Student Day of Action Against Cuts

[Sam_b]

National demonstrations have been called on all campuses as part of the Student Day of Action Against Cuts on the 24th of November (next Wednesday). This will be a crucial day for comrades to make the political arguments against cuts in staff and courses in Higher Education, and linking this into the wider struggle against cuts in all sectors.

I've just come back from a student organising meeting with regards to Glasgow University's day of action and the SWP student intervention. Our ACAN (Anti-Cuts Action Network) group on campus has called for a university wide demo at noon where we will be handing over an open later signed by students, lecturers and staff calling for no fees and course cuts, and then linking up with the other Glasgow universities and colleges at 5pm for a city-wide action. We will be occupying if the mood is there: it is estimated that 30-40 English education institutions will be occupying as well.

This wave of post-Millbank militancy is the highest we've seen from students in 25 years, and it's the duty of all student comrades on this forum to agitate and organise for it (UK students). So let's see what happens - what student comrades on the forum are organising as part of this action, and what is the plan in their uni/college?

[human strike]

We at the University of the West of England (UWE) have an entire week of action planned.

Monday
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118619104868187

We're occupying a location in the heart of the main campus and establishing an "education camp" with lots of music from a socialist choir and a band or two apparently and general frollocking I think; some teach-ins (including a lecture on Marxism). This will continue as long as we can keep it going throughout the week in conjunction with the rest of the action we have planned.

Tuesday
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140206266031523

Protest outside a board of governors meeting.

Wednesday
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177518295596946

Walkout and joining forces with University of Bristol students in the city center for a demo. If you're in the Bristol area please come along, it looks like it will well exceed our previous expectations in size.

Thursday

Student Union's AGM

I think there's probably something happening on Friday too but I'll be damned if I can remember.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=162641213748580
[email protected]
We'll have a twitter and blog going soon too.

EDIT: @uweagainstcuts

[Sam_b]

Mate that sounds amazing. If you have time please give us updates on your action and good luck for all the events.

I should add that anyone in the Glasgow area, Glasgow students, or anyone interested in our activity can join the Facebook group. Just search for Glasgow University Anti Cuts Action Group (GUACAN).

[Wanted Man]

Good stuff from Britain!

Groningen will join the struggle on the 29th. ;)

[Quail]

Sheffield uni is doing something on the wednesday, but I missed the planning meeting. There seems to be an enthusiasm for occupation, and there will be a demo as far as I know. (I also don't really want to give details of any planned action, in case somehow the uni or the press get wind of it.) I'm a little concerned about some of the people involved, who seem somewhat likely to fuck it up for us, but I'm feeling quite optimistic that there will be a lot of support for any action by a lot of students, and I'm hoping that it will build support for the wider anti-cuts movement too.

[Rakhmetov]

Excellent!!! The English get it. You comerades put our silly, conformist, career-oriented students to shame. I'll stay tuned with trembling anxiety.

[ed miliband]

NUT are supporting walkouts: http://anticuts.com/2010/11/21/statement-from-national-union-of-teachers-executive-members-in-support-of-the-24th-november-walkoutday-of-action/

:thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1:

[bricolage]

You shouldn't really be talking about plans for occupations on the internet.

[bricolage]

Also if any students are looking for sympathetic members of staff, this is a good place to start. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/22/we-will-fight-with-students)

[human strike]

You shouldn't really be talking about plans for occupations on the internet.

I was careful not to say anything anyone couldn't have figured out very easily anyway. ;)

[Sam_b]

The English get it

Protip: Glasgow isn't in England.

[human strike]

We've got into occupation now and the Bristol Socialist Choir is giving us a chorus of Solidarity Forever.

http://act-at-uwe.blogspot.com/

[penguinfoot]

We've got into occupation now and the Bristol Socialist Choir is giving us a chorus of Solidarity Forever.

One, two, three, many!

Congratulations comrade, solidarity.

[Quail]

We've got into occupation now and the Bristol Socialist Choir is giving us a chorus of Solidarity Forever.

http://act-at-uwe.blogspot.com/

Best of luck with the occupation and all :thumbup1:

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

Best wishes to all comrades who have activity planned for Wednesday and beyond. Due to a few logistical problems, our local day of action is to be moved back a week or two, but once we have had adequate time to build for it, it will go ahead.

[human strike]

http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/700954
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=23125

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134542943266727&index=1

[El Rojo]

a demo we held on campus was attacked by the pigs a few days back, so we decided to scale back to a teach in today. v disappointing. then i hear down the grape-vine that high school and 6th form students are walking out across town! fucking delighted, many uni students are gonna go down and meet up with them

[Rusty Shackleford]

good luck comrades.

[Shining_Liberator]

Here is to hoping their trashing small businesses and marching around chanting like howler monkeys will accomplish something :rolleyes:

[Magón]

I need a ticket to the UK.

[Comrade Wolfie's Very Nearly Banned Adventures]

Sheffield Uni has gone into occupation follow it here:

http://sheffieldoccupation.tumblr.com/

[mossy noonmann]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/24/student-school-pupils-protests-walkout

police have charged the demo with horses in london and have lost control of the groups of protesters not kettled ........see above link

[Sasha]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/24/student-school-pupils-protests-walkout

police have charged the demo with horses in london and have lost control of the groups of protesters not kettled ........see above link

important journalism taking place:


4.54pm: Paul Lewis (http://twitter.com/#%21/paul__lewis/status/7476894186340352), inside the kettle, tweets:

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/04/08/twitter.gif Police have placed two portaloos inside the #demo2010 kettle and are handing out bottles of water!
We've been unable to verify the exact brand of portable toilet being used inside the kettle. It may not definitely be a Portaloo.

[Fabrizio]

looks like good fun. I wish they'd got through to the Lib Dem HQ and strung up that ****ing traitor Clegg.

[Sam_b]

Glasgow University today staged its biggest demo in decades with 500 students and lecturers walking out and marching on campus against uni restructuring, fees and cuts. We were joined alongside us by high school students who has symbolically walked out over education cuts. The mass of students forced the police onto the backhand are were unable to stop the demonstration from marching through Glasgow city centre to link up with the numerous colleges and universities out on strike action.

The Glasgow School of Art saw 400 demonstrators occupy their principle's office in a day of action never before seen there.

Strathclyde University occupied the Royal College building for several hours, after chasing their principle off campus. They were joined in this occupation by school students who risked disciplinary action and suspension to walk out of their classes. The support outside by students of Glasgow, Caledonian and colleges saw George Street blockaded for three hours before the 1,000 strong 5pm rally outside the council chambers.

Glasgow University Anti Cuts Action Network allongside ACAN branches across Glasgow wish to condemn in the strongest terms victimisation of students on this day of action. At 6am this morning Bryan Simpson, a leading ACAN activist, Trade Union representative and SWP member, was arrested 'dawn raid' style for demonstrasting at Millbank on trumped-up charges. We see this as victimisation of an anti-cuts activist deliberately to try and curtail action on campuses today. This was also attempted later in the day when activists helped to ensure the release of a Glasgow University student and ACAN member who again was accused of a crime he did not commit. As we can see from events today this did nothing to stop the unity of students and we will not be intimidated by Strathclyde Police nor the class they are out to protect: the Tories, the rich and the privileged who are overseeing the biggest cuts since 1919.

We will now be moving forward with a series of meetings to organise a Scotland-wide ACAN conference in January and to keep up the pressure in the last weeks of this semester. NO IFS, NO BUTS, NO EDUCATION CUTS.

[Antifa94]

There are miniriots <3
look at these pictures!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...008027&index=1 (http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/gallery/2010/nov/24/tuition-fees-universityfunding?picture=369008027#/?picture=369008027&index=1)
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/24/us-south-korea-military-exercises)

[Antifa94]

He says police have "completely lost control" of protesters who have now been let out of the kettle. A number of shop and office windows have been smashed as marchers run west from the square, as well as the windows of at least two buses.

I'm crying of joy:laugh:

[Sasha]

There are miniriots <3
look at these pictures!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/24/us-south-korea-military-exercises

your link is to an article about korea's tension.
i assume this is what you meant: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/gallery/2010/nov/24/tuition-fees-universityfunding?picture=369008027#/?picture=369008027&index=1

[Sam_b]

I'm crying of joy

Do you not like shops?

[Sasha]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/video/2010/nov/24/student-protests-turn-ugly

that guy with the beard must sam-b... :laugh:

[Sam_b]

Except that I just gave a report about everything that happened in Glasgow.

[bailey_187]

UCL main building is being occupied.

Here is the statement:

----------------------------------
"UCL students and their supporters are currently occupying the Jeremy Bentham Room in order to pressure the UCL management into agreeing to the following demands:

1. We demand that UCL issue a statement condemning all cuts to higher education and the rise in tuition fees.

2. We demand that UCL implement a complete open book policy in regards to existing budget constraints

3. We demand that UCL ensure no redundancies for teaching, research or support staff.

4. We demand that UCL reverse its outsourcing policy by bringing staff back in house.

5. We demnd that UCL implement the full living wage package for all cleaning, catering and security staff with no cuts to hours and jobs.

6. Ensure that no victimization or repercussions for anyone participating in the occupation.

7. Allow free access in and out of the building.

If you agree with these demands, come and offer your support in the peaceful occupation of the Jeremy Bentham Room.

There will be discussion groups, lectures and open debates on the issues we face.

You free to come and go as you like - so bring friends and spread the word around UCL. Now is the time for action. Take your place beside the hundreds of students, lecturers and workers already uniting against the cuts. Every individual's participation will make a difference. "

[ed miliband]

How long do they hope to keep the UCL occupation going?

[brigadista]

i was very impressed today by a whole heap of of 13/14 year olds in school uniforms [adapted to fashion of course] passing my workplace on their way to the demo with placards and chanting- suppose they must have walked out of school

[bailey_187]

How long do they hope to keep the UCL occupation going?

all night is the plan

[Quail]

About 100 students occupied the University of Sheffield at about 2.30pm today, from both UoS and Hallam. In case you didn't follow the link Comrade Wolfie posted, this is our statement:

"Sheffield University has been occupied by students opposed to the increase in tuition fees and education cuts. All the proposals below were decided by majority vote.


We are a peaceful and non-violent protest.



We see ourselves as part of what is happening all across the country today.



We are against a rise in tuition fees and support the principle of free education.



We are against all cuts to public services and welfare.



We are in solidarity with all workers and those affected by the cuts proposed. We especially support the members of the UCU and any industrial action they choose to take in their fight for pensions.



We demand the immediate re-instatement of EMA.



For the University to publicise through all available channels the ways in which the cuts will affect staff and students.



No victimisation of anybody involved in protesting against the cuts.



We demand the right to recall all Liberal Democrats, specifically Nick Clegg as our local MP, who pledged to vote against a rise in tuition fees.



We call upon the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University Vice-Chancellors to defend education by actively and publicly opposing the cuts."

There was also a demo in the town centre earlier that was really well attended. The police presence was fucking excessive though.

[maskerade]

i hope the tories know that this is the first of many days of protest and unrest

[ed miliband]

i hope the tories know that this is the first of many days of protest and unrest

The use of kettling is going to scare away quite a few first time protesters, I think. The whole idea is to break down people's will.

[El Rojo]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/...ests-turn-ugly (http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/video/2010/nov/24/student-protests-turn-ugly)

so the police, in the middle of what seems to be a very tightly controlled demo, abandoned a vehicle? i have seen no footage of them being forced to leave it, it seemed in working order, and in my experiece they prefer to near run people over rather than leave a working vehicle. this stinks of a set up.


in more cheery news, over 500 high school / 6th form students marched and then held a peaceful rally in lancaster. considering no organising was done before hand, im pretty sure this thing happened totally spontanously, and for such a small town it was a fucking massive turnout :D

[maskerade]

The use of kettling is going to scare away quite a few first time protesters, I think. The whole idea is to break down people's will.

I think it will make them angrier. Students have everything to lose and I don't think they are going to give up easily. Well, at least I know I wont and neither will most of my friends, even though they aren't leftists or experienced protestors.

[Red Future]

Was at the Sheffield demo ,it was fantastic to see so many sixth formers like me on the march when such an age group are normally apathetic to politics

[ed miliband]

I think it will make them angrier. Students have everything to lose and I don't think they are going to give up easily. Well, at least I know I wont and neither will most of my friends, even though they aren't leftists or experienced protestors.

I'm a student myself, so yeah, I agree to an extent. I'm pointing out, however, that when the police are threatening to kettle 15 year olds, with no sanitary functions, no food or drink, etc. until 12 am it's clear that their intention is not "public safety" but to scare people. Dunno if you've ever been kettled, but it's a horrible experience and would certainly shake me up if it happened to me on my first protest.

[red flag over teeside]

Great to see thousands of students, sixth formers and school students demonstrating in Newcastle today. Even better to see that they were able to organise in spite of the Newcastle and Northumbria university NUS who had nothing to do with organising the demo. Goes to show we don't need unions who will attempt to sabotage struggles we can organise and will organise outside of union structures.

[bailey_187]

John McDonnel (a left wing labour MP) was at the UCL occupation. i dno if thats a good or bad thing

[bailey_187]

apparently they are only letting girls out the kettle in london

[JustMovement]

Does anyone know if the UCL occupation of the Bentham building (i think it is) is continuing? I would like to head down there tommorow, I was going to go today but I am cellphone-facebook less at the moment so I have no way to contact people and I didnt know what was going on.

[IndependentCitizen]

Brighton saw a huge turnout for our demo.Sussex police say 3,000 students, trade unionists and anyone concerned protested today!

Being the main speaker here in Brighton, I cannot tell you inspiring it was to see so many placards, and faces. The chants were awesome, we even got a few coppers to shout some - "Nick Clegg shame on you, shame on you for turning blue" Shame that not all coppers were as sound as those fellas.

There was many flashpoints, but they quickly defused, and us protesters managed to make our protest last much longer than proposed by marching off in an opposite direction. There was an attempted occupation at the University of Brighton's pavilion parade, unfortunately, the police were made aware of this prior. (We're not too sure how, since only those who intended to occupy it were the ones who knew (about 120 students)

Here's some pictures!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomwills/5204413686/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomwills/5204336974/in/photostream/
http://www.theargus.co.uk/resources/images/1498020/?type=display
EDIT: Here's a video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTpaaUqmfgU

[Matty_UK]

The Manchester demo was pretty good, the figure being thrown around by the BBC is 3000 but I reckon it was nearer 5000 at the peak. Lots of school kids, apparently about 100 people from one of the schools in Manchester hopped the railings to join after they locked the main gates! Also noteworthy was the rejection of the NUS organisers; they had wanted to march to this place called Castlefield, which is in the arse end of nowhere, to listen to some speeches but most people split from the march and ran to the city centre where they tried to get in the town hall, and people who were with the NUS lot apparently stormed off to join us when they realised what had happened, making the "official" rally only 20 people strong while the militant breakaway rally was several thousand strong!

It was all a bit confusing with the lack of leadership for the demo, people hung around the town hall for a bit, a few hundred split off to march down Market Street (the main shopping street) before rejoining, and then people from SWSS managed to rally people to move back towards the University to go into occupation. We attempted to occupy 4 different university buildings, but each time only a few people made it in before the police blocked off the entrances, and then just about the entire university got locked down - at present though, there are 16 people still in occupation, mostly anarchists I think, but the SWP are doing work to support them and consolidate the occupation tomorrow and also brought food and supplies for them earlier this evening. We sat down in the road to disrupt traffic and a few scuffles started with the police. Then we marched down the middle of the road for about 400metres, moving road signs and traffic cones to block the traffic until police horses blocked the front, and then it got a bit violent - a few arbitrary arrests, some charges by police horses and lot of people being whacked - I got chucked down to the pavement by one copper which hurt quite a bit.

By this point the vast majority had gone home from tiredness, confusion as to what was going on, or to do work, but the last 250 or so of us tried to march back to the centre. Loads of tactical aid units pulled up and belligerent looking bobbies jumped out and started kettling us against the wall, and at this point I legged it with quite a few others leaving about 75-100 people in the kettle. I'm not sure what happened, I've heard from a few people they all got arrested (but not charged) but I'm not certain.

Overall a pretty good demo though, but lots of work to be done by the left in this next week to help keep up the momentum!

[Stranger Than Paradise]

The police van that was trashed was definitely a decoy to justify the kettling.

9 hours they did it for!

[Steve_j]

I wandered down to the out skirts of the kettle to show a little solidarity with the students and in all honesty it was the most inspiring thing i have seen. So many high school students in the crowd, and so much militancy. (thats not even to mention all the walk outs, sit ins and occupations) Its also brilliant to see so many different collectives working autonomously outside the dismal faliure that is the SU.

The youth are in revolt! Now where the fuck are the workers?

Solidarity with all involved and solidarity with all arrested!

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

Congratulations to all of the comrades who were active in these actions around the country. It was truly inspiring to see such militancy amongst the students, now the task is to tie this mood in with the general anti-cuts movement and build a strong campaign. We are in the origins of this now!

Roll on the TUC demo!

[Sam_b]

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/211585-scottish-students-join-in-uk-protest-against-tution-fees-increase/

Have a three minute video of the Glasgow University action at noon. Fifty Roubles to any eagle eye that spots me.

[Sam_b]

The youth are in revolt! Now where the fuck are the workers?

Now now! Remember STUC had one of their biggest demos for a decade or so last month with 30,000+ on the streets of Edinburgh against the cuts.

Our student rally had speakers from UNISON, EIS, UCU and STUC in attendance. On marching through the centre several office workers nearby Strathclyde came out onto the march. The UNISON speaker was greeted by students chanting 'we need a general strike!' after his speech.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/211585-scottish-students-join-in-uk-protest-against-tution-fees-increase/

Have a three minute video of the Glasgow University action at noon. Fifty Roubles to any eagle eye that spots me.
The video kept failing to load. What kind of turn out did you get in Glesgae?

[Zanthorus]

Where I was the 'protest' was pretty pathetic. There were about twenty kids, pretty blatantly using it as an excuse to get out of classes and be rowdy (For some unknown reason they even started putting up legalise weed posters). Someone I know worked out that most of the people protesting weren't even going to university (They were public services students who will search for jobs in the police and such after college). Afterwards some of them hung out in the middle of the town with their picket signs, which was fairly stupid, as it was blocking a pathway and made everyone who walked past hostile to them. It's even more depressing looking at how things went elsewhere.

[Lyev]

The 'walk-out' at my college was disorganised and incoherent. I wish I more pro-active in building for it. Oh well; my college is relatively small, in quite a small town - not a big city. I find it interesting though how much of the contention is over Clegg's betrayal, but quite a lot of the militancy seems to be coming from uni students, who have already paid their fees and such, but maybe this is just me looking at events through murky spectacles, so to speak. I will probably try and organise a meeting (I heard they're called 'teach-ins'?) at my college to discuss a fightback against (education) cuts, to consolidate the very minimal action from today. The NUT rep and student union are fucking dreadful though. Anyway, well done to all comrades struggling in schools, colleges and unis, seems like it was a good day: solidarity! EDIT: I also heard there was solidarity action from French comrades in universities and whatnot.

[Kenco Smooth]

Edinburgh protest was somewhat of a success if no-where near as eventful as London or others. Focus seemed to be more on the Liberal Democrats going back on tuition fees. One of the main lecture halls has gone into overnight occupation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bewareofembroidery/5204306169/in/set-72157625460965262/#/

[Patchd]

Workers at an anti-cuts meeting tonight donated shitloads of money to the student occupiers here in Sheffield :D university management has typically closed off the whole building to discredit the occupation.

[brigadista]

anyone know if the teachers will support the students and come out with them?

[Sam_b]

What kind of turn out did you get in Glesgae?

500 at Glasgow University
400-500 at Glasgow School of Art
300-400 at Strathclyde University
about 150 from Caledonian University
30-40 school student walkouts at Hyndland Academy
50-60 other High School walkouts
100-200 various colleges around Glasgow

At the high point of the joint action there were over 1,000 in Glasgow city centre. This included staff and lecturers at the university, one of which made the suggestion that senior management should resign at great risk to his job.

[Manic Impressive]

apparently I assaulted a police officer today. according to some new fucking law of mumbo fucking jumbo protecting your face from a policemans hand constitutes assault.

just wanna say the police were completely incompetent today and I saw genuine fear in their eyes when we kettled them although it may have 0nly been for a short time

[bricolage]

I walked along to Downing Street after work today at about six to see if anything much was going on, everyone was kettled in but I saw a girl in school uniform shouting fuck the police, that's goddamn poetry I swear!

[bloodbeard]

here's some clips of the riot

http://www.prisonplanet.com/students-riot-again-in-london.html

Really I wish I was there.

We need action like this in the states as well. We definitely got a lot of catching up to do!! Political activism not "cool" enough for American youth? lol. People turn out for things like the Love Parade in their thousands verbally harassing and groping random females and females willingly going along but for protests, where the hell do all these people fu*ked off to???

[Sam_b]

Politically should we really be calling the events a 'riot'?

[IndependentCitizen]

The actions at Millbank weren't a riot, it was just minor civil disobience. The media is calling it a riot just to try and turn the average person against us.

[bloodbeard]

The actions at Millbank weren't a riot, it was just minor civil disobience. The media is calling it a riot just to try and turn the average person against us.

Us? Were you involved in the events? Anyway, you don't have to label it as a riot, but my point still stands. We need more actions like this in the states. :)

[ed miliband]

Message of support from Noam Chomsky:


Very glad to learn of your protests against the appalling programs being inflicted on England, and hope they awaken others to what is happening. I happen to have returned recently from Mexico, a poor country, unlike the US and UK. I was privileged to speak at the national university, UNAM, and was again impressed by its high quality. Ten years ago the government attempted to introduce tuition, but backed down in the face of mass student protest. It remains free.

http://ucloccupation.wordpress.com/2010/11/25/support-from-noam-chomsky/

[IndependentCitizen]

Us? Were you involved in the events? Anyway, you don't have to label it as a riot, but my point still stands. We need more actions like this in the states. :)

Yes, us - the ones on the streets trying to change society.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Ian Bone reporting the leaning tower of pisa and the colosseum in rome have been occupied.

Any news from Italian comrades?

[Lyev]

Folks, could I have some advice? I'm not sure about how to approach an intervention for the action planned on the 30th (this Tues I think). We are basically going to picket outside our local townhall. There should be around ~500 students (with a couple teaching staff and lecturers dotted around perhaps) from various sixth forms and colleges across the region. However, I am not sure whether to organise a speaker through the party (like a union activist or whatever), or bring some papers along and try and sell them. Having a stall in the street on a Saturday afternoon is not the same as approaching my peers in such a setting as this one. Generally, this kind of political action is relaxed, informal and spontaneous. I just think that a lot of students won't really care about the The Socialist, nor will they want to pay 70p, but I'm not sure; will selling papers seem like I'm on a soapbox, preaching - will something like that do more harm than good? No-one wants to be lectured, but then again it's a very volatile issue, that draws emotion and passion from many students, who have previously been completely apolitical. How do other comrades approach this kind of event when intervening? Thanks a lot :)

[ed miliband]

Ian Bone reporting the leaning tower of pisa and the colosseum in rome have been occupied.

Any news from Italian comrades?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8160963/Italian-students-blockade-Colosseum-and-Leaning-Tower-of-Pisa.html

LOL

[human strike]

Politically should we really be calling the events a 'riot'?

Don't see how it can be called a riot in any terms.

Does everybody know about how there is another day of action on Tuesday? Take out your kettles!

http://anticuts.com/2010/11/25/30-november-second-day-of-action/

[bricolage]

Does everybody know about how there is another day of action on Tuesday? Take out your kettles!
This was the callout, make of it what you will;

WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE CAMPAIGN - KEEP UP THE PRESSURE STUDENT STRIKE! ON TUESDAY 30th NOVEMBER!

The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts and a general assembly of London students have issued a call for further action on the 30 November.

It's not long now until the Con-Dems try to pass their education cuts through parliament, and if they do – we will keep fighting!
...
But in the meantime – ALL OUT FOR THE 30 NOVEMBER!

• No to fees
• No to cuts
• Save EMA

(tax the filthy rich to fund education for all)

***
WE NEED TO ORGANISE!

Organise meetings at every school and college to build for the day of action. Set up a blog or a facebook group for your local group and link it to anticuts.com. Try to pull off actions regularly, even if they are only small.

We say:
• No to every cut!
• Publish the financial records – we won't tolerate rich and bloated managers
• Teachers' unions – bring forward your grievances – we should strike together!

Every city should have a city-wide general assembly every week that brings together representatives of all the different college anti-cuts campaigns. These city-wide assemblies should make decisions about joint actions. They should be run democratically – the chair should rotate and the meeting should not be the ‘property’ of any one group or faction. Everyone should respect the decisions that get made collectively.

***

Send a report of whatever action you take to the National Campaign at [email protected] (also email us if you need help or more information). Include pictures if possible!

We can make it happen!

***

AND REMEMBER - WHATEVER YOU DO, LINK UP WITH LOCAL TRADE UNIONS AND OTHER COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES!

[brigadista]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/video/2010/nov/24/london-student-protests

this video i found very inspiring - youth in london during the protest- watch out for the amazing graffiti moment

[The Grey Blur]

Folks, could I have some advice? I'm not sure about how to approach an intervention for the action planned on the 30th (this Tues I think). We are basically going to picket outside our local townhall. There should be around ~500 students (with a couple teaching staff and lecturers dotted around perhaps) from various sixth forms and colleges across the region. However, I am not sure whether to organise a speaker through the party (like a union activist or whatever), or bring some papers along and try and sell them. Having a stall in the street on a Saturday afternoon is not the same as approaching my peers in such a setting as this one. Generally, this kind of political action is relaxed, informal and spontaneous. I just think that a lot of students won't really care about the The Socialist, nor will they want to pay 70p, but I'm not sure; will selling papers seem like I'm on a soapbox, preaching - will something like that do more harm than good? No-one wants to be lectured, but then again it's a very volatile issue, that draws emotion and passion from many students, who have previously been completely apolitical. How do other comrades approach this kind of event when intervening? Thanks a lot :)

just talk to people. i really worry about how left groups suck in kids like you and then spit them out again. you're only young once, people will respect your political ideas if they see you as a fellow student/worker and not the 'loony socialist'. just take it easy, participate in the broad movement but point out that in the end it's a structural capitalist crisis that can only be solved by nationalising the banks and industry not just endless demos and protests.

basically that's the other thing i want to add to this thread - as far as i can tell so many of you are just acting as left-wing cheerleaders or left-wing leaders of the movement. endless protests aren't enough and failed here recently in france. make these protests 1) political and 2) based around immediate demands - a one-day public sector & student strike for example. stop 'going with the flow' and ra ra ra rabbling, be the brain of these protests. basically you spend all this time building up your left-wing arguments then abandon them in favour of being seen as the most vocal and 'radical' protestors, it's idiotic. marxism isn't just a nice idea, it informs your strategy and tactics with regards to the mass movement...

i fully expect everyone to misunderstand or distort all my points.

[Patchd]

We have a strong suspicion that it was the security team who set off the fire alarm in the building that was occupied as a way to get the occupation out. Just prior to the alarm going off, one of the security guards was especially aggressive and physically violent towards a group of students who had sneaked into the occupation, we suspect he might have been the one to set off the alarm. This tactic has apparently been used elsewhere before. The occupation group then went to occupy the vice chancellors corridor, but have left and we will be discussing where to go from here.

[bailey_187]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/video/2010/nov/24/london-student-protests

this video i found very inspiring - youth in london during the protest- watch out for the amazing graffiti moment

whos does that dickhead with the beard shouting about "peacefull protests!!!" think he is.

[bailey_187]

rgxwTF-qeAo

[IndependentCitizen]

rgxwTF-qeAo

What bastards, did they not learn the lesson of 1990 when they charged with horses into people?

They cannot make it anymore obvious that they aggravate the crowd to get a response, especially that police van...scum bags.

[ed miliband]

io1QTazoroI
zqz4BHDxeQo
8NpILP_FdXY

[bailey_187]

omg i just finished reading the London Student newspaper. It was abit old so it was only about November 10.

Let me say, what a bunch of dickheads writing in that paper. Bare articles saying shit like "violence is never acceptable in a democracy"

says who? why? obv on this forum i dont have to give counterarguments

also some idiot saying we should follow the example of May '68 and not use violence. er.....wtf, are u dumb. I dont know much about May but i have heard about the cobbles of French streets being ripped up to be thrown at police etc

also going on about learning non-violence shown by Ghandi and that Burmese women and other bullshit. bunch of liberal dickheads

[Sam_b]

Within the space of a few hours of hearing around 40 Anti Cuts Action Network Acitivsts demonstrated on Glasgow Uni campus this evening. The GUU student union played host to a Conservative Future dinner with Scottish Tory leader Annabelle Goldie in attendance. Students organised at the last minute under the slogan of 'no posh nosh for Tory toffs'. Activists peacefully formed a picket line outside the building and chanted slogans. Disgracefully police victimised students again by arresting three ACAN organising members and refused to divulge on what charge they were arrested under and where they were being taken. At this moment in time all three are still in custody.

Yet again ACAN feels the need to condemn these intimidatory tactics as an attempt to break the spirit and unity of the student movement, and we will fight any decision on the street and in the courtrooms. Organising will now take place for a march on the Scottish Parliament next Tuesday.

[El Rojo]

it is my understanding that it is a right to know what charge you have beenarrested for.

did you get badge numbers? i know legal challenges are often futile, but we have to document everything, and by now the IPCC should be flooded!

[Sam_b]

We've been round long enough to know to do all that. Police refused to tell us what those in the van were being charged with.

All activists are currently liberated from custody as of this afternoon.

[human strike]

Yeah they just round up the loudest, most vocal guys, interrogate them for a couple of hours and then release them. It's completely illegal but if pushed they'll just make up some shit about disturbing the peace. The police absolutely hate those who will stand up for themselves - it's why they get so violent with us. Only 5% of cases of police violence are directed at people who are actually guilty of any crime. Real criminals know better than to argue with police.

One clever tip is to not argue but just say "yes officer" and then do the complete opposite. "Stand against that wall" - you say "yes officer" and walk away from the wall. You'd be surprised by just how much that confuses them.

[bailey_187]

qpRCDmhhgrg

Aaron Porter, NUS buearacrat backpeddling on the NUS's and his own "lack of support for student activism" recently, but still condeming violence

[Wanted Man]

Wow, our student bureaucrats are almost radical activists compared to the ones in the UK. Pricks!

[bailey_187]

Everything about him just seems so future Labour MP. His voice, his hand movements, language.

[nuisance]

Well, kettles do tend to boil.

[human strike]

I was at that meeting at UCL with Aaron Porter and then the National Assembly afterwards. He blew our minds tbh. None of us were expecting what he said. We were all ready to rip him a new one and he was just like "sure that's fine, I've been shit".

[Red Future]

I cant attend Tuesday as a demo but want to do something, anyone know where I can download anti cuts posters to put up at my school -please help!!

[Quail]

I cant attend Tuesday as a demo but want to do something, anyone know where I can download anti cuts posters to put up at my school -please help!!
You could probably quite easily make some yourself. Find a couple of catchy slogans or whatever and some pictures. :)

I don't know if I will have childcare for tomorrow, boo :(

[Wanted Man]

http://rtvnoord.nl/ftp/foto/middel/101129-Studentenprotesteren.jpg

Despite the snow, 1,000-1,500 people demonstrated in Groningen around noon today with the support of the student union, other student political organisations, student associations and the university and professional school institutions themselves. Media also report "hundreds" of students in The Hague.

The higher education cuts in the Netherlands consist of:

Increase of tuition fees for anyone who takes more than the nominal study time + 1 year. Anyone who has this kind of delay will have to pay an extra fee of at least €3,000 a year!
No more financial aid for master students.
Loss of free public transport card for all "nominal + 1" students.
Institutions will be fined for students who do not finish their studies "on time"; this is expected to lead to more "graduation fraud": institutions making up all kinds of "special measures" to get people to graduate, even though they haven't written a thesis, as well as a lowering of education quality in general.


This will go into effect in September 2011 and will retroactively apply to people who are already in college now. So anyone who thought it was a good idea to administrate a student association for a year or something like that is royally screwed now. These measures are likely to kill off student life everywhere in the country, as well as higher education in general. So for the first time in years, there is slowly increasing militancy, with support from all the student organisations that have been notably absent from actions like this over the past years.

[Wanted Man]

Picture from The Hague:

http://media.nu.nl/m/m1fzs8papet5_700.jpg

The media now report 1,500 people there. Apparently, riot cops have been deployed to keep people from marching to the "Turret" in The Hague where the prime minister has his office.

[Wanted Man]

Sorry for the multi-posting, but some more pictures from Groningen:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/full/200384801.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1291041814&Signature=h8g0kw13jNW1Fxv06PL%2BjxJSdQM%3D

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/full/200384578.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1291041836&Signature=UJd89Ssnu2OfokVubnTaYRZjnL4%3D

"Bachelor +1: €3,000 fine. Master: priceless/unaffordable."

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/full/200384368.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1291041867&Signature=N0DNMtGGLtHq%2BVyu9PvhHOXHFcI%3D

"(Prime minister) Rutte wants microwave students: quick and tasteless."

[Sam_b]

http://edinunianticuts.wordpress.com/protest-on-tue-30th/

Students, Workers, Claimants, Families!

UNITE AND FIGHT!

March on the Scottish Parliament
Tuesday 30th November


The coalition government is imposing vicious cuts on education, welfare, and other public services. These cuts will ruin lives for generations to come, disproportionately affecting poorer and less privileged people, and widening the gap between rich and poor. Edinburgh University students, supported by protesters from many different groups, have occupied the University’s Appleton Tower, demanding action from their institution on the cuts, and supporting the struggles of everyone who’s fighting against them.
We’re calling for people from all walks of life and from across the country to join us in protest. Come along. Make your voice heard. Start the fight back here!
Tuesday 30th November
Gather at 11.30am, Bristo Square, Edinburgh
Prepare to March

[El Rojo]

march and demonstration in lancaster university @11:00, alexandra square, which will then me joining the protest in town held by high school, sixth form and adult collage students. assemble in town @ dalton square @ 12:00.

the last protest had a turnout of over 500, and we have further organised and broadened the struggle, so as lancaster goes this one should be massive.

best of luck to everyone else who will be marching tomorrow. solidarity!

[Wanted Man]

Video from Groningen: http://www.dvhn.nl/nieuws/dvhn-video/article6602255.ece/%27Nederland-wordt-dommer%27---Studentenprotest-in-Groningen (click "Play" button on the right)

The newspaper that this site belongs to is now reporting that upwards of 2,000 people attended! :thumbup:

Some of the content of the interviews is that several cabinet members spent a long time studying themselves. Prime minister Rutte and vice-PM Verhagen spent 8 and 11 years on their study, respectively. They both studied History (yes, a tough study too :rolleyes:) at the University of Leiden, one of the more posh and right-wing student cities. They did this on the cheap, but now they are part of a government that wants to suck students dry who spend more than the nominal study time plus 1 year. "A little hypocritical", says an organiser.

Students interviewed declare that they are angry and shocked. One of them says he is already considering switching his study, and that this will cost him heavily. No matter if you have good reasons, if you are having personal problems or are disabled, the government makes no exceptions; you will pay through the ass.

The organiser says that the country will most definitely get dumber if these measures pass. If higher education institutions have to pay fines, this money cannot be used to educate students, and this education will have to take place in massive lecture halls with no attention for individual students. He denies that this might be a good measure against "lazy students". Dozens of these have already been passed with little success.

[Lunatic Concept]

Anyone else here going to the main protests in trafalgar square tomorrow? Should be a good turnout :thumbup:

[bailey_187]

Anyone else here going to the main protests in trafalgar square tomorrow? Should be a good turnout :thumbup:

i should be there. im not sure about the turnout being that good though. it seems to be much less publicised than the others and some of the most militant students (atleast at my uni anyway) are still in occupation, and i dont know whats going to be going on with that. we are meeting outside where they are occupying so maybe it will be worked out that a few will stay in occupation while other leave for the demo.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

qpRCDmhhgrg

Aaron Porter, NUS buearacrat backpeddling on the NUS's and his own "lack of support for student activism" recently, but still condeming violence
At least he admitted that the NUS are spineless. But let's hope that students don't fall for his new-Labourite platform.

[bricolage]

Italian students turn Deleuze into a shield.
http://media.cnbc.com/i/CNBC/Sections/News_And_Analysis/_News/_SLIDESHOWS/EuropeanBudgetProtests/SS_europe_austerity_1110_italy2.jpg
http://static.timesofmalta.com/media/serve/20101125--091958-wor_03.jpg

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Nobody needs to 'fall' for Aaron Porter's political maneouvering as he isn't in charge. Like i've said elsewhere, these protests aren't centrally led in any way. The NUS demo may have been the catalyst, but now we have people operating on a university and city-wide level, rather than being led up the garden path by the NUS reformists.

This excites me, it is allowing us lot on the ground to do the things that are appropriate for our local area. Will find out if it works tomorrow, we are scheduled to have 1,000 or so in our city centre. If we get even 50% of that number, it will be a fantastic success for us.

[Quail]

The university of Sheffield have occupied again, in a different building with about 250 students (at its peak) this time. I just went to deliver them some food, and when I left they were in control of the door to the space, which is definitely an improvement on last time. You can still follow it on this (http://sheffieldoccupation.tumblr.com/) website.

[Lyev]

There was a good day of action today in Somerset. I was there, I made a speech (:blushing:) which was quite nerve-wracking since I didn't prepare any notes or anything, and only knew about it last night. Getting 200 restless teenagers sat down in occupation of a shopping centre to listen to your argument is somewhat difficult! But nonetheless, it was a good day. Police presence was massive! I'm not sure about this, but it seems as though the police deliberately target the leaders of a protest to try and break it up - there was one incident where their sergeant confiscated one of the those high-pitched horn things from a guy seemingly at the head of events, with the flimsy rationale that it would "hurt people's ears". As if it was louder than the angry chanting of slogans... anyway, their little chat with him distracted from the speech, and wasted time. I think the next day of national action is a week this friday; well done to all comrades who were involved in stuff today - solidarity!

[bricolage]

Video footage showed protesters entering the Oxford building and walking through corridors before being ejected by police. The Conservative leader of the local authority, Keith Mitchell, said on Twitter: "County Hall invaded by an ugly, badly dressed student rabble. God help us if this is our future."
----

[Red Future]

I was at the Wednesday action in sheffield.There was a small demo outside Nick Cleggs office but I think the snow prevented a large turnout.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

----

Fuckin Guardian scumbags.

[uni]

Up in my home town, Aberdeen. A group of students stormed the local Tory HQ!!! :laugh:

Shame I have chicken pox right now, I would have been there! :(

Cant post the link though! PM for the link if you want it.

[Sasha]

Fuckin Guardian scumbags.

To be fair I think the guardian put that quote in to make a point, not because they agreed with the expressed sentiment.

[ed miliband]

This video seems to be doing the rounds so I'll post it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrgzpPvJxmQ

Future Labour politician right there.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

To be fair I think the guardian put that quote in to make a point, not because they agreed with the expressed sentiment.

Yeah I didn't see it wasn't a direct quote from a Guardian article. Nonetheless they are scumbags.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

This video seems to be doing the rounds so I'll post it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrgzpPvJxmQ

Future Labour politician right there.

So cringey. Those Coalition of Resistance people were being right arseholes on the march, supposedly they thought it was their obligation to lead the march and stop people doing anything out of their comfort zone.

[ed miliband]

So cringey. Those Coalition of Resistance people were being right arseholes on the march, supposedly they thought it was their obligation to lead the march and stop people doing anything out of their comfort zone.

I'm sure they were only doing that to ensure protesters wouldn't miss a speech from Tony Benn / John McDonnell / Jeremy Corbyn. We couldn't have that now, could we?

[Leonid Brozhnev]

Video footage showed protesters entering the Oxford building and walking through corridors before being ejected by police. The Conservative leader of the local authority, Keith Mitchell, said on Twitter: "County Hall invaded by an ugly, badly dressed student rabble. God help us if this is our future."
----

And with narrow minded comments like that, I understand why the present is so fucked up...

[Stranger Than Paradise]

I'm sure they were only doing that to ensure protesters wouldn't miss a speech from Tony Benn / John McDonnell / Jeremy Corbyn. We couldn't have that now, could we?

Oh of course. But once that was out of the question way away from Whitehall they were still leading it, telling people not to run and tactically positioning their banner at the very front of the march as if the whole march was marching under that banner. They held out their arms at one stage to stop people getting past. These arseholes will strangle the movement if we don't reject them. Thankfully this has happened so far, they've struggled to control common sense student resistance.

[Quail]

I was at the Wednesday action in sheffield.There was a small demo outside Nick Cleggs office but I think the snow prevented a large turnout.
I think the snow is also making less people come out to the occupation. Damn snow.

[bricolage]

It has been announced that the parliamentary vote is going to be on the 9th December.
In classic left fashion the NCAFC have declared this D Day whereas EAN have called it Day X... despite the fact they have already had a Day X and a Day X2.

[Lyev]

It has been announced that the parliamentary vote is going to be on the 9th December.
In classic left fashion the NCAFC have declared this D Day whereas EAN have called it Day X... despite the fact they have already had a Day X and a Day X2.Haha, they're so funny with organising dates. There's this patronising New Labour dickhead telling everyone who marched yesterday in our area to wait around for a while (till early february in fact!) until we start another protest, despite the fact that the vote will have already gone through then, by about 2 months. He says that we should wait a while till feb. for the next day of action because his demo has been organised 'properly' and he has alerted the police. :rolleyes:

[bricolage]

This Saturday we get a delightful little jaunt organised by, amongst others, London Young Labour (because it's not like the Labour Party would ever bring in fees...), Compass Youth (Labour Party think tank), Student Broad Left (recuperation tool of the Labour Party and authors of "Acts of violence and vandalism undermine our movement, playing into the hands of the right wing who seek to weaken all demonstrations and resistance to the cuts.").



Protest outside London Lib Dem Conference – Saturday 4th December
Assemble 12noon
Haverstock School, Haverstock Hill, London NW3 2BQ
Nearest tube Chalk Farm
MAP: http://bit.ly/ejufKa
...

SUPPORTED BY
NUS Black Students' Campaign
NUS LGBT Campaign
Compass Youth
London Young Labour
Student Broad Left
Education Activist Network
Please email [email protected] to add your organisation's/Student Union's support.

Before the General Election all Lib Dem MPs promised to vote against any attempt to increase tuition fees.

They now plan to break their promise. There is still time to make them keep their promise.

We are calling this peaceful protest outside the Lib Dem London Conference to demand that all London Lib Dem MPs vote against higher fees:
• Vince Cable
• Simon Hughes
• Sarah Teather
• Paul Burstow
• Tom Brake
• Edward Davey
• Lynne Featherstone

You can also write to your MP directly at www.stopfees.org (http://www.stopfees.org/) - we have provided a model letter to get you started.

The vote on fees will be taking place NEXT THURSDAY (9th December) – this is a key opportunity to put pressure on the Lib Dems – please invite all your friends to this event.