fact that throughout the duration of this occupation we intend to keep the union building open and usable as a student space and desire that all pre-booked student society activities are allowed to continue. This must not be an exclusive space.
Whilst our occupation of the Union building will end with the meeting of these particular demands, our struggle for the future of higher education continues. There will be more organising, more actions, demonstrations and debate. We call upon students and staff to join us in this process, on students specifically to attend the forum on Monday at the Epi Bar, and to support the forthcoming motions for our proposed EGM.
…this is just the beginning.