UK Fees demo 09/11/11

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

To all those going, take precautions in the name of safety:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/07/plastic-bullets-available-student-protests

ACAB, and I don't doubt they won't hesitate to use the rounds of plastic bullets. Like the Green commentator said, what have we come to when a roundly unpopular government is pushing through an unwanted, unpopular, unmerited and unfair policy at the end of a baton?

Bastards, fucking bastards.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

This is also an interesting article, despite the lacklustre title:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/07/students-fighting-education-welfare-state

[LeftAtheist]

"amid fears the march could be hijacked by anarchists"

Yet again, the mainstream media throws out the word anarchist as a catchall term for generic ne'er-do-wells.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Yeah, I realised the extent of the propaganda success re: 'anarchism' the other day when my (fairly educated and un-biased) mate said to me at a gig, "yeah the guitarist is definitely also an anarchist, you can tell by how nuts he was going..."

I was just like...:blink::blink::blink:

[Manic Impressive]

yeah I mentioned I was meeting an anarchist friend to another friend the other day and he called me a crazy maniac :confused:

ah well have a read of this as well some links to advice and shit
http://www.fitwatch.org.uk/2011/11/08/dont-be-intimidated-see-you-on-the-streets/

I won't be there but have a good one

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I'm not there either, best wishes and stay safe to all who go.

[LeftAtheist]

I can't post links, but I've just read another Guardian article; police have been threatening perfectly innocent people, telling them that they're not allowed to protest.

Google search for "Police send warning letters to activists ahead of student protests". It's an utter disgrace.

I'd love to be at the protest myself, but I've got no money to get there, unfortunately. Good luck to anyone who's going :)

[Jimmy Haddow (SPS)]

Thousands of students say no to fees, cuts and privatisation

Next date - 30 November students and workers unite!

Wednesday, 9 November, saw up to 10,000 students take to the streets to protest against the government's plans to snatch away the future of young people.
The march helped to send a clear message to the government: the message is that the fightback on sky-high university fees, EMA student payments, privatisation and funding cuts is not over. We're continuing the fight for our futures.
The good turnout for the demo came despite the threats and intimidation of the London Met Police. There was enormous anger at the disgusting announcement that the police would have baton rounds (which killed 16 people during the course of their use in Northern Ireland) at the ready.
However some student unions were intimidated by this brutal and disgraceful threat. Socialist Students and Youth Fight for Jobs stand squarely for the right to protest and demonstrate and will be challenging these attacks on our democratic rights.
The march also stood in solidarity with the construction workers who were also protesting in London this day.
Disgracefully these electricians, who were demonstrating against enormous attacks on their terms and conditions, were 'kettled' by the police when they tried to join the student protest.
In solidarity, calls made by Socialist Students members to stop the demonstration and demand the release of the kettled workers were taken up.
The whole demonstration stopped and chants of 'let them out' rang throughout the march. Soon afterwards they were allowed to disperse.
The next big date for students who want to organise and fight back is 30 November when millions of public sector workers will be taking strike action against the government.
Students must join their teachers, lecturers and other workers on this day and strike against cuts, joining the picket lines, rallies and demonstrations.
Only united with workers can we build a movement capable of saving education and securing us a decent future.


From the Socialist Party
http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/13135/10-11-2011/thousands-say-no-to-fees-cuts-and-privatisation

[Lunatic Concept]

Went, but got there late and couldnt get to the march due to the 4000 or so police hanging around. Methinks they just released that rubber bullets stuff to scare people away from attending the march beforehand.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

I travelled up from Bristol to get there. Got off coach, 5 minutes later got stopped and searched by the police. My friend got arrested and the reason given was because a pen he had on him could be a dangerous weapon. We reckon it was simply because he was on a police database already and they didn't want him at the protest. Very much reminds me of the letters they sent around to those arrested at protests/riots (even if they hadn't been charged with anything). Simple scare tactics.

The march wasn't that big, to be honest. One phrase that got repeated was a 'mobile kettle' considering the huge police presence. Apparently there were 4000 police on duty and I would say that they possibly equalled the amount of protesters. Essentially we were escorted everywhere by two rows of police in front along with a row of horses and the same behind with every junction blocked off by three more rows.

I got into a conversation with a journalist about why I was at the protest and I accidently went off on a tangent about the communisation of labour which I don't think she really understood. :tt2:

We were prevented from joining up with the sparks and the taxi driver's union, which annoyed me the most. I'm definitely going to get involved on the 30th although I heard it was going to be more of a local thing with strikes going off all over the country rather than a single march in London so I might save myself a journey and simply join up locally.

I enjoyed myself. "A! Anti! Anticapitalista!"

[Rafiq]

Oh I hate this bull-shit. History is always changed to make it as if these massivly large worker's revolts were mainly Liberal or reformists.

Hey cops, we know the real people trying to hijack these demonstrations are the liberal traitors and pacifists.