We have now launched a new statement, please sign by clicking the link here: http://www.change.org/
We, the undersigned, strongly condemn the eviction of students occupying Sussex University in opposition to privatisation plans, including the use of up to 100 police in full riot gear accompanied by vans, bailiffs and private security guards to remove protesters from their own campus. The 8 week long occupation has been a source of inspiration for students and staff at Sussex and beyond at a time when education is under attack.
Instead of engaging with the arguments and alternatives being raised by the university community the university management has resorted to the draconian measure of imposing a blanket protest ban (all protest banned without prior consent of university management) until the new academic year referring to the widely supported occupation as “unlawful”. This was supported by the courts on the basis that , “whether the occupation of Bramber House has been peaceful or not, there is no arguable legal defence for the protesters. The continuation of the protest would be a breach of the University’s property rights.”
The police have now arrested and charged four students. They are also investigating one student for violent disorder. This charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years, is precisely the charge that was used to secure prison sentences against students who opposed the tripling of fees in Autumn 2010 including a former Sussex University student Zenon Mitchell sentenced to 15 months in prison for protesting at Millbank. It was also used to hound Alfie Meadows for a two and a half years, a student who was a victim of police violence.
We will not stand by and watch a repeat of such punishments against students who have had the courage to take a stand in support of education and the welfare of university staff.
As Sussex University staff have stated: “The management’s protestation that it will tolerate “peaceful” protest is an insult to the students and workers whose right to assemble and demonstrate as they see fit has just been suppressed. A right is not a right if it waits on the decision of another. This university is not the property of the management. Without students, lecturers and support staff there is no university. We therefore also hope that today is the beginning of a sustained campaign by students and workers to undermine and repeal this authoritarian measure.”
We call on university management to rescind the injunction immediately and for any criminal charges against student protesters to be dropped.
Hannah Dee (Chair, Defend the Right to Protest Campaign)
Jelena Timotijevic (Convenor, Defend the Right to Protest Campaign, UCU NEC, Brighton)
Nina Power DtRtP and Senior lecturer University of Roehampton
Alfie Meadows acquitted protesters
Rob French (University of Sussex UCU Branch Secretary)
Maria Da Silva (Education Officer Sussex Students’ Union)
Daniel Kane (University of Sussex UCU Executive)
Tom Hickey (UCU NEC and Brighton UCU)
Professor Luke Martell (University of Sussex)
William McEvoy (School of English, University of Sussex)
Pam Thurschwell (University of Sussex UCU Executive)
Sue Currell (University of Sussex UCU Executive)
Sheila Cullen (Brighton UCU secretary)
Louise Purbrik (University of Brighton)
Alison Phipps (University of Sussex)
Dr Michael Kearney (University of Sussex)
Catherine Bergin (University of Brighton)
Melanie Gill (University of Brighton)
Mark Abel, (University of Brighton)
Dr Maïa Pal (University of Sussex)
Dr John Drury (University of Sussex)
D. Daniel Aguirre (Regent’s University, London)
Dr Anthony Cullen (University of Leeds)
James Hampshire (University of Sussex)
Jim Wolfreys UCU President KCL
STUDENT OCCUPATIONS ARE NOT A CRIME Rescind the injunction, drop the charges