Goldsmiths Students’ Union and the Free Education Demonstration

During our previous Students’ Assembly (October 14th), a motion supporting the Free Education Demonstration in Central London was voted through by a majority. It mandated the Full Time Officers to support, publicide, and mobilise for the demo being held on Wednesday, 19th November.

Since then, the NUS UK (National Union for Students) released a statement withdrawing their support, citing safety concerns as the problem. The safety of the students we represent is of vital importance and should be taken seriously, which is why we are frustrated at NUS withdrawing their support for the demo, rather than helping to make the demo as safe as possible.

Demonstrations are never guaranteed safe spaces due to their vulnerability to external factors (e.g. the frequently violent Metropolitan Police). However, organisers can mitigate risks and we are in touch with the Demo coordinators to ensure they are doing their utmost. [Beneath this statement is a document prepared by organisers discussing accessibility and the demonstration further.]

After consultation with various students, including our own Liberation Officer[s], we will be taking numerous steps locally at Goldsmiths to ensure students feel as safe as possible. These include:

• Providing alternative means of supporting free education to students who can’t make or don’t feel safe enough to attend the demonstration [see below].

• Providing legal bust cards on the day.

• Encouraging students to join the ‘buddy up’ system, where students who are new to demonstrations buddy up with students who have more experience.

• Providing a central phone number for students on the day.

• Having a pre-demo meeting on Monday (taking place in The Stretch, 4.30pm) where we will be talking through any safety concerns, going into detail about the day and making banners.

• Providing resources on ‘Know Your Rights’ for demonstrations [also see below].

We hope this will encourage as many students as possible to attend the demonstration. But not physically attending the demonstration doesn’t mean you can’t fight for free education! There will be more events and campaigns during the year to support this campaign. To reiterate, never do anything you don’t feel comfortable or safe doing!
 

Join the Goldsmiths students’ bloc on Wednesday, 19th November, at 10.45am, outside Goldsmiths Students’ Union. From there we will take the train to Central, where the march will begin outside Senate House on Malet Street and end outside the Houses of Parliament.
 

Questions or access needs? Please email: howard@goldsmithssu.org

More on Demo access

Demos can’t be accessible to everyone - that’s impossible - but we have tried our utmost to make the demo as accessible as we can. It’s important to have as much information as possible to allow you to make an informed decision about whether the demo is accessible to you. We have also provided you with a list of actions that you can engage with on the day if you can’t physically join in with the demo for whatever reason.

What you can expect from a demo

When you’re on a demo it’s important to know what to expect and know what is likely to happen so that you are able to make an informed decision about whether the demo is suitable for you. This description is an overview of what happens on a demo. All demos are different and there may be situations that arise that are not planned by the organisers.

If at any point you have any questions please ask the stewards. The stewards will be in fluorescent yellow bibs, and the team leaders and head steward in fluorescent pink.  Stewards will know the route and how long it is likely to take. They should also know where dropped curbs are at the beginning and ending of the route the nearest accessible toilets are (these are at Student Central, and at each of the assisted leaving points).
 

When you first turn up to the National Demonstration for Free Education, there will be lots of different sections or “blocs”. At the very front of the march opposite Senate House on Malet Street there will be a disabled bloc. This is for disabled and slow walkers who will set the pace. The stewards will be helping to ensure that the march stays together.
 

Make sure you know who you are marching with and have contact telephone numbers for people if you get split up.

If you feel you need to leave the march, there are three assisted leaving points where stewards will be on hand with water. These are at Holborn Tube Station, Kings’ College London and Trafalgar Square.
 

At the end of the march, which will finish at Old Palace Yard outside the Houses of Parliament, there will be a rally and a number of speakers. There will be an accessible area for disabled people to congregate in and listen to the speeches. You should make you have found out the location of the pick up point for your coach from the organisers of your coach and leave with plenty of time to make your way there. In most cases this will be along Millbank.

This is a public demonstration and therefore there is no way to stop individuals or groups from attending. Unfortunately, this may include people who some people feel unsafe around. For example, it is likely that members of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) will be in attendance.

We hope this has given you a little insight into what will happen at the demo. Although we have done our best to ensure the demonstration runs as smoothly as possible, there may be changes on the day. This description gives people an overview of what to expect however we cannot guarantee that this is exactly how the demonstration will be. Ultimately the decision is  in your choice and control, we’ve tried to make that choice as informed as possible.

Shorter Route

For those not able to join the whole route, you can join the march at any of the three assisted leaving points: Holborn Tube Station, Kings’ College London and Trafalgar Square. They will lead to the main demonstration and will end at the same point.

Alternatives to demos

We know it is not always possible to attend demonstration for lots of different reasons: anxiety, disability, child care, police violence, cost, time, energy etc.

There are lots of other things to be doing:

·      Tweet #freeeducation

·      Write to your MP about why free education matters

·      Write blog posts and news articles

·      Share what’s happening with your friends on Facebook

·      If we have missed out anything that you would like to do to support free education on the day of the demo please let us know.
 

Know your rights

At the start of the demonstration there will be people handing out Green and Black Cross bust cards that provide information regarding your rights, and numbers that if in the unlikely event that you get arrested you can call. For more information on your rights when dealing with the police, take a look at our article on the subject: http://anticuts.com/2014/11/06/8424/

Other information that you may find useful

·      Make sure you have fully charged you mobile phone battery before the demonstration. Your battery may die so make sure you have key details written down.

·      Watch the police. If the police change tactics, for example start running, change their outfits, put on riot gear, begin to form lines; make sure that you are with people you know and trust and move away. The front of the demonstration is less likely to get kettled.

·      For more details about what attending a march is like, read this blog by Sarah McCulloch: http://www.sarahmcculloch.com/activism/2012/march-short-guide/

Do not do anything that you don’t want to, don’t feel pressured or pressure others in to doing things they are not comfortable with.