NUS Demo 2010

Students and lecturers held a demonstration yesterday in London against the government's plans to triple university fees.

NUS [National Union of Students] estimated that around 52,000 people marched towards Whitehall, planning to protest peacefully against the government’s cuts; the majority of the demonstration ran smoothly until the cause was tainted by a small minority who took it upon themselves to turn violent.

As the march reached the Conservative party HQ around 30 participants decided to attack the building, breaking windows and seizing the roof. Then around 200 people broke into the Tory HQ – not all of these people were even students! And the attack was said to have been pre-planned. A huge riot ensued; people with hoods and balaclavas entered the building, carrying anarchist flags, breaking windows, attacking police, burning placards and images of Cameron and Clegg. The riot police were then called in.

Unfortunately what was meant to be a meaningful, peaceful protest of unity against the government turned into something that was undermined and overshadowed by the small minority of violent thugs.

York student, Oliver Wheatley:

“The violence of the few, although perhaps raising the profile of the march in the media, will only act to ruin the efforts of myself and thousands of others who turned up today to march peacefully.”

Personally I think that those who were able to go, and who protested peacefully should be proud of themselves. Those that did not act accordingly, should not.
I was there in spirit!

[I own no rights to the photographs.]

V