Brighton March for Free Education: Cats not Cuts

Hundreds turn up for the cause


The student demo for free education kicked off yesterday in Brighton.

The demo moved from The Level and into town, visiting various places along the way, including Starbucks, TopShop, Brighton courthouse and Barclays.

Many shoppers watched as students paraded down the main street stopping traffic by blocking the bus lanes.

The spirit was compelling, and there seemed to be more people than at the beginning as they all packed into a small space and made a real statement.

We spoke to Amber Rose, a free education activist who spoke to the crowds before the march.

Amber says: “People from all walks of life came along, showing Free Education is not an isolated issue amongst students, but is something the wider community supports.

“There was a positive spirit yesterday and real sense of hope that Free Education could be a reality. It was particularly nice to see that there was no police violence after the attacks at Warwick earlier this week”.

Brighton’s demo comes after police attacks on student protesters in Warwick where they used tear gas and pretty violent tactics.

But scenes yesterday were peaceful.

Amber believes that: “This movement is not simply about monetary free education but free in every sense, free to feel safe in campus, free to greater choice in education, free to protest on campus, and freedom to be spoken and heard on campus.”

Police presence was pretty tame

 

The activist added: “Good higher education is a system in which no person is excluded from it, it is a public good… shared not sold.

“A system in which students have a greater choice in how and what they learn, with a greater acknowledgement that students are different and learn differently, and that they have the right to a say in the structure of their own education.”

Where you at the event yesterday? Get in touch or let us know your thoughts in the comments.