One week, two very different demos.

Wow what a week. Sunday…what an amazing day! I am so proud to have walked side by side with so many passionate people to help change ideas and perceptions, and show what the reality is of our Higher Education Funding System.

My family turned out in force, showing how education doesn’t just affect individuals, it affects families, affects the whole of society. My Mum was there, her partner and his children, and my little brother Sean who is currently facing the dilemma – will the cost of his higher education be worth it?

I was proud to have my family walking with me; this was a totally new experience for them. Thank you for supporting us!

For a period of the demo I walked infront of Chester – Chester you definitely were heard! The Samba bands were ace and really added to that festival atmosphere, next time we need even more music. Cardiff – your song was ace, think you should make it a single!

So what have we achieved? People now know that students do care about fees, their education and the future. More people are aware of the astronomical debt we find ourselves in. Politicians know we are serious and will continue to campaign on this issues.

The campaign doesn’t start and end at the demo. Now its time to start writing to our MP’s, attending their drop in surgeries, letting them know that this affects their constituents and their constituents want action. I have spoken to many Students’ Unions who have already begun to lobby their MPs;

UCLAN students from their Carlisle and Penrith campuses travelled many miles to join us on the demo, they will be meeting with local MP, David Maclean on the 10th November.

At Leeds University Union they’ve organised ‘The Great Fees Debate’, Where students will question their Vice Chancellor, Bill Rammell, Conservative Peer Baroness Perry and local Liberal democrat MP Greg Mulholland.

After attending the National demo in force Swansea students have plans to now lobby the Welsh Assembly and organise a demo in Cardiff against fees, in time for the assembly elections on 3rd May 2007 which will influence the education funding system in Wales.

And in the Midlands get ready to rock up against top up!

Now I have a confession to make… I haven’t yet written to my own MP personally. We mustn’t forget whilst co-ordinating efforts that we too have an individual responsibility. I will write to my MP and try and attend one of their surgeries. I will post the response in a future blog!

There is something else I need to speak to my MP in Leeds about…

On Wednesday 1st November I attended and spoke at a Unite against fascism protest and rally outside Leeds Crown Court, where the retrial of BNP leaders Nick Griffin and Mark Collet was taking place for incitement of racial hatred.

I had attended a very similar rally back at their first trial in January, but things were different this time. In January anti-fascism protestors massively out numbered BNP supporters, this time it was the other way round.

The trial date had changed at the last minute making it hard to mobilise support. Many people had taken the Monday off work to find that the date then changed to the Wednesday and Students’ Unions had spent their energy and resources for the last few weeks mobilising for the national demo.

Students, lecturers, Trade Unionists and many passers by joined us, bearing placards that read stop the BNP. And we were loud, shouting in unity phrases such as ‘Black and white, unite and fight’ and ‘I say racists, you say no’. As we stood in the crowd our photos were being taken, and not only by the press.

Because we choose to make a stand against racists and fascists; using our democratic right to rally, we face possibly appearing on Redwatch and as a result; increased risk of violence against us.

Its not just rallies against the BNP that earn you a place on Redwatch, the demo at Leeds Uni against Racist lecturer Frank Ellis, Love music Hate racism concerts, stop the war protests are just a few others that have been targeted.

On Redwatch your photo is added with any other personal details they can get hold of such as your name, address, where you study or work. The fact that this continues to happen so unashamedly and that people are being attacked as a consequence of this, is disgusting. We must join calls for the home office to find a way to close Redwatch down and promote our right to protest with dignity and without fear.

We need to strengthen our efforts against the BNP; to show we are not afraid and continue to unite for freedom, unity and against racism and fascism.

So within a few days I attended demos with very different atmospheres. I was proud on both occasions to stand side by side with people campaigning for social justice and equality. Who said people aren’t political any more and people only protested back in the day!

See you next time, Lou x

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