"International Student Movement"

50,000 resisting privatisation of higher education in London

About 50,000 people from across the UK came together for a demonstration in London today to protest government's plans to massively cut public spending and increase tuition fees up to three times the current level. Hundreds, if not thousands came from as far as Scotland.

The cuts are expected to hit the arts and humanities hardest, as funding for science, medicine and engineering is likely to be protected. In practice, this means universities which are able to charge the full £9,000 should raise enough money to provide a full spectrum of courses, but newer universities are likely to focus on vocational degrees where they can be sure of attracting students. The fear is that the arts, especially modern languages, become the preserve of the most privileged students.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters took over the headquaters of the Conservative Party (Tory), the Millbank Tower. Workers inside the building were evacuated. A fire was lit in front of the building, eggs were thrown and windows were smashed.

A group occupied the roof top and released a statement warning that "this is only the beginning".

Well, how about uniting internationally on November 17th?

At least 14 people had to be taken to hospital. Protesters were kettled by police forces in front of the building. Many were handcuffed. A police spokesman said 32 people had been arrested for a range of offences, including criminal damage and trespass. Those arrested are being taken to a police stations across central London including Westminster and Fulham.

• twitter: #demo2010
• detailed "live" coverage on guardian.co.uk
• reports published afterwards: guardian.co.uk - afed.org.uk
• page on facebook

• this statement with a list of supporters was released a day after

Following the occupation students moved on to Parliament Square and declared a Free University!

Even the mainstream media in Germany reported about the protests - which would have never happened, had it not been as energetic. (tagesschau.de)

-----------

In Dublin (Ireland) about 500 people also gathered for a demonstration against the police attacks on November 3rd today.