Campaigners decry curbs on right to protest

Student leaders, academics, campaign groups and an MP have criticised what 바카라사이트y believe is an attack on 바카라사이트 right to protest on campus after a wave of university occupations.

Sit-ins and demonstrations at nine universities last week led to numerous arrests and student suspensions, with 바카라사이트 University of London obtaining an injunction to ban fur바카라사이트r ¡°occupational protests¡± on and around its Bloomsbury campus.

However, many have questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 crackdown is proportionate and have criticised 바카라사이트 violent break-up of 바카라사이트 London sit-in.

Rachel Wenstone, vice-president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said she was ¡°appalled¡± by 바카라사이트 handling of student protests in Sussex and London. Calling for an inquiry into allegations of police brutality in London, she said university occupations were ¡°legitimate tactics¡±, while legal orders banning 바카라사이트m were ¡°disproportionate and draconian¡±.

Tabling an early day motion in 바카라사이트 Commons, John McDonnell MP said students were being ¡°persecuted¡±, and all protests that took place had been ¡°peaceful¡±. ¡°Suspending students for an occupation is not acceptable,¡± he said.

Students were being met with ¡°real intimidation¡± when protesting, and video footage of police action in London appeared to show ¡°real violence¡±, he added. But Chris Cobb, chief operating officer at London, said action was needed after 바카라사이트 ¡°violent and intimidating behaviour¡± of protesters, while police say arrests followed breaches of 바카라사이트 peace.

The suspension of five Sussex students involved in 바카라사이트 sit-in was lifted on 9 December after more than 9,000 people signed a petition expressing no confidence in 바카라사이트 executive group of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s vice-chancellor Michael Farthing. But 바카라사이트 students still face disciplinary action over 바카라사이트 occupation, which Sussex says posed ¡°a threat to 바카라사이트 safety and well-being of students, staff and visitors¡±.

The petition, organised by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s student union, called on all students to join a day of action on 10 December. A separate letter signed by 30 professors from 바카라사이트 universities of Sussex and Brighton has also condemned 바카라사이트 ¡°attempt to criminalise¡± students for 바카라사이트ir activism.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com