Students Again in England

[Ele'ill]

Some pretty neat photographs- Is shit kicking off again or is this just an updated article?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332811/TUITION-FEES-PROTEST-Students-streets-girls-leading-charge.html

[bricolage]

They are all from Wednesday.

[¿Que?]

Great pics and stuff, but the article is god awful.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Kettling took place for nine hours. The police van you see was left there as a decoy to justify the kettling. As you can see at the top of this picture the model of van that was trashed was an older model:http://www.indymedia.org.uk/images/2010/11/468683.jpg

[durhamleft]

Some pretty neat photographs- Is shit kicking off again or is this just an updated article?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332811/TUITION-FEES-PROTEST-Students-streets-girls-leading-charge.html

there is a follow up national student strike next tuesday (30th)

[Manic Impressive]

It's far from over
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/nov/24/new-leader-union-alliance-of-resistance-cuts

There are a lot of pissed off parents who saw their children assaulted by the police the movement continues to grow

[Ele'ill]

This is pretty exciting.

[TheGeekySocialist]

last week I was part of the organisation of and then the occupation itself at the University of Essex where I study, by taking direct action, we got our VC to address us, he wouldnt meet our demands, so we stayed over night and we will be taking more action in future, this week on tuesday we will march on colchester town hall with sixth form students and trade unionists, we will put forward a motion to support all students who are taking action at our SU General Meeting

we will fight and we will win, the cuts must be stopped, we are just the beggining, the students movement should not stop with education cuts and fee rises that directly affect us, but we shall seek to support and work with the trade unions as they fight the vicous cuts and job losses, this is the time where we must all take a stand against capitalism!

[scourge007]

I'm surprised nothing like this has happened here in California.

[Manic Impressive]

I thought some students from Berkley had fought with the cops? it's probably not been reported our struggles here get barely any attention in the media

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

More action has been planned nationally. I just hope the momentum continues and that the workers start to organize with the students.

This is potentially a very exiting time to be in Britain.

[Sam_b]

Not in an nationalistic sort of way, but I think its important to point out that this is not jsut England. Students in Scotland aren't particularly at risk with this £9000/year fees, but 1000 were out in Glasgow last Wednesday and Edinburgh uni are in occupation. Strathclyde and Glasgow School of Art also saw two brief occupations.

This is to reflect our struggle up north with out own cuts at uni (a couple of million at Glasgow uni alone) and also in solidarity with students in England and Wales. This should be regarded as the rekindling of the student movement across the whole of the UK.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

Not in an nationalistic sort of way, but I think its important to point out that this is not jsut England. Students in Scotland aren't particularly at risk with this £9000/year fees, but 1000 were out in Glasgow last Wednesday and Edinburgh uni are in occupation. Strathclyde and Glasgow School of Art also saw two brief occupations.

This is to reflect our struggle up north with out own cuts at uni (a couple of million at Glasgow uni alone) and also in solidarity with students in England and Wales. This should be regarded as the rekindling of the student movement across the whole of the UK.
I would have never though that it was. Whenever I've visited Scotland (especially Glasgow) I've been impressed by the militancy there. One of the first days I visited Glasgow I saw a march through the city that was the first exposure to political action I had ever seen.

It seems to me that people have a misconception that Scotland is a land filled with nationalism and a craving for independence, where-as it seems that the activism there is much more driven towards unity and social justice, way before nationalism. I may be wrong, but it has to be said that many of my concepts of unity and solidarity come from many of my experiences in Scotland.

Therefore, it doesn't surprise me that Scottish students are at the front of this movement. I'm in the south of England, and we haven't seen any kind of unity or militancy at all. One of the first things I do when I am speaking, when this movement takes off here, is mention the Scottish students and how they are in solidarity with us, and how they set an example to the whole of Britain.

[Sam_b]

Aye I was referring to the title of this thread, but I think your post is spot-on.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

Aye I was referring to the title of this thread, but I think your post is spot-on.
I didn't even notice the title, but I'm glad that you agreed with the post. Apart from anything else, Scotland as a region deserves some recognition, and she will play a role in the upcoming struggle.

[brigadista]

30 nov 2010 student demo in London

fqKkxgGKsj8

[Manic Impressive]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jKvgS7olo&feature=youtu.be (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jKvgS7olo&feature=youtu.be)

[Stranger Than Paradise]

These protests have served to radicalise one of my friends who supported the Lib Dems in the election. Now he's taking about anti-capitalism, violent revolution and self management.

[nuisance]

These protests have served to radicalise one of my friends who supported the Lib Dems in the election. Now he's taking about anti-capitalism, violent revolution and self management.
Well the claiming of space is next logical step once there's a break in the normalacy of everyday live, in order to expand and sustain it- so it's not much of a surprise that your mate is becoming openly influenced by such ideas, great innit! Radicals should try and promote these tactics further, stating the fact that the problem isn't ultimately the cuts, but that there are structures that can implement such legislation over us in the first place. This is atleast one of the reasons why studying a tonne of Marxist theory is bullshit.

[Partizani]

I went to the one yesterday, overall it was good. But towards the end you got the "middle class anarchists" smashing tescos, waterstones and trying to smash the canadian embassy windows. I myself attempted to stop them smashing tescos, only to take a baton to my arm.
I was among those with the large red banner reading "i cant believe its not thatcher".

[Stranger Than Paradise]

I went to the one yesterday, overall it was good. But towards the end you got the "middle class anarchists" smashing tescos, waterstones and trying to smash the canadian embassy windows. I myself attempted to stop them smashing tescos, only to take a baton to my arm.
I was among those with the large red banner reading "i cant believe its not thatcher".

May I ask why you were trying to stop them?

[nuisance]

I went to the one yesterday, overall it was good. But towards the end you got the "middle class anarchists" smashing tescos, waterstones and trying to smash the canadian embassy windows. I myself attempted to stop them smashing tescos, only to take a baton to my arm.
I was among those with the large red banner reading "i cant believe its not thatcher".
Shame you weren't smashed the fuck up, wannabe cop.
Why they middle class anarchists?

[revolution inaction]

I went to the one yesterday, overall it was good. But towards the end you got the "middle class anarchists" smashing tescos, waterstones and trying to smash the canadian embassy windows. I myself attempted to stop them smashing tescos, only to take a baton to my arm.
I was among those with the large red banner reading "i cant believe its not thatcher".

you idiot

[Partizani]

so smashing up tescos is anarchism is it? Oh hey lets take the day of uni and smash tescos, waterstones and attempt to smash the canadian embassy. What is that to achieve if i may ask? NOTHING. It will only alienate the cause from other workers. The one thing that this cause has it a wide range of sympathisers as it effects most people, if we start smashing places up, it will get us no-where. Only scare people away. These "anarchists" taking part in these actions, were no more than guys who came along for a riot, the "ill put a balaclava on, hood up and fuck the state" kind. Trying to get on the news etc, ive seen it too many times. The other week that police van being smashed? they put it there to be smashed, it was a honey trap.
If this is anarchism? then i revoke my sympathies for the anarchist cause as its anti-worker.

[Spawn of Stalin]

And what made you think these anarchists were "middle class"? The fact that they were causing a bit of harmless chaos? Who are the real idiots? The anarchists who were destroying private property, or the "communist" who was trying to stop them? What the fuck gives you the right to tell them what to do? I bet they never tried to stop you from waving your little red flags and telling people to vote Labour. You'd probably snitch on these people given the chance, you CPBers have always been in with the state. Shame on you comrade. People are fucking angry, let them deal with it in whatever way pleases them the most. I'm not middle class and I'm definitely not an anarchist, but I never saw a branch of Tescos that I didn't want to smash up.

[revolution inaction]

If people are more offended that someone broke a few windows than they are that the government is destroying peoples futures/lives then I don't really see want possible use they are.
Can you name one major campaign were government policy was reversed without any violence (counting miner acts of vandalism as violence in this case)


“The argument of the broken window pane is the most valuable argument in modern politics.”

- Emmeline Pankhurst (suffragette)




"There is something that governments care for more than human life, and that is the security of property, and so it is through property that we shall strike the enemy... Those of you who can break windows - break them"
-Emmeline Pankhurst, 1912

[Partizani]

I'm not a member of any political party or organisation, i just happen to sympathise with the communist party more. I like how thats the entire basis of your post. They are angry yes, but destroying places that have absolutely nothing to do with rising uni fees or EMA/ALG being cut makes no sense to me. Doing it during a protest against something completely unconnected, makes the rest of us look like we don't actually care, we just want to smash things up and cause a riot. I agree with the attack at millbank, because thats Tory headquarters, the people in there were not fellow workers.
If they want to smash things up, don't hijack another cause whilst doing it. Have their own protests.

[Spawn of Stalin]

Tesco is a hallmark of capitalism in Britain. Capitalism is the reason students have to pay any fees in the first place and it has a lot more to do with the current protests than the Tories do, because no matter who was in government, we would see a raise in tuition fees. And they are not hijacking anyone's cause, don't be such a damn elitist, they are just as concerned about education and you or I. It's one thing to disagree with the methods used by certain groups of people on the left, but to actually try and stop them, I find that absolutely disgraceful. They are anarchists, that is what they do, and if anything, it's fun to watch. But hey, you play cop if you really want to, just be careful who you go telling what to do.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

Apparently over 150 students were arrested yesterday in the protests.

[Partizani]

Tesco is a hallmark of capitalism in Britain.

Waterstones? the canadian embassy? Yeah im sure these "anarchists" (i use inverted commas because i don't believe these kids had the first idea on anarchism) clearly had that in mind. If there was a co-operative business there, they would have attacked it all the same. They were not politically motivated but out for a riot and to smash things up. The same group who did the smashing, got drunk later on and started trying to fight another protester who "got mouthy". Yeah, i'm sure they were politically motivated.

[bailey_187]

tbh i dont think smashing up Tesco is a good idea, it is likley to piss off a lot of people who just need do their shopping. Maybe a Waitrose or Marks and Spencer would been better.

LOL at trying to stop them tho

[Stranger Than Paradise]

so smashing up tescos is anarchism is it? Oh hey lets take the day of uni and smash tescos, waterstones and attempt to smash the canadian embassy. What is that to achieve if i may ask? NOTHING.

For one it achieves more coverage than an a-b march of any number. But destroying symbols of Capitalism is as valid an act as any. I was there too and I heard people chanting this is capitalism, generally I feel the symoblism that any sensible person would conclude from smashing tesco's was shared by the crowd.


If this is anarchism? then i revoke my sympathies for the anarchist cause as its anti-worker.

Says the person with the George Orwell quote.



If they want to smash things up, don't hijack another cause whilst doing it. Have their own protests.

That typifies the whole ethos of the subordinating left. You're not just talking about not linking these cuts to a wider struggle against capitalism you're talking about not linking education cuts with other cuts.


Waterstones? the canadian embassy? Yeah im sure these "anarchists" (i use inverted commas because i don't believe these kids had the first idea on anarchism) clearly had that in mind. If there was a co-operative business there, they would have attacked it all the same.

What? Like John Lewis? What the fuck has a co-operative business got to do with Anarchism?


They were not politically motivated but out for a riot and to smash things up. The same group who did the smashing, got drunk later on and started trying to fight another protester who "got mouthy". Yeah, i'm sure they were politically motivated.

Ok then. Remember, it was snowing on Tuesday, if that's your only motivation are you gonna trudge into central London in sludgy subzero conditions?

[Eastside Revolt]

As a working class "Canadian" I would like to express full and firm support with those smashing the KKKanadian embassy!

[Manic Impressive]

Just want to say Tesco are one of the largest participating businesses in this getting people back to work thing where they hire unemployed workers for nothing. If they don't go their benefits are cut, it's forced labour and it has a taste of slavery about it. It also has a double effect of keeping workers unemployed as they have people doing the job for nothing.

This makes them more than a valid target for me.

The Canadians have recently bought the South eastern rail network which means Canadians are now controlling the prices and profiting from the communters who come into London every day.

That is obviously a protest against that

And finally Waterstones...............well they did stock Tony Blairs autobiography :D

[nuisance]

Looks like Partizani is a little gobshite.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Question, i noticed that at almost every protest in europe, people have road flares. is there any meaning to it besides its admittedly bad-ass look?

ive noticed this for almost every struggle in europe recently.

[Sasha]

30 nov 2010 student demo in London

fqKkxgGKsj8


every time i see this flimsy lines of english cops i wonder why people just dont push through, i mean, offcourse you'll get hit and those english coppers have telescope battons wich hurt as fuck, but these lines seem very able to be pushed aside with any serious amount of willing people.
if you can, wear shinpads on your lower arm below your jacket to protect yourself.

[Eastside Revolt]

Question, i noticed that at almost every protest in europe, people have road flares. is there any meaning to it besides its admittedly bad-ass look?

ive noticed this for almost every struggle in europe recently.

There was also one in Toronto at the G20, just before the break-off march occurred.

The purpose though? I don't know!

[Rusty Shackleford]

i kinda like the idea of them though, they seem to make things feel more energetic.

[Sasha]

its mostly specialFX (i.e. it looks badass and gets your fellow demmonstrators hyped and cops intimidated) but i have seen them too being flung at cops or to set fire to copcars

[Ele'ill]

Flares are a go but for future reference ditch the fucking fireworks- nobody knows how to use one and people within the bloc end up getting hit with it

[nuisance]

Question, i noticed that at almost every protest in europe, people have road flares. is there any meaning to it besides its admittedly bad-ass look?

ive noticed this for almost every struggle in europe recently.
This sort of thing and smoke are starting to be used in the UK, most notably on the Millbank demo and areas with more confrontational anarchist groups. The smoke also gives cover.

[The Guy]

These are becoming more common than you can imagine. Each week the students are holding rallies with thousands attending; kids are walking out of school, college and university, some even camping there until action is taken; and there are more protests to come in the next few weeks until the final decision.

Plus, the amount of anarchists, communists and left-wingers in general attending these things are insane. Just watch the videos and look at the pictures. There are scores of red flags flying high, anarchist-symbols and revolutionaries in general. Why do you suddenly become a ***** once you reach adulthood, I wonder?

Don't doubt these guys: http://anticuts.org.uk/

[bricolage]

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek police fired teargas on Thursday in clashes with protesting university students and at least three demonstrators were injured, Reuters witnesses said. Over 1,000 students tried to break through a police cordon to march to the British embassy in Athens, in solidarity with British students who oppose plans to increase tuition fees, and against austerity and education reforms in Greece.
Protesters carried a banner reading, in English: "Solidarity to the struggle of British students." The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in Britain plans to almost triple tuition fees to up to 9,000 pounds a year.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6B12WS20101202

[Manic Impressive]

oh man imagine if we could do a march that covered the greek, french and irish embassies that would be awesome.

[pastradamus]

Great to see and fair play to the UK students for keeping the ball rolling.
I was at a protest yesterday here in Cork City, there was about 3,000 student. It would have been much more if information wasn't circulating around the colleges saying that the protest was off.

[bricolage]

http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/3.jpg

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

I posted this in the Practice section, not realising there was a thread already here:


From Lenin's Tomb:


The parliamentary vote on tuition fees is scheduled to take place on 9th December, folks. Roll up, roll up, come one, come all - that's the day to be on the streets raising hell. I spent the afternoon talking to the very pleasant and thoughtful students occupying at UEL. The sense that we can win it, that we're in it to win, not merely to protest, is palpable. We can break this government. Look at them retreating already. Lib Dems talking about 'abstaining' on a policy devised by their own government. Cable saying he will abstain for the sake of 'party unity' - as if he isn't scared of his party members finding a spine between them and chucking the Orange Book crowd out of the leadership. The government saying they will delay the introduction of changes to Housing Benefit. Look at Ed Miliband in the Evening Standard today, trying to hitch a ride on the back of the student protests.

This movement is already leading, forcing others to adapt, and leaving those who don't adapt eating the dust trails - and in its present form it's only a few weeks old. Imagine what it can do if it keeps growing, and keeps going. Imagine what it can do in coalition with the organised labour movement. And that's something to think about, by the way, if you're a public sector worker facing the sack. These students can shake things up this much in such a short space of time. They've shown that militancy, commitment, imagination and tactical flexibility can do wonders. Trade unions have operated cautiously, conservatively for some time, based on a pessimistic meta-induction from the outcome of the miners' strike, which says that the militancy never wins. But the workers have the power to bring this country to a standstill. The workers have the power to break this government if they want to. The workers have the power to put an end to a system that rewards bankers and spivs, and punishes the people that keep this country going.

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-x-3.html


Tuesday, November 30, 2010

I was just walking down to Aldwych to get the bus, thinking I might drop in on the protest in Trafalgar square and see how it was going, when suddenly I heard a loud roar and saw a stream of protesters coming down from Kingsway. That's Britain for you these days. You can't go anywhere without walking into a protest. Police were forming a line to try to gently guide the protesters back down the Strand and toward Trafalgar Square, but they were having none of it. They pushed through the cordon and suddenly thousands of protesters were dashing toward Fleet Street, laughing and cheering. I caught up with some of them and asked what was happening.

They told me that marches from a number of different universities had congregated near Oxford Street, proceeded toward Trafalgar Square and parliament, then - noticing the vast numbers of police vans and riot squad gathered in anticipation like a big neon spider's web - had decided to go off on an ad hoc tour across the city to escape being kettled. So I joined them. We first made our way to the City, marching and dashing, blocking roads and roundabouts, up to St Paul's cathedral, then to the Barbican, and beyond. Police were stretched thin, and only a small number kept up with us to keep an eye on the situation. Cries went up, formless hollering, cheering, whistling, slogans: "Students and workers, unite and fight!", "Tory scum!", "Nick Clegg, shame on you, shame on you for turning blue!" And so on. Bus drivers tooted, and office workers cheered. A lot of them were amazed to see us dashing helter skelter around their office buildings, as we deliberately took the march through some of the more obscure back streets as well as the main roads. We got a few taxi drivers cheering us on, and a few others driving a bit too aggressively into the rear end of the protest. As a rule, the more expensive the car, the more eager they were to be getting a bloody move on, and the more frustrated they were that they couldn't simply drive over this proletarian scum.

We marched back toward Bank with the intention of going to Trafalgar Square. I had received a few messages warning of the pre-emptive 'kettle' set up at Trafalgar Square, as I'm sure others had. Some of the protesters discussed what to do about this. I think the decision was to see what was happening, so we marched back in that direction anyway, not completely sure of our intentions. There was the possibility of dropping in on the occupation at KCL. On the way to Trafalgar Square, though, City police blocked the road suddenly with armoured vehicles. Christ knows what they were doing. Anxious to retain our liberty, we took evasive measures, running down a side-street toward Embankment. Police were rather put out by this simple tactic, having failed to anticipate that protesters could move in three dimensions. More tooting horns and yells of support came our way as we surged onto the Victoria Embankment and charged back toward the Strand. A cabbie with a wealthy couple sitting uncomfortably in the back applauded enthusiastically and pounded his fist in the air. There's a surprising number of people who like nothing more than the site of a good protest.

The set up as we got to Trafalgar Square was glaringly apparent. Police vans blocked off Whitehall, Pall Mall, and Charing Cross road, and a fleet of vehicles - including the aforementioned armoured vans - started to move in behind us. Row upon row of riot cops stood with a curious mixture of boredom and tension etched on their faces, expectantly fingering their riot helmets. They were waiting for something to happen, to justify the kettle, to start . But they had missed the point. The protesters had been marching across the capital for hours - cheerfully blocking roads, touring byways, bringing the message to workplaces and shops, and basically avoiding all attempts to shut down, kettle and freeze the protest into frightened timidity. There was nothing more for the police to do, as they had already been completely out-witted, out-paced and out-manouevred. And yet... well, wouldn't you know it? Hundreds of students are being kettled in Trafalgar Square even now in freezing temperatures. There's no reason for this. They haven't done anything illegal, hurt anyone or damaged anything. They certainly didn't 'riot'. But the police are exacting revenge, punishing the protesters. This is what kettling is for.

Across the country, though, the same combination of militancy and spontaneity has prevailed. In Cardiff, protesters occupied Lloyds TSB, then Vodafone, then staged a sit-down at a main junction. Thousands have marched through Brighton and Bristol, and school students occupied Oxford County hall. In Aberdeen, protesters took over the Conservative Association's headquarters. In Birmingham, they turned up at the council chamber and a number of students got in and occupied. In Belfast, Queen's University went into occupation. In Cambridge, school pupils and sixth formers staged a sit-down in the shopping centre. In Leeds, hundreds of students occupied again, although police have turned up to evict them again. In York, hundreds of protesters tried to storm the council chamber but, blocked by police, blockaded the main bridge instead. And so on, and on. More protests, more occupations, and the momentum behind this anti-cuts movement refuses to die down, even in the freezing cold and the miserable snow and sleet. And no one who has anything to do with these cuts can relax and think the movement won't bother them. If you're a town hall, a Vodafone outlet, a bank, a Tory HQ, a Lib Dem HQ, anywhere in the country, there's a protest, a sit-down strike, or an occupation with your name on it.

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/11/day-x-2.html

Also check out:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/30/lewisham-anti-cuts-protesters

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=23218

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=23238

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Latest videos of anti-cuts demos:

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/12/protests-target-tax-avoiding-corporate.html

Background here:

http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/targets

[Spawn of Stalin]

Will there be many people on the 9th? I am in London that day anyway so I am wondering if it is worth going down early for this? CPGB-ML comrades in London may be attending so I will probably end up going anyway oh well.

[Lyev]

Will there be many people on the 9th? I am in London that day anyway so I am wondering if it is worth going down early for this? CPGB-ML comrades in London may be attending so I will probably end up going anyway oh well.I am 95% sure the NSSN released a statement that they fully support the demo; everyone is saying students are leading the anti-cuts movement now and whatnot. I think it should quite quite big (bigger than the 10th, which was ~52k?), but I am not sure. At any rate, the size of the protest will be somewhat bolstered by the attendence of workers and trade-unionists. I am thinking because it is such a long ride for some people, it may be easier to just take part in local action. However, I am hoping that my college will do a coach up; the hardest part is just persuading people to come!

[Spawn of Stalin]

Depending on where you live you might be able to get a Megabus to London, it's very cheap if you book early enough, I haven't taken the train for years and never end up paying more than a fiver return (from Coventry - over 100 miles away from London). I know the demo is less than a week away but if you can't get enough people for a private coach it is something worth thinking about.

[Manic Impressive]

I always wondered what my union fees got spent on


A leading union today set up a £20 million fund to fight "savage" Government cuts in public spending, including money for possible industrial action.
Unison said the money will be spent on national campaigning and on regional rallies, demonstrations and other events.
General secretary Dave Prentis said the £20 million was "serious money for serious times", adding: "We are facing the biggest onslaught against our members, and the services they provide, in our history. We are determined to use this money to help our members on the ground to fight for jobs and services.
"We are sending out a clear message to the coalition Government that we will not stand by and see our public services devastated, without putting up a fight.
"The money will be used to step up campaigning and to help our branches and regions combat savage cuts to jobs and services in their local communities.
"Unison members are angry and frustrated that this Government has refused to look at any of many viable alternatives to cutting public services."
I'm glad they are being spent wisely
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/20m-union-fund-to-fight-spending-cuts-2154477.html

[Sentinel]

Great pics and stuff, but the article is god awful.

Well, it's from the 'Daily Heil'. I find it incredible that the newspaper still exists, despite being pro-fascist and nazi before WWII.

Indeed, great pics -- I'm getting a 'deja vu' from the G20 protests in Australia 2006, which I attended. My solidarity with the students in their effort to oppose increasing the class clefts further in the field of education.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/12/student-movement-is-prising-apart.html

http://solomonsmindfield.blogspot.com/

[bricolage]

No idea if this will actually happen...


EVERYONE TO THE STREETS // CALL TO SUPPORT THE PADDED "BOOK BLOC" // 09.12.10

The storming of Mill bank was instrumental in breaking what many politicians and establishment elite thought was unbreakable - the apathy of an entire generation whose neatly constructed futures as passive student, happy consumer and compliant worker had already been speculated on. As the windows of Mill bank tower were crashing to the ground, and as wave upon wave of students piled into the smart marble foyer, the thousands did more than deviate from the days aim they took action against a symbol of the oppressive structures at the heart of government. This was more than a response to tuition fees and the cuts in the EMA, this was a collective realisations that the social conflicts, conveniently managed through ever more complex schemes, had failed to prevent this.

After Mill bank, the usual strategy of blaming 'anarchists? was paraded in the mainstream press, but rather than a small group inciting the crowd, the real spectre haunting ?austerity capitalism? is direct action - and the idea has caught on fast.

The occupations have become a staple feature of the last few weeks, many have taken on the form of assemblies working and self-organising through direct democratic and consensus decision making. Far from being "anti-democratic" forms of action, there is nothing undemocratic about taking what is already ours through direct action on the streets, universities and workplaces. As the job losses and service cuts begin to bite, more and more people are realising that what is really undemocratic is a government run by and for the rich. Where the combined income of government ministers estimated to be atleast £50m (18 out of 23 are millionaires ), with over £25 billion in tax avoidance by the super rich.

This generation is beginning to no longer be willing to remain silent, no longer submitting to a future of debt and exploitation, engaging themselves in the decisions effecting their lives. This movement is leaderless, autonomous, confrontational and creative - far from a weakness it is its underlining strength.

Here at the start of the biggest fight in decades we endorse direct action, not just on Thursday's march but everywhere. By taking action together we can turn this battle to disrupt their attack on us into our attack. A concerted attack to transform rather than maintain the status quo.

We will therefore physically join the call for a padded ?Book Bloc? so as to the ensure necessary steps to defend ourselves and those around us should the police decide to violently attack. We see the act of collectivity as the basis of solidarity which to us is more than just empty words but a weapon we can use against those forces which act to control and dominant our lives.

We will be with you all on the streets.

11am ULU. Malet Street, Join us near the "Book Bloc"

Anarchist & Student Assembly of London, 6th December 2010

[TheGeekySocialist]

tomorrow in London is gonna be huge, not only are there gonna be at least 15,000 students there, but workers and trade unionists too :cool:

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/12/can-government-lose.html

[RedAnarchist]

The first vote just went though, the ayes won with a majority of 21. The second one is probably likely to also go through.

The first vote was to raise tuition fees up to a maximum of £9000. The second is regarding the possibility of raising the minimum to £6000.

The second also passed with the same majority.

[Comrade Wolfie's Very Nearly Banned Adventures]

Well now I'm depressed. Time to leave the country so my son can go to uni.

[Quail]

The first vote just went though, the ayes won with a majority of 21. The second one is probably likely to also go through.

The first vote was to raise tuition fees up to a maximum of £9000. The second is regarding the possibility of raising the minimum to £6000.

The second also passed with the same majority.
Thanks for the update... How depressing though.
We have to keep fighting these cuts though.

[RedAnarchist]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11566509 (live video only available in UK AFAIK).

The BBC keep mentioning anarchist groups, as if all the violent protestors must all be those nasty, dangerous hardline lefties.:rolleyes:

[Quail]

It's always those damn violent anarchists... As if the average person could get angry enough to want to smash shit up :rolleyes:

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

As I type, Sky News is carrying live pictures of the Prince of Wales's car, which was attacked an hour or so earlier with the Prince and his wife, Camilla, inside. It had been paint bombed, and the bullet-proof windows nearly smashed in. Top Shop outlets in central London (owned by that 'alleged' tax dodger, Philip Green) have been attacked, and protesters nearly smashed their way into the Treasury and the Supreme Court. There are also reports of sporadic attacks across London, which the police can't contain.

Earlier, the students had smashed through police lines, occupied Parliament Square, and repulsed a mounted Police charge.

[brigadista]

police officer on BBC practically begging people to call their relatives and friends to tell them to go home!!! lol

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Indeed. Earlier in the day, that police woman (a senior officer, too) had been quite cocky, assertive, and confident. By the evening, she was defensive and clearly quite shaken. Her appeal to people to call anyone they knew in the crowd and ask them to desist was an inadvertent admisson that they weren't in control of events.

Quite the reverse, in fact; at one point the students were 'kettling' the police!

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

BBC News is now showing still photos of the Prince and Camilla with shocked expressions on their faces as their car is trashed with them inside. Camera phone footage also shows students kicking the car.

Here's one from the BBC website:

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/50370000/jpg/_50370363_princecharlesandcamilla.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11954333

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

More pictures here:

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/12/more-day-x-4-pictures.html

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-x-4.html

[Ele'ill]

I'm so excited right now that I stopped shivering (and I just can't hide it)




http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/50370000/jpg/_50370363_princecharlesandcamilla.jpg


I have a feeling that there's going to be more of these expressions in the very near future. For those on the forum that are involved- stay fierce and keep the pressure on!

[RedAnarchist]

Indeed. Earlier in the day, that police woman (a senior officer, too) had been quite cocky, assertive, and confident. By the evening, she was defensive and clearly quite shaken. Her appeal to people to call anyone they know in the crowd and ask them to desist was an inadvertent admisson that they weren't in control of events.

Quite the reverse, in fact; at one point the students were 'kettling' the police!

I heard her slip up on BBC News earlier - she said that the police provoked the violence, before quickly correcting herself. Whether that was due to her being shaken or not I don't know, but it was funny.

[RedAnarchist]

As for Parliament Square, I wonder what that place looks like right now, or what it'll look like in the morning.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I fucking love the expression on Charles and Camilla's faces:lol::lol:

'Oh no, what's this, common people?'

[Sasha]

I fucking love the expression on Charles and Camilla's faces:lol::lol:

'Oh no, what's this, common people?'

if ever any picture was worthy of the capture "let them eat cake".... :lol:

[Wanted Man]

every time i see this flimsy lines of english cops i wonder why people just dont push through, i mean, offcourse you'll get hit and those english coppers have telescope battons wich hurt as fuck, but these lines seem very able to be pushed aside with any serious amount of willing people.
if you can, wear shinpads on your lower arm below your jacket to protect yourself.

I think people took your advice today, except that they simply used a battering ram. :thumbup:

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Red:


As for Parliament Square, I wonder what that place looks like right now, or what it'll look like in the morning.

Like shit, apparently.


'Oh no, what's this, common people?'

'The peasant's are revolting...!' http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-scared004.gif

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Video:

axWyu1t4rkE

[F9]

The first vote just went though, the ayes won with a majority of 21. The second one is probably likely to also go through.

The first vote was to raise tuition fees up to a maximum of £9000. The second is regarding the possibility of raising the minimum to £6000.

The second also passed with the same majority.

Holy fuck:(:thumbdown::mad: Goodbye studies in the UK... Fucking politicians and capitalists.:rolleyes:

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

More pictures:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11962415

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Phone footage of attack on Royals:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11954333

[Who?]

It's good to see this sort of action taking place in the UK (a country not exactly known for its student radicalism in recent years), it gives me hope for the current situation here in USA.

[t.shonku]

Some pretty neat photographs- Is shit kicking off again or is this just an updated article?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332811/TUITION-FEES-PROTEST-Students-streets-girls-leading-charge.html


Freaking awesome article you found there, with freaking awesome pics:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[Eastside Revolt]

I'm so excited right now that I stopped shivering (and I just can't hide it)



I have a feeling that there's going to be more of these expressions in the very near future. For those on the forum that are involved- stay fierce and keep the pressure on!

Diddo!!!

[Eastside Revolt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRKcPZt61SQ

Best footage I've seen!

[Yazman]

I stayed up all night watching live feeds of the protests. They even broke into the treasury at one point, they were breaking into the supreme court, a whole tonne of shit was going down. It looked awesome.

[Magón]

So nobody's lit any treasuries or anything on fire yet? :(

[Rocky Rococo]

I understand that as they whacked at Charles's limo, the students were chanting "Off with their heads!" We haven't heard that kind of talk in a while.

BTW, all to the good that the media and the elite are blaming the "anarchists"; at least some percentage of the newly energized student activists will say to themselves, "well does that mean I'm an anarchist, then?" Likely the first time such a thought had ever occurred to them.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Tesco is a hallmark of capitalism in Britain. Capitalism is the reason students have to pay any fees in the first place and it has a lot more to do with the current protests than the Tories do, because no matter who was in government, we would see a raise in tuition fees. And they are not hijacking anyone's cause, don't be such a damn elitist, they are just as concerned about education and you or I. It's one thing to disagree with the methods used by certain groups of people on the left, but to actually try and stop them, I find that absolutely disgraceful. They are anarchists, that is what they do, and if anything, it's fun to watch. But hey, you play cop if you really want to, just be careful who you go telling what to do.
Not to come off sounding dumb, but what exactly is Tesco?

[Manic Impressive]

Not to come off sounding dumb, but what exactly is Tesco?
Biggest chain of supermarkets in the UK

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

What an awesome day! I hope the momentum keeps up and the movement continues to grow, people didn't look like they were gonna go home and forget about it all yesterday.

And the police got a right kicking when the kettle started to boil :).

[People's War]

We have to fight now because once they've done ruining the education system, they're coming for everyone else next. We need to overthrow the government now.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

More footage of attack on UK Royals:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11969030

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Police violence:

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/12/police-violence-last-night.html

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Here's a direct link to the video posted by Eastside above:

PRKcPZt61SQ

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

More on the cops:

http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=7335


But it didn't actually go down like that. Most of those protesters who did end up in direct combat with the cops are, as Paul Mason points out, working class sixteen and seventeen year olds from Britain's banlieues. They are not the committed anarchists that the law and order mob are braying about, and they were not resented by other protesters. More worryingly for the police, when they did attempt to baton charge, they were often effectively resisted. Using whatever ad hoc instruments were at their disposal, large numbers of protesters physically out-manouevred police on numerous occasions. Sometimes, for example, they used the same crowd control barriers that were intended to pen them to push back ranks of baton-wielding, helmeted and shielded riot police. And when the police attacked people, they often fought back. They were not cowed, despite the physically imposing stature and superior weaponry of the cops, and despite the horrifying record of the Territorial Support Group. So, far from protesters blaming a small minority of troublemakers for the violence, they are almost unanimous in reporting that the police engineered the violence. And because the police didn't get it all their own way, the FT's [Financial Times -- RL] headline today was: "Police lose control of street protests".

Now the language of the 'mob' is back in vogue, and the prospect of lethal violence against protesters cheerfully bruited. Now the state is worried that the protests have started to be effective, and might become even more effective in future. Now they're worried about what might be unleashed. The technologies of repression and containment need to be updated for an age when it isn't as easy to fabricate a serious division among protesters, between cunning manipulators and a gulled majority. The government is having to play a game of catch-up. It introduced 16% cuts to policing in its spending review, suggesting that it anticipated a relatively easy ride over the cuts, and that it wouldn't need the particular loyalty of police departments. And if these protests were flash-in-the-pan, localised, and self-contained, that calculation might have a modicum of realism to it. But they have proven to be anything but. They have accelerated, and spread, and added new energy and vigour to every anti-cut campaign, every left-wing party and coalition, every meeting and rally in the country. Now a Conservative leadership that hasn't had a serious fight on its hands since the early-to-mid Nineties is having to run to the police for help, and I suspect that means the police are about to get a lot of new powers and perhaps a relief in some of the cuts coming their way....

We are now in a situation where the ruling classes are uneasily realigning their forces, scrutinising their techniques of dominance, restless about their ability to hold the line in the new situation. Meanwhile we are coming out of a generation that has spent many years going through defeats, and only occasional and partial victories, and we are trying to find out what works and what does not. Listening to protesters, you hear people say that the lesson of the last decade is that the tactic of the big march and rally didn't work, even with over a million people and more in attendance. The media spectaculars didn't work either, even with Snoop Dogg in attendance. So now people are trying out occupations, sit-down protests, flash-mobs, and other forms of disruptive protest. They are learning what their legal position is if they do protest, and if they're arrested. They're learning how to handle the press. The question of what kinds of industrial action is most effective looms over us again. The one day general strike? Sustained, indefinite walk-outs by strategically important groups of workers? Recurring strikes of lengthening duration? And what kind of picketing is effective? How to handle the media and the police? What to accept in negotiations? And so on. The mob is re-learning, applying and reinventing the principles of democracy. And the law is having once again to prepare itself to resist the threat of democracy.

From here:

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-am-mob.html

a8ZvZG_dYvQ

[Meridian]

http://i.imgur.com/4dRGc.png

[Ele'ill]

Get those animals off those horses

[Sasha]

Over here we chant "een politie paard zijn lul zit op zijn rug" (a cophorse's cock sits on its back)

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Whitechapel Anarchist Group were just on the Channel 4 news.

[TheGeekySocialist]

it was crazy, seriously, the kettle was stupid, they were stopping people leaving and they wouldnt tell us how to get away from there, when people tried to surge through it, I got pushed almost into a ruddy ditch ffs, whats worse is that all the damn government and media care about is the car of the aristocract scum, what about the protesters in hospital? nope, they are barely mentioned, heaven forfend someone hurt the royal fucking rolls royce though...

[kragura]

Sadly it seems (at least in my area) that this has turned against us apart from photo comparison between this and profoundly anarchist protests, can anyone find me proof that students are taking part as well?

[Sasha]

how do you mean?
http://www.dollarvigilante.com/storage/2010-12-december/free%20school.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=12896 25284010
does this look like seasond anarchists?

not every one that smashed an cop car with an hoody and an scarf over his face is an anarchist, maybe they are just smart...

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

Whitechapel Anarchist Group were just on the Channel 4 news.
I read a publication of theirs the other day, it was awesome.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

whats worse is that all the damn government and media care about is the car of the aristocract scum.

But you have to expect this at every juncture. The media will ALWAYS (as a whole, Penny Red for the New Statesmen has written some good articles) protect the state and the Capitalist class. Which is why it is so useless to try and pander to them by promoting non-violent protest, diluting your message etc.


I read a publication of theirs the other day, it was awesome.

The paper they produce is really good.


how do you mean?

does this look like seasond anarchists?

not every one that smashed an cop car with an hoody and an scarf over his face is an anarchist, maybe they are just smart...

Definitely. It's really fucking annoying what has happened the past few weeks, the BBC and Evening Standard have both said the Wombles (who don't exist anymore) and the Whitechapel Anarchist Group are behind the violence at the last demo. The Daily Mail has also claimed that it was Anarchists who attacked the royal car. The Guardian also claimed that Anarchists snuck out of the kettle and left everyone else to freeze. I know I was there freezing my arse off with everyone else to the end and I saw black flags and red and black flags behind me. It's good in a way because it gets exposure and I don't think negative exposure is necessarily bad. The number of Anarchists in the UK as a whole is enough to refute claims that it was Anarchists behind the direct action of the last protest.

[Ravachol]

Definitely. It's really fucking annoying what has happened the past few weeks, the BBC and Evening Standard have both said the Wombles (who don't exist anymore) and the Whitechapel Anarchist Group are behind the violence at the last demo. The Daily Mail has also claimed that it was Anarchists who attacked the royal car. The Guardian also claimed that Anarchists snuck out of the kettle and left everyone else to freeze. I know I was there freezing my arse off with everyone else to the end and I saw black flags and red and black flags behind me. It's good in a way because it gets exposure and I don't think negative exposure is necessarily bad. The number of Anarchists in the UK as a whole is enough to refute claims that it was Anarchists behind the direct action of the last protest.

The Media will always look for 'forces working behind the scenes', both in order to discredit protest as not being 'genuine' and in order to get a juicy story about scary subversive conspiracies. Another reason seems to be because somehow they can't fanthom the possiblity that there can be spontaneous,violent working class anger without crook-nosed, top-hatted anarchist agitators working behind the scenes, 'directing' it all.

[TheGeekySocialist]

Sadly it seems (at least in my area) that this has turned against us apart from photo comparison between this and profoundly anarchist protests, can anyone find me proof that students are taking part as well?

proof that students are taking part as well?????????????

it mainly was students on the protest thank you, loads and loads of us were there, only a few who werent in fact!

@strangerthanparadise

I know, its just damn annoying is all, and yeah, Laurie Penny's articles are almost always great, shame there is only one of her and shit loads of the other morons

[Stranger Than Paradise]

The Media will always look for 'forces working behind the scenes', both in order to discredit protest as not being 'genuine' and in order to get a juicy story about scary subversive conspiracies. Another reason seems to be because somehow they can't fanthom the possiblity that there can be spontaneous,violent working class anger without crook-nosed, top-hatted anarchist agitators working behind the scenes, 'directing' it all.

Not that they can't fathom it's just the notion of real working class people not affiliated to the left are mainly the make up of these protests is much more dangerous.

[brigadista]

in case you haven't seen it before i will put the link up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/paulmason/

While a good half of the march was undergraduates from the most militant college occupations - UCL, SOAS, Leeds, Sussex - the really stunning phenomenon, politically, was the presence of youth: bainlieue-style youth from Croydon, Peckam, the council estates of Islington.

EMA students have most to lose and they are VERY angry
however i dont know why journalists have to use words like "bainlieue" i had to look it up...why not just say suburbs?

[IndependentCitizen]

Sussex uni? Their occupation was a disaster even they admitted it. The Brighton uni occupation lasted 2 weeks and was still going strong when they decided to come out of occupation on the 9th..

[TheGeekySocialist]

in case you haven't seen it before i will put the link up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/paulmason/

While a good half of the march was undergraduates from the most militant college occupations - UCL, SOAS, Leeds, Sussex - the really stunning phenomenon, politically, was the presence of youth: bainlieue-style youth from Croydon, Peckam, the council estates of Islington.

EMA students have most to lose and they are VERY angry
however i dont know why journalists have to use words like "bainlieue" i had to look it up...why not just say suburbs?

the media use words like that when they dont want most people to know what they mean.

and yeah, they were sixth formers on the protest with us (uni students), they are if anything more active than most uni students, which is fair enough as its gonna affect them directly.

[Ninel]

Sussex uni? Their occupation was a disaster even they admitted it. The Brighton uni occupation lasted 2 weeks and was still going strong when they decided to come out of occupation on the 9th..
Occupation? Please explain what happens, it makes me think that the students took over the university.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Brigadista:


however i dont know why journalists have to use words like "bainlieue" i had to look it up...why not just say suburbs?

That word is also employed on the left to connect up with disaffected youth in France. It's no worse than 'proletariat' -- another non-English term.

[Quail]

The banlieue isn't really suburbs in the sense of the suburbs in the UK. It's more like terrible, run down estates, like the one in La Haine.

[Old Man Diogenes]

Great pics and stuff, but the article is god awful.

If you're not familiar with the Mail, it's like the modern-day equivalent of Der Stürmer.

[Sasha]

The banlieue isn't really suburbs in the sense of the suburbs in the UK. It's more like terrible, run down estates, like the one in La Haine.


i think hightower councel estates in engeland do bear a lot of resembelance to the banlieues, they are only not as cut off from the actual city

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Red Robin:


If you're not familiar with the Mail, it's like the modern-day equivalent of Der Stürmer.

In fact, it was a cheerleader for the Blackshirts back in the 1930s:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2005/apr/23/featuresreviews.guardianreview5

http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/freeearth/fe1_britain.html


According to the 'Daily Mail' of the 15th of January 1934, the British Union of Fascists was:


"a well organised party of the right ready to take over responsibility for national affairs with the same directness of purpose and energy of method as Hitler and Mussolini have displayed"

Writing in the 'Daily Mail' of the 25th of April 1934, Colonel Thomas Moore, a Conservative M.P. pointed out that:


"Surely there cannot be any fundamental difference of outlook between the Blackshirts and their parents, the Conservatives"

Rothermore also expressed support for Germany's Nazi movement. Consider the following from the 'Daily Mail' of September 24th 1930:


"These young Germans have discovered, as I am glad to note the young men and women of England are discovering, that it is no good trusting to the old politicians. Accordingly they have formed, as I would like to see our British youth form, a Parliamentary party of their own. . . We can do nothing to check this movement [the Nazi's] and I believe it would be a blunder for the British people to take up an attitude of hostility towards it. . . We must change our conception of Germany. . .The older generation of Germans were our enemies. Must we make enemies of this younger generation too?"

In November 1933 he wrote that:


"The sturdy young Nazi's are Europe's guardians against the Communist danger"

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2010/12/no-confidence.html

[bricolage]

i think hightower councel estates in engeland do bear a lot of resembelance to the banlieues, they are only not as cut off from the actual city
But I think being cut off is part of what defines the banlieues, its this which makes them the 'periphery' but geographically and socially. When you look at estates in London for example, while the deprivation might be the same, the situation is one of run down areas closely bordering affluent ones. So Peckham is next to Dulwich, Lewisham is next to Blackheath and so forth. These spatial dynamics actually create a very different context.

[Manic Impressive]

Message of solidarity from Germany
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=23444

[An archist]

in case you haven't seen it before i will put the link up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/paulmason/

While a good half of the march was undergraduates from the most militant college occupations - UCL, SOAS, Leeds, Sussex - the really stunning phenomenon, politically, was the presence of youth: bainlieue-style youth from Croydon, Peckam, the council estates of Islington.

EMA students have most to lose and they are VERY angry
however i dont know why journalists have to use words like "bainlieue" i had to look it up...why not just say suburbs?

"dubstep rebellion"
I like it:cool:

[Joe Payne]

Well suburbs and banlieues are different. A suburb is a section outside the cities made up of high income folks, mostly professionsals, managers, and other agents of capital along with some well paid workers. Banlieues are sections outside the cities that are made up of poor and not well paid workers. Also suburbs generally exist in the United States and Banlieues more so in Europe.

So I'd say that's why they say Banlieue, in a European context it makes sense.

[Rosa Lichtenstein]

Check this out:

tQLOj_-lyZI

[F9]

QUESTION:I was told something few days ago that i am not sure if its true.I was planning getting to UK this september but with new fees my plans have changed, however i was told that if i get this september the fees will remain to the old standards, and the fees will only change to new students coming after 2012.Thats not what i understood but i could be wrong.Anyone to inform me 1000%?

[ed miliband]

QUESTION:I was told something few days ago that i am not sure if its true.I was planning getting to UK this september but with new fees my plans have changed, however i was told that if i get this september the fees will remain to the old standards, and the fees will only change to new students coming after 2012.Thats not what i understood but i could be wrong.Anyone to inform me 1000%?

Yeah, people starting university this September (2011) will not be affected by the fee rise; students starting in September 2012 will be.

We're the lucky ones, eh?

[revolution inaction]

I think the new fees only apply to students from the uk anyway, your best off asking the university your planing to go to.

[Rooster]

They should have used pikes against the mounted police. That would have been a laugh. Oh well, there's always next time.

[F9]

Yeah, people starting university this September (2011) will not be affected by the fee rise; students starting in September 2012 will be.

We're the lucky ones, eh?

Really?:DThats great news:) That means back on planning:thumbup1:


I think the new fees only apply to students from the uk anyway, your best off asking the university your planing to go to.


I have no idea where i am going to :p I was planning simply going anywhere they take me heh. Lately though manchester seems to be my number 1 choice:)

[El Rojo]

@fuser, bristol has a very good activist scene and slightly nicer weather

[Partizani]

This Saturday. There was due to be one today, but i'm not to sure how that one got on.
I only know the details of the London one:
ROUTE:

Meet at 12noon ULU (Malet Street)

- Kingsway
- Aldwych
- Strand
- Trafalgar Square
- Parliament Sq

Rally at Millbank
NOTE: This is the "agreed" route with the cops. Of course if the cops are like how they were on the last one, it wont go as planned.

[Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk]

This Saturday. There was due to be one today, but i'm not to sure how that one got on.
I only know the details of the London one:
ROUTE:

Meet at 12noon ULU (Malet Street)

- Kingsway
- Aldwych
- Strand
- Trafalgar Square
- Parliament Sq

Rally at Millbank
NOTE: This is the "agreed" route with the cops. Of course if the cops are like how they were on the last one, it wont go as planned.
A lot of people are planning to go in small groups on alternative routes, to get around the police and limit the chance of being kettled.

There is also a protest in Manchester on the same day for northern folk. There has been a bit of a sectarian shit storm, seemingly from those who organized the Manchester day (not the TUC, but other groups and individuals involved, including Aaron Porter), as this was apparently called before the London event (although hardly anyone knew about it). The truth is, though, that workers and students from the north and south will have local mass demos to go to, thus maximising the amount of forces on the day and spreading the action across the country. It seems that much of this slander comes from people trying to 'control' the movement, getting butthurt because London wanted to have a demo to cater for those situated in the south, claiming that this was set up with no regard for the Manchester demo. One group (not naming names) went a long way to condemn the London demo: 'Having a separate education march in London, counterposed to the TUC one in Manchester, only serves to aid the grotesque media stereotype of the student movement as purely self-serving and middle class.'. This completely ignores that 1) the London demo is not counterposed to the Manchester demo, and is in fact, part of a united force of student and workers, acting in solidarity and 2) that the TUC and indeed all unions could actually support both demos on the basis that they enable more students and workers to demonstrate! Since when did we care about media stereotypes? Are the media actually ever going to represent this kind of movement fairly? What makes these people think that the media will shed kinder light on the movement if it only demonstrated in Manchester and not London?

Sorry about the rant, I just figured this would be a good place for it.

Saturday will be a good day!

[Partizani]

Well the TUC are focusing on their march in March
(http://marchforthealternative.org.uk/). Previously the Unions were not fully supporting the student protests, but it seems now they have been persuaded to put their lot in too, as somewhat representatives of the workers should do!