Fighting Against the Rise in Tuition Fees

So, I've been ridiculously busy these past two weeks, organising occupations, exhibitions, live events, performances, going to demos and talking to press. I think I've literally just managed to sit down and think.

I am very proud of all the hard work that's gone into our fight against the rise in tuition fees!
Particularly those involved in the BSAD Occupation, well done to all of us! You can have a look at what we achieved on the blog! And do stay tuned because this is not over!





Two representatives, myself included went to the Demo in London this Thursday, leaving behind three dedicated students to hold fort back at the occupation.

We found ourselves talking to Don Foster, Being kettled by police and marched into Parliament Square with no alternative. We asked the police where they were marching us, and wether they knew or not, one police officer said "You'll find out when you get there" whilst another shouted out "Get in the kettle!"
Once we turned a corner in full view of parliament square (after being marched through all the back streets of London, under misconception that we were being taken to the peaceful protest), we realised what the situation was, particularly when people inside the kettle were trying to warn us not to enter.
We paused for a second feeling scared and threatened, not wanting to be a part of any violence or kettling, and then were physically pushed and forced into parliament square by the police.

Our cheerful SU leaders tried to keep the atmosphere on a high, with chanting, yet we seemed to be the only people there doing so. Everyone looked scared and morbid, waiting for something to happen. The uneasy atmosphere was spreading through the crowd.
I noticed a line of people in front of the police holding hands, in order to prevent the police to kettle us further and push us in tighter, this was not anarchists but people wisened to the tricks the police had up their sleeves.
What the news have said about the police putting up the metal fencing to keep us out is clearly not true. As they forced us, a peaceful group of less than 30, into parliament square and created only one entrance and one exit. That exit being blocked by the line of police with batons, helmets and tazzers!

After walking straight across Parliament Square, walking past other uni groups, (e.g Leeds and Bristol) who were just standing around with their banners, and then past a little old chinese woman holding a 'no cuts' banner, climbing over and falling over metal fences that had been pulled down, walking past what seemed to be a mini rave with music and people dancing around a fire, to finally finding an exit.

This exit was only there because the so called 'anarchists' pulled the metal fencing down just moments before, allowing us to get out and leave the hell that we were in, and join the peaceful protest over at Embankment.
It is very important to stress, that we were very lucky, as many after us could not get out, and were not allowed to get out, as the police then blocked that exit as well. We were one of the last groups to join the peaceful protest at Embankment, were only a few hundred protesters were.

Funny how the media haven't once showed those peacefully protesting and listening to the MPs in support of the students cause. We did do the candlelight vigil, and we even danced around to Captain SKA Liar Liar... where's the footage of that?!