Warwick ‘Free Education’ campaign protesters occupied the lobby of Senate House at the University of Warwick yesterday afternoon at 3pm to stage a peaceful protest regarding the proposed rise in tuition fees to £16k.
As pictures demonstrate, twenty-five members of the organization gathered in the lobby of Senate House, armed with a mere banner, to host a sit-in protest – reminiscent of the countless peaceful student protests of the past. However, what they did not expect was to be ambushed by armed policemen, who were determined to end the protest.
Free Education Campaign protesters gather in the Senate House lobby, armed with a banner.
Shocking video clips, which were filmed by protesters as the events unfolded, reveal police brutality on a group of campaign protesters who were simply protesting the rights of their education. Footage reveals police storming into the Senate House in the late afternoon, attempting to quickly disperse the crowd of students who, not expecting the arrival of police, began to panic.
A Student sprayed directly in the face with the CS spray.
The videos reveal police possession of a Taser, which can be heard loudly crackling in the background. It has been reported that the Taser was not used against any of the students. Photographs taken after the protests further illustrate the police’s use of CS spray, commonly known as pepper spray, on a number of the bewildered students.
Three students were arrested at Warwick University yesterday afternoon. One on suspicion of assault and the two others on suspicion of obstructing police. As of last night, none of the three students have been charged.
It has become clear that Senate House called the police, requesting them to break up the protest after an alleged attack on a member of their staff. A spokesperson for West Midlands Police Department said:
“Police were called to reports of an assault at the University of Warwick Central Campus in Coventry this afternoon”.
However, sources at the scene dispute this claim. One protestor states:
“We absolutely refute any claims that there was an incident of ‘unprovoked violence’. We were sitting down on the floor with a banner when the police came in and started to shout and throw punches. They did not disclose why they were there or who they were coming to apprehend.”
Shortly after yesterday’s events, Warwick’s Student Union issued a statement proclaiming their stance on the matter. They state:
“We stand in solidarity with students who were unnecessarily harmed in this action, and our primary concern is obviously with the welfare of those who were directly affected by yesterday’s events”
However, as a student body, they assert that they are; “appalled by the severity of the Police’s actions last night” and are keen to demonstrate that the Union will be taking action by questioning the University’s senior management team to “demand clarification and answers on behalf of the student body”.
As of now, the future of student protests and police involvement at the University of Warwick remains unclear. However, the call for a further protest to take place at 3.30pm today has been taken up by over 1,200 students who will attend the peaceful protest staged in response to last night’s events.
The Student’s Union recognises this and urges “all those attending to exercise good judgement, caution and restraint when participating in what are understandably emotional circumstances for many”.
What will happen at the University of Warwick in the next few days is unknown. It cannot be predicted whether the protests will spread onto other campuses or even other Universities. However, what is known is the strong anger felt by Warwick students who are standing up against the injustices thrust upon their students.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6zDcYXCsec
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/shocking-video-police-cs-spray-8223393
Images:
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/shocking-video-police-cs-spray-8223393
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/shocking-video-police-cs-spray-8223393
Edited by Harriet Dunlea