Police accused of using excessive force at student protests

Website link to video: Police ‘try to hit students with batons’ at protest

Students were involved in a series of angry confrontations with the police in central London on Thursday as allegations circulated that officers had used unacceptable levels of force to break up campus protests more than the previous few weeks.

Video footage obtained by the Guardian appeared to present one officer striking a hooded protester in the encounter right after college students occupied portion of the University of London Senate Home headquarters on Wednesday.

On Thursday about 200 college students held a “Cops off campus” rally outdoors the University of London Union creating, which led to more violent confrontations with scores of officers that spread to surrounding streets. A Metropolitan police spokesman mentioned there had been 36 arrests.

Michael Chessum, president of the University of London Union, explained: “The level of police force that we have noticed in the final couple of days is absolutely unprecedented on university campuses. It seems pre-planned. It is as if they are reacting to a riot situation – taking the degree of force – and utilizing it towards college students protesting on a university campus.”

On Wednesday, demonstrators had occupied element of the University of London Senate House headquarters. Police and the university’s private security staff broke up the demonstration and five protesters had been arrested, with one particular held on suspicion of assaulting an officer.

College students claimed the police and personal safety staff had been unnecessarily violent and accused officers of assaulting them. Video footage seen by the Guardian appeared to show one particular officer striking a hooded protester in the encounter. In the footage, the demonstrator – who gave his identify as Tee Jay – fell to the ground and the crowd was pushed back.

Jay, 24, from Hackney, north-east London, explained: “Nothing was mentioned. The police have been attempting to clear the crowd of individuals. I turned my back to [the police officer] to variety of walk away, he pushed, I kind of turned round to see who it was – ‘Why are you pushing me?’

“The punch came and I went straight to the floor, then I acquired up and left.” The University of West London media production student said he was component of the group that occupied an region of Senate Home.

Another protester, Helen Singh, a philosophy pupil, claimed she was pushed over by officers, who were “punching men and women indiscriminately”. “We had been walking away from the protest. I was pushed to the ground and my glasses smashed into three pieces,” she stated.

A police spokesman mentioned: “We have acquired no complaints in relation to police action at Wednesday’s protest.”

On Thursday, at a demonstration against police techniques, which had been organised before Wednesday’s incident, about 200 demonstrators marched from the pupil union to Senate Home.

When demonstrators arrived, there have been skirmishes with police, who have been previously within the premises. Several much more police vans arrived and more than the subsequent two hrs there have been a series of clashes among small groups of protesters and police in the surrounding streets. College students again claimed the police had been hefty-handed.

Chessum mentioned he believed the “unprecedented response” by the authorities was component of an try to cease the student protest motion gaining momentum.

“They know from 2010 [when there have been large-scale pupil protests in London and close to the country] that this kind of heavy-handed policing puts individuals off, and I think this is what they are making an attempt to do this time.”

Police accused of using excessive force at student protests

Police officer accused of punching student at University of London protest

The University of London’s Senate Home, exactly where students staged a sit-in. Photograph: Sarah Lee for the Guardian

Three pupil protesters were arrested on Tuesday following a group occupied a university developing in protest at how their university is currently being run. Police said one was held on suspicion of assaulting an officer, but the demonstrators also accused police of assaulting them.

The protesters mentioned they occupied portion of the University of London Senate Residence headquarters. Following currently being removed by police, they claimed they would proceed their protest at a central London police station, the place they believed their fellow protester was getting held.

Video footage noticed by the Guardian appeared to present a police officer punching a single hooded protester in the encounter. In the footage, the demonstrator – who mentioned his title was Tee Jay – fell to the ground and the crowd was pushed back.

Jay, 24, from Hackney, north London, explained: “Absolutely nothing was explained, the police had been trying to clear the crowd of individuals. I turned my back to [the police officer] to kind of walk away, he pushed, I type of turned round to see who it was – why are you pushing me?

“The punch came and I went straight to the floor, then I received up and left.” When asked whether or not he would consider action he additional: “What can I do? Appear how a lot of of them there are. If I go up to that one particular officer they’d all just grab me yet again.”

The University of West London mediaproduction student mentioned he was portion of the group that occupied component of Senate Property.

A single protester claimed she was pushed more than by officers, who have been “punching folks indiscriminately”. Philosophy student Helen Singh explained: “We had been walking away from the protest. I was pushed to the ground and my glasses smashed into 3 pieces.”

The University of London Union (ULU), launched a statement, which study: “We are still investigating what took place inside, but first reports indicate that protesters have been assaulted by each police and safety: thrown to the ground, kicked and punched, and dragged to the ground by their hair.”

And ULU President Michael Chessum wrote on Twitter: “Today’s eviction … was one of the nastiest, most brutal I have seen on a campus in a extended time. Spitting with anger.”

In a statement, the college students wrote: “Close to 60 college students staged a peaceful sit-in, issuing ten demands. Their demands integrated a halt to privatisation, fair pay out for staff and that a controversial program to close the pupil union is cancelled.”

In a statement launched earlier in the day, the college students claimed to have “taken over the principal management corridor and the vice-chancellor’s workplace in opposition to the way our university is getting run and the way the greater training sector as a total is managed”.

The statement read even more: “University of London management is behaving in a disgraceful and unaccountable method, and we have no selection but to take direct action.”

The Metropolitan police explained that one particular individual was arrested and held in custody on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. A spokesman explained that two other people have been arrested to stop a suspected breach of the peace and have been later on dearrested. The spokesman stated that an “approproate amount of officers” were sent to reposnd with the demonstration, which started at “around 14:45″.

Extra reporting by Dulcie Lee and Ben Jackson

Police officer accused of punching student at University of London protest

Students accused of racism for blackening their faces

College students at York University dressed as characters from Awesome Runnings. Photograph: Allstar/Cinetext

In York, 4 male college students have been criticised for painting their faces black and dressing as characters from the movie Awesome Runnings, in which a group of Jamaicans enter a bobsleigh competitors. The college students wore black morphsuits, had painted black skin and 1 donned a dreadlock wig.

The information follows reports that law students in Edinburgh this month painted their faces to dress as Somalian pirates for an “all around the planet” themed celebration. Meanwhile at the University of London, a student with a painted black encounter lately won a fancy dress competition at a union occasion.

“I’ve observed that it’s taking place a lot more now,” says Aaron Kiely, Black Students Officer for the NUS. “It really is deeply worrying, due to the fact it fuels racist stereotypes about black folks.

“If you are a black pupil strolling about campus and you see men and women who have dressed up to mock you, what sort of setting does that make for folks who want to discover?”

Isabelle Scott and Sairish Tahir, racial equality officers at York University, agree that the phenomenon is on the rise: “Perpetuating racial stereotypes to develop shock value seems to be an increasingly common theme across younger individuals at universities now.”

They level out that painting faces black was a well-known form of enjoyment in the 19th century. “Blacking up is steeped in a background of discrimination, degradation and bigotry. It started in the 19th century to dehumanise an complete race for the amusement of the privileged and elite.”

Helena Horton, a pupil at York University, says not everyone is convinced there’s anything incorrect with blacking up: “A whole lot of men and women have defended [sporting black paint], saying ‘what’s incorrect with black faces anyway’, and ‘it’s a joke – they’re having exciting, not currently being malicious’.”

“‘Bad taste’ or ‘politically incorrect’ events are in vogue at the second,” says Eleri Watson, a pupil at Durham University, who has held discussion groups about racism and sexism at university.

“At a single party we heard about, white men and women blacked up to pretend to be slaves. There have also been people dressed as Nazis, the twin towers and Jimmy Savile. It truly is typical to see costumes like that. It is branded as banter or as ironic.”

“Some men and women consider it truly is funny,” says Sofia Hewson, a pupil at Durham University. “And if you get in touch with them out, you happen to be branded as humourless. Students are in a cocoon at uni, where they don’t have to participate in true lifestyle and they’re protected from being judged.”

In lad culture, racism and sexism can thrive, says Hewson. “Students are in a bubble and so some believe they can do what they want.”

“Universities look to give students who do factors like this a slap on the wrist,” says Watson. “In the actual planet you could get fired, or be punished by law. If college students go into a job and anticipate that it really is alright to behave like this, then they will have a rude awakening.”

The student union at Birmingham University lately tried to tackle the problem by banning any costume deemed racist from campus venues. The blanket ban drew criticism from several college students, for focusing on all costumes that could be witnessed as racist, like some based mostly on fictional nations.

So is a blanket ban the best way to go?

Jonathan Blausten, a student at Birmingham University, wrote an open letter criticising the union’s ban at Birmingham and accusing it of “perverting what is a really important conversation”.

He stated: “By cutting out even the slightest mention of race, or by hunting for wrongdoing when it isn’t there, they are providing themselves no leg to stand on when somebody is in fact racist.

“There is no difference in therapy, and no space to make an illustration of a person. This stupid, catch-all policy is lazy, and students are currently being punished for no explanation.”

But when it comes to painting faces black, several come to feel a hardline policy is essential and justifiable. “I fully support a zero tolerance approach,” says Kiely. “We have to say that it truly is unacceptable, particularly on our campuses and in public spots.”

More awareness is essential, some students say. “It’s a case of modifying the culture,” says Watson, “rather than getting a ban.”

“We need to have to advertise a healthier culture,” says Hewson. “Universities need to have to actively discourage racism and raise awareness, not just place measures in area once something has happened.”

Students accused of racism for blackening their faces