Nottinghamshire Indymedia

Events

Startpage

> UK Indymedia
> Global Indymedia

> Guidelines
> Chatroom
> About Us
> Security

> Projects
> On Ya Mobile
> Local Weather

Support Us

We are an all volunteer collective and receive no regular funding. Please consider donating.


Local Events

This events wire is no longer being updated. Please use the new site to publicise events.

More local events on Veggies/Sumac Diary


Freedom of Information

Search archives

Topics

Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista

Kollektives

Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World

Other UK IMCs
Bristol/South West
London
Northern Indymedia
Scotland

IMCs


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech

Protestors demand freedom of expression at University

An angry student | 21.02.2008 17:46 | Education | Repression

Today around 80 protesters marched around the University of Nottingham's campus to demand freedom of expression and an end to the University's repression of student activists. In spite of the University's deployment of undercover spies and a police cameraman, the mood was good and protestors got a generally warm reception from other members of the student body.

The protest had been called in response to several events indicating an increasing intolerance of protest by University authorities. These included the calling of police onto campus to deal with a Palestinian solidarity protest, which ended in the arrest of a student:  https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/12/387118.html
Also mentioned in the protesters' flyers were the cases of a student who was banned from the University's library facilities for campaigning to reduce library card costs, and students who were fined £300 by University authorities for initiating a petition about university accommodation:
 https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2008/02/391805.html
The demonstration aimed to get the University to respect students' right to free speech, and to demand that the University allow protests, rather than organisers having to seek permission. The protest was organised without permission from the University.

I arrived 10 minutes early to hear that some suspicious individuals were walking around the Portland Building wearing earpieces and exchanging whispers. Sure enough, a man in his 50s and a similar aged woman could clearly be seen staring out of upper storey windows at the assembling demonstration and peering out of the door. When challenged as to what they were doing, their stories were unconvincing and they seemed very nervous about being photographed or filmed, scurrying away when they realised they cameras were pointed at them. Any footage or photos of these individuals would be appreciated in order to identify them. Presumably they were either Uni Security in plainclothes or people brought in from outside, although they didn't seem to be very professional.

In another more amusing development, satirical flyers had been distributed, claiming to be from the University and proposing 'Free Speech Zones' be created that would keep free thinking separate from everyday life.

The demonstrators assembled on the steps outside with many banners and placards. They were mostly students although some staff were there in support as well. Some of the groups present seemed to have their own agenda, including a small group carrying bits of paper with information about certain states' repression of free speech (Zimbabwe and Lebanon were mentioned). When I asked them what they thought about the suppression of civil liberties in the UK they said that they didn't know enough to comment. Maybe it would be worth them doing their homework before the next time! The event had attracted a large amount of media attention and shutters were clicking all around. An announcement was made over the megaphone explaining why the protest had been called and criticising the Students Union for siding whole heartedly with the University against the students facing repression.

Protesters marched around the Portland building briefly picking up a group displaying a large Israeli flag. The Palestinian Society demonstration at which a student was arrested was criticised by the University on the grounds that it had caused offense to Jewish and Israeli students. Given this history, the Israelis' presence at the demo might have seemed strange. The situation was quickly defused by an announcement over the megaphone that the march was supporting the free speech of all people from all societies, including Israelis and Palestinians. The Israeli support seemed to be short lived because I didn't see the flag again.

The march proceded to the Hallward library, where the student was arrested at the Palestine demo, and he made a speech to the assembled group, condemning the repression. We then moved on to the Trent Building, where the University administration, including the Vice-Chancellor, is based. A nervous looking man in a suit stood guard as we passed the VC's flash car, and jokes were made about him giving us ideas. In the main courtyard we were met by two University Security guarding the entrance near the VC's office, and a police cameraman who proceded to film protestors. The courtyard was filled with chants, including a short-lived but spirited rendition of 'No Justice! No Peace! Fight the Police!' from a small group at the back.

Disappointingly, no attempt was made to enter the Trent Building, perhaps via another unguarded door, as has occurred in the past:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/06/342238.html
Perhaps that's an idea for next time... The march went through the courtyard and circled round across the grass to head back towards the library. We paused again on the grass at the back of the Portland Building, whilst security guards peered from behind bushes, and the march finished shortly after.

People seemed positive about the way the day had gone, claiming that they had got their messages across to lots of students and raised awareness about the issues. The sizeable turnout would, hopefully, mean that the University would take notice of the demands. The fact that the University was forced to allow the demonstration to go ahead, even though it was unauthorised and strongly critical of their handling of the situation, should make people feel empowered. We will not be silenced!

An angry student

Download this article in pdf format >>
Email this article to someone >>
Submit an addition or make a quick comment on this article >>