"Protesters being applauded from offices as they walk through London Wall," reported Twitter user Mark Briggs. It was just one of hundreds of similar Tweets that emerged from those on the ground, as students and other supporters demonstrated against crippling tuition fees. Thousands joined the march itself, on November 9th 2011, with many others cheering them on from office windows, bridges and atop scaffolding. It appeared that many ordinary Londoners were firmly on side.
Despite the fears of police chiefs, the protest passed peacefully.
London Workers Encouraging Student March Against Tuition Fee Rise
The Tweets came thick and fast, filled with almost incredulous good will. Anthony Powis was evidently in the vicinity of Mr Briggs, as his report independently verified the public encouragement, "Getting some applause from workers at London Wall! Feels great." Meanwhile HeardinLondon was similarly saying, "City workers cheering the students into London Wall."
The white collar workers were not alone. An hour before, the march had passed by a building site. Several people Tweeted that there were calls of support from the top of the scaffolding. A typical report came from Anna Machell. She wrote, "Construction workers cheering us past." As the protest went on, Penny Red noted that the builders were now raising fists and hard hats, all work apparently abandoned. Shortly afterwards, she saw one of them raise a placard reading, 'Unite the Fights.'
At a different location, Naomi Westland overheard the comments of another witness, "Electrician tells protesters he's grateful for all their support and to keep up the fight."
"People cheered on from bridges as the protesters passed," stated RedBrickNews, as the rally drew to a close. These reports constituted just a small selection of the many that appeared under the hashtag #Nov9 throughout the course of the demonstration. There were no Tweets noting dissent nor booing.
London Workers Demonstrate Their Own Support for the Student Protest
Not all of the reports were second-hand. People inside London Metropolitan University were highly visible in their show of support. As demonstrators marched by outside, a large banner was draped from upper windows of the institution. It read, 'London Met is not for sale.' Many marchers spotted it, including Omar Azir, who snapped a photograph and wrote, "Crowd cheering as banner hung outside building. Reads: London Met not for sale."
November 9th: Splinter Protests in Trafalgar Square
Meanwhile London Black Cab drivers amassed to fill the streets around Trafalgar Square. As passer-by David Wilkinson posted a Twitpic recording the event, no-one seemed quite sure what was happening. Slowly but surely details emerged that this was the famed taxi drivers also protesting. Ryan Gallagher was at the scene and asked what was happening. He was told that the Black Cabbies were 'protesting against the refusal to allow taxis access to the Olympic network.'
This was the second demonstration at the landmark London site during the course of the day. As the anti-tuition fees rally had passed by the square, between 20 and 30 marchers had emerged from the crowd with tents. These had quickly been erected at the foot of Nelson's Column, between two of the iconic lions.
BBC News's Victoria Hollins spoke to some of the encamped protesters, as they sat in the entrance of their pop-up tents. Some claimed membership in the Occupy Movement, while others stated they personally were campaigning against the rise in tuition fees. The joint demonstration was quickly closed down by a large police presence. After notices and verbal announcements warned campers that they would be arrested, police moved in to do just that.
Around twenty people were detained under Section 12 of the Public Order Act. A police spokesperson told the BBC that these protesters had broken the law by deviating from the agreed route.
Why Were the Students Demonstrating in London on November 9th 2011?
HIstorically, higher education has been free in Britain for the first degree. Any citizen was allowed to apply for any university course and not only would their fees be paid by local authorities, but a living allowance grant was payable. For those who still needed extra funding, then student loans provided it. These had very favourable terms and repayment could be deferred until the individual was earning enough for this not to become a hardship. In this way, thousands of British people achieved the qualifications for better jobs.
Personal liability for tuition fees was first introduced by a Labour government, but it was capped at a limit of £3,000. This was still too much for Britain's poorest families, who were already under-represented in higher education. Nick Clegg's Liberal Party campaigned in the General Election on a ticket of scrapping all tuition fees again. However, this policy was not followed once they became part of a Coalition government with the Conservative Party.
From 2012, the Coalition has given universities the right to charge their students up to £9,000 a year to study for their degrees. Completely pricing the working classes out of higher education, this now leaves students with the prospect of graduating under the shadow of huge personal debt.
The majority of those marching in London have been affected by this policy. They are either current students facing debt or prospective students now unable to enter university due to financial concerns.
Jo Harrington - Jo has a BA (Hons) in History and Philosophy and a MA in History. She has a book published on the history of Wicca.
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