The National Union of Students (NUS) have called for their members to protest in London on 21st November over the rising tuition fees and reduced employment.
It is the first national protest the NUS has called since the tuition fees protest in November 2010 that descended into violence.
That protest saw a group of activists smash windows, throw missiles and starts fires at the Conservative Party headquarters, with dozens of people injured and the police making more than sixty arrests.
NUS president Liam Burns has called for a new generation of activists to set an agenda for the next general election.
In a video to members, Burns said: “You’ve got a lot to be angry about. You’ve had your education systematically attacked across the board by the coalition. And even if you get to the other end, what have you got to look forward to?
“Youth unemployment is at an all-time high, getting on the property ladder is next to impossible and we don’t even have the safety net of pensions to look forward to any more.
“In a year in which there are no votes in Parliament and no legislation coming before politicians, it’s about time we started setting the agenda.”
You can see Liam Burns announcing the demonstrations on his official blog on the NUS website here: http://www.nus.org.uk/en/news/liam-burns-blog/dates/2012/6/video-blog-demo2012-announcement/
Although, as the Education Officer for Reading University Students’ Union at the time who was responsible for bringing in our ‘Blueprint’ policy, I supported the 2010 Demonstration against cuts and fees I find it difficult to find a reason to support #Demo2012. The purposes, as yet, are unclear and the reasons for calling students out on the march haven’t been justified. That said, I will be there on 21st November marching in solidarity with this generation of students and the cause.. whatever it turns out to be.
http://tommygilchrist.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/students-why-they-should-stop-marching/