Saturday 13 November 2010

After the mass education protest where next?

After mass education protest

WHERE NEXT TO DEFEAT FEES AND CUTS?
With speakers from the demonstration, Millbank protest and across the movement
Education Activist Network London Meeting
Monday 15 November, 6pm, Kings College, Rm K4U.12, Strand WC2


Over 50,000 students and lecturers marched this Wednesday, making it the biggest education protest since 1985. In the context of the miners’ strike, the student revolt forced Margaret Thatcher to back down from her plans to introduce tuition fees. Now, the issue of tuition fees threatens to turn into Cameron and Clegg’s poll tax.

Thousands of students broke away from the official route of the demonstration to march on the Tory HQ in 30 Millbank and occupied.

This represents a real turning point in the resistance to the coalition government’s austerity programme, bringing the spirit of the French and Greek general strikes to the UK. Now there is a real opportunity to build on Wednesday’s mobilisation with protests, student walkouts and occupations on every university and college campus.

The protests have also opened up a lively debate inside our movement about which strategies and tactics are most appropriate and effective. This is to be welcomed – tens of thousands of people are joining our struggle, bringing a wealth of different perspectives.

But we firmly reject the attempt by the right-wing press to witch-hunt protesters and activists. The real vandals are the Tory and Liberal politicians who are wrecking our education. Over 50 protestors have already been arrested, some for nothing more than entering the building. This is an attempt to scare and divide our movement at a time when we most urgently need to unite.

The Education Activist Network has organised a co-ordinating meeting on Monday evening. There will be speakers from education workers’ and students’ unions, but this will not just be a rally. It will be a forum for university and college activists to digest the week’s events and discuss the next steps for our movement.

Coordinating meeting: where next after the demonstration?

6pm Monday 15th November, King’s College London, Rm K4U.12

With speakers from the demonstration, Millbank protest and across the movement.

We need unity - stand with the Millbank protesters

Defence statement to sign and circulate

http://teneleventen.wordpress.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-need-unity-defend-the-Millbank-protestors/128397300550227
teneleventen@googlemail.com

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