"International Student Movement"

The Union of Students Ireland (USI) called for a demonstration against a possible increase in registration fees for university students. In the end up to 40,000 people flooded the streets.

Students from Free Education for Everyone (NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway) and the Students in Solidarity Network (University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin) issued a call for a clearly visible left-wing presence a demonstration against the re-introduction of third level fees, in the form of a registration fee increase or otherwise.

The following report was sent to the ISM mailing list:

The Students in Solidarity Network and the Free Education for Everyone Campaign called for a "Left Block" in order to mark ourselves out from the political leadership of USI, many of whom are members of neoliberal political parties. We lead a breakaway from the main demonstration and approx. 2000 students joined us. First we had a short protest at the Irish Parliament building before going to the department of Finance which was occupied by between 30 and 40 students.

After some time the police managed to force us out of the building, after doing so they baton charged the supportive crowd outside repeatedly, even after we began a sit-down protest.

Mounted police, riot cops and dogs were all brought out.

Several students suffered head injuries, and one female students was knocked unconscious. A few arrests. As usual the media aren't too friendly so far, still to early to gauge public reaction.

USI released a statement condemning us . FEE and SIS released a joint statement since then.

A number of photos have emerged showing students having sustained serious injuries at the hands of Gardai.

The following video gives you a pretty good idea of what happened on that day:

~ free-education.info [II] ~ youtube.com [II, III] ~ bbc.co.uk ~ indymedia.ie ~

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On the same day dozens of students occupied the Deptford Town Hall at the Goldsmiths University in London (UK) to protest cuts. Barricades were set up outside the management office. Interviews were held with the BBC.

In the end the occupation lasted for 24hrs.

PS: November 10th will see a huge demonstration in London against cuts in public education.

~ savegoldsmiths.tumblr.com ~