University of Sheffield tries to ban protests indefinitely

[Quail]

The University of Sheffield is seeking a high court injunction to put an indefinite ban on all political protests on campus. The injunction was served at 13.30 on Friday 3rd December to the students occupying the Richards Roberts Building, giving them just two hours to attain legal representation and attend an appeal at the high court in London at 15.45. The University of Sheffield is in the city of deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who before the general election campaigned to ‘scrap bad laws’.

The main case for the injunction is the claim that students which have been occupying the Richard Roberts building since Tuesday in protest against higher tuition fees and education cuts have been disrupting education at the University. In fact, lectures and seminars have been going ahead without any disruption at all.

The occupiers believe that this is a fundamental challenge to the right to protest. They are currently seeking an adjournment to court proceedings in order to prepare a legal defence and attain proper legal representation. The protest, which has remained peaceful throughout, has had a wide level of support from various groups and individuals including Sheffield Student’s Union, Sheffield UCU, John McDonnell MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Ken Loach - film maker, Mary Anne Hobbs - former Radio 1 DJ, Sheffield NUJ, Sheffield Green Party, University of Sheffield Labour Students and Sheffield Right to Work Campaign.
http://sheffieldoccupation.tumblr.com/post/2082996984/university-of-sheffield-attempts-to-ban-all-protests-on
I'm not actually there at the moment, so my main source is the blog and my comrades, but I thought I would post this anyway.

Firstly, how the fuck can they ban political protests? Isn't that illegal?

Secondly, how can they serve an order to attend a court in London just over 2 hours before they're meant to be there? Sheffield is 3 hours from London.

This just shows whose side the management are on (not that I'm surprised).

[gorillafuck]

Firstly, how the fuck can they ban political protests? Isn't that illegal?
I would think it depends on the school. If the University of Sheffield is a school that receives state funding (I assume it is) then it's probably illegal.

[Widerstand]

This is pretty absurd, but I'd think Zeekloid is right. If it's a private university they can most likely do whatever the fuck they want. If not, well then that's a different matter.

Trivia:


German public schools and universities tried to outlaw student strikes a few years ago under the reasoning that "students and pupils aren't employed and therefore can't strike." Issue here was that a) this is obviously nuts, and that b) there is a law forbidding police to enter and act on campus unless being ordered by a judge or called because of fire alarms.

[Quail]

The university receives state funding, so I don't think that they can actually do this. I'll try and post any updates on the situation when I hear about them.

[Invader Zim]

Actually it is only two.



Eh? It is over 160 miles from one city to the other; it takes over 2 hours to make that journey by car.

[bricolage]

Eh? It is over 160 miles from one city to the other; it takes over 2 hours to make that journey by car.
It is two hours by train.

Not to sidetrack this with discussion about trains (much as I like talking about trains).

This is very messed up what the university are trying to do. Good luck to everyone trying to fight it.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Fairly sure they won't get this through.

If they do, it could backfire quite severely - i've gotten the impression so far (from my own campus sit-in and from talking to other comrades) that we are all prepared to go about our business completely within the confines of the law.

If they make peaceful protest illegal, then the confines of the law may not provide enough flexibility for some students to get their feelings across, via direct action.

[redz]

Fairly sure they won't get this through.

If they do, it could backfire quite severely - i've gotten the impression so far (from my own campus sit-in and from talking to other comrades) that we are all prepared to go about our business completely within the confines of the law.

If they make peaceful protest illegal, then the confines of the law may not provide enough flexibility for some students to get their feelings across, via direct action.


I'm not there - I'm many thousands of miles away - but protests like this are an inspiration to all of us. MY advice: Hang in there, and screw the law.

It should be obvious that these kinds of student protests have the potential of inspiring workingclass resistance to the Tory-Lib Dem assault. Hopefully, there are some militants in Sheffield trying to make this happen.

Redz

[StalinFanboy]

The application of fascist methods and ideas in the state is the response to worker and student uprisings. It doesn't matter how liberal a government claims to be, as soon as there is an uprising, or a potential uprising, all "rights" go out the door.

I don't think we should be complaining about the removal of rights by the state. Regardless of what happens, people should continue organizing, occupying, striking, etc.

[Obs]

The application of fascist methods and ideas in the state is the response to worker and student uprisings. It doesn't matter how liberal a government claims to be, as soon as there is an uprising, or a potential uprising, all "rights" go out the door.

I don't think we should be complaining about the removal of rights by the state. Regardless of what happens, people should continue organizing, occupying, striking, etc.
Pretty much this. "Rights" that a bourgeois state "guarantees" are a sham to keep people calm, but as soon they begin to exercise those rights, they are quickly taught just how much those "rights" are worth.

[here for the revolution]

Hi there, I am currently in the occupation myself (I'm writing this because I can't be arsed to take part in their dance-off video :P). Essentially, the blog says it all (URL at the end of this post), however the judge did in fact amend the injunction so that it now only covers the building we are currently occupying. Given that we also occupied a different building last week I can see their motives for attempting to ban all protests anywhere on campus. The injunction has actually become a `possession order`, which I am led to believe gives them the right to evict us on the grounds of health and safety - fuck knows why. We are simply awaiting the bailiffs at the moment, however the mood is much more energetic and positive than it has ever been, thanks to the mass influx of secondary school and college students who have joined us today - it's very reassuring and inspiring to see these people taking such an interest and becoming involved in direct action in support of what they believe in at such a young age.
Also, I am not sure if it has been discussed elsewhere, but many of you will be aware that 1000 Greek students, as part of a wider anti-cuts protest, attempted to storm the British embassy in solidarity with the student and workers struggles in the UK. Here at Sheffield, we have made a banner to return the message and hopefully the pictures will appear on the blog later. Whilst what I say means very little, and the gesture itself equally in comparison with Greeks physically taking on the system, I would like to express how inspiring this massive show of solidarity has meant to myself and many others in the occupation where it has truly inspired and encouraged us. This international solidarity strengthens all our struggles, so from myself, one anarchist in a much larger movement, thank you and solidarity.

http://sheffieldoccupation.tumblr.com/

Also the libertarians just showed up. lol.

(Apologies for any rambling etc., as goes with the territory I am horrendously sleep deprived)

[Quail]

Update! (http://sheffieldoccupation.tumblr.com/post/2084525612/update)

The hearing in London went ahead. We had phone communication with the Judge in the courtroom, and were in constant contact with the proceedings. It was discovered that an injunction hearing had been held at 11am, and that the judge had passed the injunction - meaning that the University could potentially evict us. One occupier was remotely involved in the second hearing, in which the Judge granted a possession order. This allows the University to call on bailiffs to physically remove us. We have not been officially served, however this is not required in order for bailiffs to evict us. It is worth reinforcing that we have not been able to produce a legal defence due to the sudden nature of the court case, and management have not responded to our requests to talk.
Shockingly, the Judge was forced to amend the University injunction application, which had originally stated an indefinite ban on any protest action anywhere on campus that did not have explicit University permission. This attack on the freedom of political expression is in breach of the Human Right to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly, and is a disgraceful assault by the University on its students. The amendment limited the possession order to the specification of the occupation of the Richard Roberts building.
We have been seeking, with the help of the Student Union, talks with University management to discuss the situation. They have refused. We have been attempting to reach Aaron Porter for the legal, financial and political aid he promised to occupations, a form of protest he claims to support. He has been unreachable.
The occupation is still ongoing, and we will continue to build and facilitate meetings and events. Come along, your support is more important now than ever.


Here is an update.

[here for the revolution]

Clarification:-
The Uni wanted to be able to ban our right to hold sit-ins or occupations for this particular struggle (anti government cuts) indefinitely and throughout the whole campus. The court injunction upholds their ability to ban us from holding any anti government cuts occupation/sit-ins but NOT indefinitely - the judge rejected that.
Also, it has been confirmed that the bailiffs are coming on Sunday, we don't have any set time but it does make things slightly easier for us as we don't have to sit here worrying so much.
We have a rally planned for tomorrow at 12 with a march and whatnot.

[Aeval]

It is two hours by train.


I know this is a fairly irrelevant point, but the occupation isn't in the train station, it's like a half hour walk in the snow, and I'm pretty sure the court isn't in St. Pancras so people would have to get across London as well, so it would take over 3 hours (presuming you didn't have to spend any time waiting for a train) :lol:

It's good that we know the bailiffs are coming on Sunday though, I thought they'd be cheeky and try to evict us whilst most of the people were at the rally today. In a way though their insane response has been a blessing, a lot of people I've spoken to who weren't necessarily pro-occupation are absolutely fuming about them trying to ban protest :)

[here for the revolution]

Visit the blog to see Sheffield solidarity with the Greek workers and students. A protest was held today where various tax evaders were targeted (topshop, vodafone etc.) with quite a degree of success. We are hoping the bailiffs will not appear until after our rally at 4, which will feature outside speakers and essentially a discussion on the current student protests and the wider anti-cuts struggle, however we are prepared for when they do.

[Quail]

I'll be at the rally tomorrow. I've been ill so I can't be a active as I would like :(

[here for the revolution]

We all know you'd be down here if you weren't ill! I hope you feel better tomorrow and I'll keep you posted on what's happening :).


Also, it's a bit late in the day but there is an email address on the blog to send messages of solidarity and support if you wish to do so as an individual or an organisation - we're grateful for everyone's support.

[Patchd]

The wording of that request was also quite ambiguous, it could have potentially included strike action by workers, for example, would they have had to get permission from the university management before they could picket?

[Aeval]

Not only has the court decided you can't ban all protest everywhere indefinitely, the uni has also decided we can stay for the time being -


Tonight the pro vice-chancellor visited the occupation along with SU representatives and a lecturer, during the anti-cuts meeting. They announced that because of the relocation of the exams scheduled for Monday and Tuesday they were allowing us here at least until Tuesday as there were no exam clashes.
Despite the fact the occupation was clear from day one that we would facilitate any lectures, seminars or exams, the room broke into rapturous applause. Though those in the meeting thought this was only a small concession, we were united in the fact that the education movement is growing, and is no longer represented by students, but workers and the wider community. With this support we can fight back against the ConDem government and win!