Students to demonstrate nationwide against police brutality

Image credit: The Guardian

Students across the country have called for a national day of action in response to claims of brutal measures taken by police forces to quell recent student protests.

A Facebook event by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, entitled ‘#copsoffcampus: NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION’ encourages students to take action tomorrow in response to calls from groups nationwide. The event description states that recent levels of violence in police responses to student protests “cannot be allowed to continue”, calling for “urgent solidarity” amongst students.

This call for action follows multiple claims in recent days of police brutality towards student protesters. On Wednesday December 4, five people were arrested after students occupied rooms in Senate House in protest against plans to close the University of London Union (ULU). Despite claims by students that the protest was peaceful, one unnamed participant stated that many protesters were “crushed and hit as police lashed out, punching students and pulling their hair and clothes.” A video appearing to show a policeman punching a student demonstrator has also emerged.

However, Chris Cobb, the chief operating officer of the University of London responded to claims of brutality, asserting that “invading our working environment and blocking fire escapes is potentially life threatening and plays no part in democratic dissent,” while a spokesperson for the Metropolitan police urged anyone with concerns about officers’ actions to “call 101 and report them.”

Violence continued on Thursday 5^th December, as students clashed with police during a “Cops off Campus” demonstration protesting against police presence on university campuses. In response to the alleged violence on Wednesday night, the protest saw 200 to 300 students gathering outside the University of London Union (ULU), 36 of whom were arrested, with others reportedly kettled by police.

ULU president Michael Chessum described an “angry” and “vibrant” atmosphere, adding: “I think there’s a spark in the student movement I haven’t seen since 2011. I think that people are just going to keep coming back.”

Outside London, recent demonstrations at Sussex University have led to the indefinite exclusion of five students, provoking dismay among activists nationwide. The students had been participating in an occupation protesting against the alleged “marketisation of higher education”.

Despite voluntarily leaving the occupied buildings after an injunction was sought against them, the students were later suspended for acting as “a potential hazard to sustaining the university’s policies on health and safety”.

Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington John McDonnell has however expressed support for the students, stating: “It’s outrageous that students exercising their traditional democratic right to protest have been persecuted in this way”. A petition which gained 4,291 signatures in under 24 hours called for the retraction of this suspension, described by one of the protesters Michael Segalov as “an attack on the right to protest and freedom of speech”.

John Duffy, the registrar at Sussex, defended the suspensions, suggesting a need to “make it clear that activities that seriously disrupt our campus community will carry consequences.”

#copsoffcampus has called for students to “mobilise harder” and fight to uphold the notion of “an education that is public and democratic, free for all”. Demonstrations have been planned at ULU, with students who cannot make it to London being encouraged to take action within their own campuses.

Exeter students will have the opportunity to visit a stall in the Forum from 12pm, raising awareness of the alleged violations of democratic rights.

In addition, an event in Queens building at 7pm tomorrow – which will include “free live music, short films, poetry and possibly food” – aims to encourage Exeter students to show solidarity with protests nationwide, described as “an issue that affects all of us.”

Hannah Butler, News Team

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Pride, Not Prejudice: Exeter & the EDL

Liam Monsell provides a fantastic account of Saturday’s events including interviews with members of the EDL and Exeter Together.

The English Defence League’s decision to embark on a peaceful protest in Exeter has not only tested the nature of the city’s multicultural values, but has also proved to highlight the national disparity between political and social sects.

Labelling themselves as a “Human rights group opposed to militant Islam,” the EDL is inherently nationalist, with fascistic principles present in their reactive hostility to Islam and multiculturalism. Despite this, they maintain that they are a peaceful human rights group opposed only to militant Muslims.

“This doesn’t justify their behaviour, but it highlights that there are issues on both sides that need to be addressed.”
Photo Credit: Niklas Rahmel

The demonstration which took place on Saturday 16^th November was peaceful to the extent that no major fights broke out, but by no means was it a pleasant display on their part. This is nothing new. The group regularly tour around the country causing similar instances of disorder and chaos. Unfortunately their conduct has gained them a reputation that means they rarely get the opportunity to express the deepest of their grievances.

This is a sympathy I have toward the EDL. As much as I disagree with their ideology, I believe they should have the right to express their views in the same manner everyone else does. What many of them lack however is the capacity to do so respectably, but I understand that more often than not they get provoked into behaving barbarically before they even get the opportunity. This doesn’t justify their behaviour, but it highlights that there are issues on both sides that need to be addressed.

What was enlightening about Saturday’s demonstration was Exeter’s reaction. I spent many hours in Bedford Square on Saturday and witnessed a very impressive turnout of over 1000 locals of many ages, backgrounds and political persuasions. College and University students also gathered at the scene, asserting their desire to stand for equality, and to prevent the perversion of the core qualities of their multicultural Exeter. There was a real sense of togetherness. The event was organised by the recently established Exeter Together, along with Unite Against Fascism and the English Disco Lovers, with appearances from the Anti-Nazi league and academics from Exeter University’s centre of Arab and Islamic studies.

The message of protest against the EDL’s presence was strong, although the atmosphere was generally calm and peaceful. Volunteers read poetry, sang songs and offered messages of love, harmony and unity. Speaking to many people attending the demonstration, many of which were students, there was an abundant claim that the nature of Exeter’s diversity and multiculturalism made it a community that had no need for the EDL’s presence, whose perceived zeal in the realms of “hateful xenophobic hooliganism” is claimed to only strengthen the city’s stance against intolerance rather than fragment it.

With all the smiles (despite the slowly worsening weather,) music and conversation, you could have almost found yourself forgetting about the infamous group that catalysed Saturday’s demonstration in the first place. A swift walk down Queen Street revealed the alternative approach to political confrontation. Cooped up within the proximity of Northernhay gardens, and indeed a barrier of policemen, stood the Defence League in their hundreds.

“Despite the leader’s peaceful claims, there was no warmth, and there was no peace, only the violent onslaught of chants and a sea of covered faces and British flags.”
Photo Credit: Niklas Rahmel

 

Despite the leader’s peaceful claims, there was no warmth, and there was no peace, only the violent onslaught of chants and a sea of covered faces and British flags. What may indeed have started as a peaceful demonstration was certainly beginning to sour at an alarming rate.

Behind me, the story wasn’t much better. Unjustly praising themselves with being on the moral high ground, left-wing extremists and anarchists similarly found themselves hypocritically denouncing the hateful doctrine of the EDL with aggressive chants and threats of violence from behind a wall of high visibility jackets. Chants of “Off our streets, Nazi scum!” were met with the roar of “E-E-E-D-L!” and “You’re not English anymore!”

If you walked into the scenario with no contextual knowledge, you wouldn’t be able to tell who the demonstration was based around. The heavy presence of police prevented any major conflict from spiralling out of control, although everyone could tell that it would only take one spark to set the whole situation alight.

It was a fascinating, yet brutally eye-opening experience. Like many others, I had only properly seen the EDL on the TV, and even though their behaviour on the news was undoubtedly much worse than the events of Saturday, it still came as shock. Before, I withheld some opinions of the group on the grounds of not wanting to generalise, and the absence of sufficient exposure to their subjects. After Saturday, although still not in a position to totally generalise, I can see that there is an indisputable lack of consistency between what the party’s leaders claim to stand for, and how the followers of the group execute their protest. There also exists a flaw in how students like me view the EDL. Several members and sympathisers told me how they resented that fact that all members are generalised as “mindless Neanderthal thugs,” and that such opinions are invalid as students are “separated from what’s real, only reading about it in books and not experiencing it on the street.”

Much of what was said is true to a certain extent. It may be the lack of information and exposure to the sources of discontent on both sides that keeps this conflict spinning in perpetual motion, and perhaps the reduction of these complex topics into rather objective, political and therefore teachable principles drains them of the quality that enables us to understand them properly. This may be where the university comes in.

“Such matters, regardless of how important and interesting, are dangerous, and an onslaught of young impressionable students ardent for some desperate political glory can only threaten to dampen the dignity of any notion of tolerance that exists in our society.”
Photo Credit: Niklas Rahmel

The University was right to request as little association with the event as possible, and as far as I am aware, no student responded to the League’s presence in a manner that undermined its credibility. Such matters, regardless of how important and interesting, are dangerous, and an onslaught of young impressionable students ardent for some desperate political glory can only threaten to dampen the dignity of any notion of tolerance that exists in our society. On a local level, the University undoubtedly and justly wants to protect its name.

To appropriately combat these issues, an element of grace and cooperation should be maintained, and whilst the University was right to remain distant from the issue, appropriate steps should be made to at least foster a notion of political tolerance in young students that may prevent conflict that devalues what the institution promotes. Saturday’s demonstration was a pragmatic way to promote such a mentality, displaying the ability for many different groups to unite in a gathering that preaches what really defines Britain as a modern nation. If Exeter wants to protect its status of vibrant diversity, it should keep walking in the direction suggested by the events of the 16^th.

Liam Monsell

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Students in May Day meeting over University privatisation

Ledys Mejia (right) discusses the impact of neoliberalism on education
Image credit: Niklas Rahmel

Students are gathering on campus this evening to discuss their views on privatisation at the University, in a public meeting designed to coincide with International Workers Day.

Just over 20 people have been meeting since 6pm in Lecture Theatre Two in Queen’s building, with three speakers discussing various topics and a draft campaign statement being decided.

Queen’s Cafe was originally the chosen location but due to poor availability on May Day it was decided that the nearby lecture theatre should be used instead. The cafe was seen as a poignant place to gather after it was deemed unprofitable at the end of the last academic year and closed, before reopening with several new vending machines.

Exeter Socialist Students, making up the bulk of the audience, are keen to highlight a diverse range of issues, from private companies becoming more prevalent on campus, to the impact of accommodation costs on international students.

In a comment piece written for Exeposé today, Carlus Hudson, who is speaking at the ongoing event alongside Quen Took and Ledys Mejia, writes:

“The provision of housing to students, both on and off campus, is for profit and largely in the hands of private landlords. Maintenance loans are sometimes barely sufficient to cover the cheaper end of accommodation available, meaning there is simply not enough affordable student housing to go around.”

The group have been angered by what they see as “piece meal reforms,” citing the end of cheap and affordable services and the rise of profit hungry corporations as serious cause for concern.

Amidst anger over the rising costs of accommodation and tripling of tuition fees, the students also suggest the University should not be run for profit, and serve “students not the market.”

But geography student Zoe Sturgess is surprised by the students’ protest and has no problem with private companies being allowed on campus. “I actually think we should have more private shops at the University, Costa provides a valuable service and something like a Tesco Express would be really convenient.”

There was concern that the meeting may lower attendance at a similar demonstration on Saturday, arranged by the Exeter Anti-Cuts Alliance, but organisers remain hopeful of a larger turnout in four days time having publicised the Bedford Square rally at this evening’s meeting.

The last time two events of this ilk came in such quick succession was in 2010, shortly before the student occupation of Newman A began. Activists will be hoping this week’s proceedings can have a similar impact, as they look to continue their broad campaign against privatisation.

Harrison Jones, Online News Editor

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Guild vote to support Demo2012

THE Students’ Guild has voted to support the national demonstration, ‘Educate, Employ, Empower’ organized by the National Union of Students (NUS).  Over 75 per cent voted in favour of the motion, with 316 being in favour of supporting the demonstration, and 106 opposing.

Nick Davies, Guild President, said: “One of the most important parts of the university experience is being able to participate in the democratic process, and the recent vote on the #Demo2012 motion has proved that this is a process that is still very much alive at Exeter.”

The national demonstration will take place in London on Wednesday 21 November. The demonstration aims to educate the public about the concerns of the NUS and to demonstrate to policy makers that students are united in their concerns. On 21 November demonstrators will assemble in London at a key rally point where there will be a range of high profile political speakers.

On the Demo2012 website Liam Burns, NUS President says: “the time for doubt is over, and the time to act is now”. He argues that Nick Clegg ‘still doesn’t get’ the importance of education and that “sorry isn’t good enough”.

The vote was opened to all students through the Students’ Guild websites.

By Zoe Bulaitis