Up and down the land

Over one hundred thousand students took part in yesterday's day of action against tuition fees. Overall it was a great success, with occupations, walkout and marches going on up and down the land. Here is a selection of voices/moments from the day:

Soas

The occupation in SOAS is one of many acts by all of those who are going to be negatively affected by the cuts we are to be shackled with. The actions the government wish to effect are a few weeks away, we will remain committed to expressing our views concerning the *right* to a non-elitist, non-corporate education system before and beyond (if necessary) the coming 'act'. We reiterate our absolute solidarity with those who have been subject to confinement-without-release within the arms of the law, for the best part of a freezing day. The expression of opposition to government should not be pre-figured as a criminal act. The police took up what is known as a 'Kettle' formation within an hour of the arrival of the protestors- thousands (yes, thousands) of whom are high school children. While the physical presence and movement of the protestors is part of the expression of their opinion, the physical presence of the police and their deeply intimidating formation marks their antipathy to such expression...

Central London

Met Commissioner said during the press conference that he had "no record" of police officers on horseback charging at protesters during yesterday's demonstrations.

But here's an account received by email from Dylan, who says that he was at Downing Street yesterday at around 6pm among the protesters:

Police in riot helmets were gradually pushing us back on foot, but when that proved ineffectual, they brought forward a line of horses. Assuming the horses were just there for show, we continued protesting. Then the horses charged. This sounds like a complete exaggeration but there's no other word for it. The horses charged forward at a canter, through the crowd. I pulled my friend out of the way just in time, but I saw a girl, around sixteen or seventeen, get trampled. I didn't see her get up. Another man was trampled and immediately helped up by other protesters.

Dylan adds:

Earlier I had also noticed an incident in which a police officer was clearly out of control. A girl at the front of the crowd, nearest the police, was yelling, "Peaceful protest, peaceful protest!". He screamed "FUCK OFF!" and punched her in the face. It's interesting how, despite the presence of reporters at the scene, none of this has been in the news...

Oxford

An 800 strong student march has ended in the occupation of one of Oxford's most famous buildings. The picture postcard view of the dreaming spires was shattered at about 1pm, when a 20ft Free education' and 'Fight the cuts' banners were hung from the top windows of the Radcliffe Camera, the round building made famous in countless TV shows and films.

Passing marchers vaulted the ornate fence and rush into the building, leaving a large police contingent and university staff to watch helplessly.

Around 300 protesters entered the historic monument to chants of 'education is a right, let's kick 'em out and fight, fight, fight'.

A sound system was also taken inside and after an initial victory dance the occupiers debated the terms of the occupation.

Immediate proposals were to demand the university declares its complete opposition to rises in education fees and any and all cuts to the public sector. Also agreed was solidarity with anyone arrested in the Millbank withhunt.

The protesters included school students, FE students, HE students, lecturers, trade unionists and also members of the public who had joined the noisy march earlier.

Several attempts at entry by the police have already been beaten, and despite the presence of riot vans and police horses outside free food is being distributed and a quiet area is available for those who were studying in the building when the occupation started...

Central London

Students from universities, FE colleges and schools are still either protesting or kettled by the police in Whitehall.

Helen, 14, came to the protest in Whitehall from a school in West London, in uniform with her friends. She told Socialist Worker, “About half of the school walked out today at lunchtime. The teachers didn't try to stop us, but we're worried that tomorrow we'll get done for skiving. We're here to save education. It's hardly like we're having a day off."

Her friend, who is 15 was arrested. Helen added, “They're arresting people for doing absolutely nothing. If we hurt the police we would go to prison, but I've seen them hitting and lashing out and it's us that get arrested. Its not fair."

Daniel came from and FE college in south London. He said, “When I got in to college today community support officers were outside. They tried to stop us assembling for the protest. But they failed and we came here to peacefully protest.

"But everywhere I look there are police. I don't understand why they're wearing helmets and hitting people when we’re here to stop the government not just from wrecking our lives, but for the lives of our younger brothers and sisters. In south London kids from our school get stopped and searched all the time. It’s like they've got it in for us.”

While some protesters are still kettled in Whitehall others are now blockading Westminster bridge.