Press release from Youth Fight for Jobs
Youth Democratic Rights Campaign to kettle Scotland Yard on 11th December
After today’s use of violence by the police against peaceful demonstrators in London and use of intimidatory tactics, Youth Fight for Jobs is launching a Youth Democratic Rights campaign.
We are kettling Scotland Yard on Saturday at 15:30 to protest against the use of the tactic in London, Bristol, Brighton, Leeds and elsewhere.
The worst case was in London on November 24th, when the police held demonstrators, many school students on their first ever protest, for over 9 hours without food, water or any toilet facilities.
The police also attacked the Day X protest today, which was a legally planned march. The police had negotiated with the protest organisers and agreed that they would allow them to march through Parliament Square.
Half the march kettled
Instead around half the march was kettled and then charged at by police horses.
Paul Callanan, Youth Fight for Jobs national organiser, says “The tactics of the police command have been disgraceful.
“This is clearly an attempt to make sure that young people don’t fight back against attacks on their right to a future.
“They also know that, with a huge fight for public sector cuts brewing, many workers will be looking towards the student movement as an example.
“This is not just an attack on the students’ rights but it’s an attack on everybody’s right to protest.
“We’re kettling Scotland Yard on 11th December to show them that we will not go away and that we will fight for our rights”.
Bullying
Claire Laker-Mansfield, Socialist Students national organiser says “We will not back down to bullying.
“We are holding this kettle to show that we won’t go away. Young people are totally right to be angry about these shameful attacks on their right to a future.
“Our protest on the 11th will show that this movement will continue and escalate.
“Young people will continue to fight for our futures”.
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Youth Fight for Jobs is a campaign of young trade unionists, the unemployed and students.
We organised many of the student protests that have taken place in recent weeks.
We fight against youth unemployment and for a future for young people.
We have the support of the PCS, RMT, UNITE, UCU, BECTU and CWU trade unions.
Contact YFJ/YDR on 020 8558 7947 or email [email protected] See our website www.youthfightforjobs.com