Thousands of student protesters march in London
Students marched through London, protesting tuition hikes. Some pitched about 20 tents in Trafalgar Square.
More than 2,000 students marched and set up tents in London on Wednesday, protesting tuition hikes and cuts in public spending, the Associated Press reported.
“No ifs, no buts, no education cuts,” was the chant heard throughout London, police said to the AP. About 4,000 police officers were out along the protest route, which started at the University of London and ended in the financial district. When some protesters hit Trafalgar Square, more than 20 tents were put up at the foot of Nelson’s Column, the AP reported.
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“The aim of this march is to highlight the iniquities in the higher education white paper. We want to reclaim the educational maintenance allowance,” said Mark Campbell, an official of the lecturers’ union UCU at London Metropolitan University, the Financial Times reported.
The strong police presence was in an effort to avoid a repeat of a previous student demonstration last year, also spurred by tuition increases, and led to monuments being vandalized, windows smashed and a car carrying Prince Charles and his wife was attacked, the FT reported.
Yesterday, the Guardian reported that the police sent dozens of letters to anti-cuts activists, as young as 17, warning them of consequences of joining the student protest. They had been sent to anyone already arrested for a public disorder offense, whether the charges were cleared or not.
The Guardian said the single-page letter stated,
"It is in the public and your own interest that you do not involve yourself in any type of criminal or antisocial behavior. We have a responsibility to deliver a safe protest which protects residents, tourists, commuters, protesters and the wider community. Should you do so we will at the earliest opportunity arrest and place you before the court.”
Protesters were warned again on Wednesday that anyone involved in criminal activity during the march would be arrested and prosecuted, the AP reported. Organizers responded, accusing police of trying to intimidate protesters.
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