Thousands of students say no to fees, cuts and privatisation
Next date – 30 November students and workers unite!
By Claire Laker-Mansfield
Students protest 24 November 2010, photo Senan (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
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.
This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 10 November 2011 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.
