(Live Blog) Tuition Fees Protest: 4,000 Police Deployed As Students March On Capital

Student Protest

Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 09/11/11 09:34 GMT Updated: 10/11/11 10:17 GMT

Thousands of students and activists are marching through central London to protest rising tuition fees.

More than 4,000 officers have been put on duty around Wednesday's demonstration - the largest number of police to hit the streets since August's riots.

Scotland Yard has estimated that 2,000 protesters are taking part in the march, while the organisers of the protest put the figure closer to 10,000.

In the City protesters are being tightly controlled by police lines as they make their way along their planned route. The demonstration is being held by police near Moorgate in London's financial district.

The protesters are to be allowed to stay at the rally point for two hours before being dispersed.

Further west several protesters had set up tents in Trafalgar Square, but police moved in to clear them out. Several arrests have been made.

Demonstrators in the Square were chanting "no democracy, no peace" and handing out copies of the newspaper - "one year on students march again".

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See below for a map of the route protesters are taking:


View Tuition Fee Protest in a larger map

Police are aiming to prevent a repeat of last year's fees protest when Conservative Party headquarters in Millbank was attacked. Only 225 officers policed the demonstrations and the Met are taking extra precautions after anarchists threatened to turn the peaceful rally into a "sea of rage".

On Tuesday, Scotland Yard announced rubber bullets would be "available" for use in cases of "extreme disorder".

One student told the Huffington Post UK ahead of the march that he did "not object to violence".

Mike Shaw, 20, said: "I'm going to protest peacefully but I don't think protestors being violent damages the cause. It does shine a bad light on the protest, yes, but if people want to smash a few windows then... We only got the attention of the press and government last year because of attacks at Millbank."

The Edinburgh University student is heading down to the capital on an overnight coach, along with 150 other protestors.

"Most of the violence is coming from the police which is what I am afraid will happen tomorrow. The announcement of police threatening us with plastic bullets - all that serves to do is heighten tension and keep people away who would usually have attended."

Ben, 21, from Sussex University told us at the protest: "I'm really pleased with how today went. I think most of us are. Obviously some peopel wanted there to be trouble so the police would react and there would be more of a story for the media.

"But I think they're in the minority. We're educated young people. We know the answer isn't violence.

"Whether today will make the government sit up and listen I don;t know. I guess we will have to wait and see."

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Police have packed up their riot gear at London Wall and most of them have gone now too, the BBC reports.

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@ CO11MetPolice : Only road closure remaining in place at present is at London Wall

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Our reporter heard a disappointed man, who came looking for a fight, say: 'I thought today would be a big one. Ain't the numbers you need though. This is shit".

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Lucy Sherriff, our education reporter, has wondered passed a street party on Coleman Street, where someone has brought along huge speakers. They will be moving the speakers to St Paul's in 15 minutes, where they will carry on the celebrations.

A policeman said that there were only 100 protesters left around London Wall, if that. The horses have left, but a few riot vans remain.

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Our reporter Michael Rundle is at the Concert:

"Protesters are gathering at a Billy Bragg sing-a-long. Pete Seeger, the American folk singer, is swaying by the fence, smoking a pipe, backed by a peace flag in the sunset. Workers are stopping by to watch".

"The crowd is also waiting for Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine to come on stage".

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@ michaelrundle : Big crowd at Bragg's sort of sing along, if anyone knew his songs. Cheers for Tom Watson there too. http://t.co/HYc1Oeq3

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'Step forward and make that victory happen' says Billy Bragg to the crowd, Michael Rundle reports from St Paul's.

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One banker, trying to get home, said his journey had been "severely disrupted" by the protests. "I had the afternoon off- what a waste of a day. I've spent the whole time walking around trying to find the nearest tube which hasn't been closed due to the protests."

Another man, who works as a financial advisor in the City said he had "no sympathy for either bankers or students."

"Its the middle classes kicking up the fuss. The ones protesting are the ones who can afford to take the time off. Those who are really poor can't just protest when they feel like it. I was the first in my family to go to university. I'm working class. Education is the only way for the lower classes to get out- its a fact. If you want to get a good job, it does cost you. I think those protesting should put their money where their mouth is."

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LBC radio report from the scene that protesters seem to think they are being kettled, while the police are attempting to announce that they can exit at Moorgate. Confused protesters tweeted that were being kettled but they are free to leave.

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@ CO11MetPolice : March orgs been advised that they can remain at London Wall for 2 hrs in compliance with the order issued earlier by AC Owens #Nov9 #9nov

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@ journojames : Video from Museum of London. Taken 5 mind ago. #studentprotest #demo2011 http://t.co/64dXCZRM

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The protest has reached the end of the route at London Wall, with a calm atmosphere pervading - though the crowd look unlikely to disperse immediately.

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@ tmorello : Running well behind but WILL get to St. Pauls to occupy rock occupy rock occupy rock

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Michael Rundle, our reporter, has spotted a litter picker: "he is already cleaning up at Trafalgar Square".

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@ CO11MetPolice : The head of the march has entered Holborn Viaduct. A number of arrests have been made #Nov9 #9nov

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A protester called Ed told our reporter Michael Rundle as he was arrested that he had no regrets, and that he'd be back to the protest as soon as he was out on the street. He referred to the police as "slaves to the system".

Other protesters at the Trafalgar Square cordon are shouting 'no democracy, no peace' and handing out copies of the newspaper - "one year on students march again".

One protester called Oscar has been at the Occupy London protest since it began. He explained that protesters were at Trafalgar Square because they needed more space:

"As long as it gets the message out to the right people then its worth it," he said, adding that the police response to demonstrators with tents did "exactly what we wanted it to".

"Well'l be back again and again and again.'

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Police are forcibly removing tents and protesters in Trafalgar Square, as seen in this picture taken by our reporter Michael Rundle.

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@ PennyRed : It's all kicked off at end of new fetter lane, police horses being attacked with sticks, police boxed in and lashing out #nov9

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Police are moving in on the encampment of tents at Trafalgar Square, our reporter Michael Rundle says.

Officers broadcast a message that the protesters had deviated from the route and if they didn't move they'd be arrested

Around 30 police officers have started moving the tents by forces, and two protesters lying on the ground were picked up by officers. Forces have surrounded all entrances to the tents on the square.

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@ lou31 : Protest now looking more bad tempered - a surge from the back and some placards being thrown #9nov http://t.co/BE41hvEx

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Those in pop-up tents in Trafalgar Square are soon to be told to move on or be arrested, BBC News is reporting.

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A number of arrests have been made so far for public order offences, the Met Police has tweeted.

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The police has stopped the protest from moving forward temporarily by New Fetter Lane to calm the protest down.

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Delay outside the Old Bailey while a stray protester is coaxed down:

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2 riot vans have joined the march to stop the people walking too quickly by Somerset House. The protesters are back on the prescribed route now, according to our reporter Lucy Sherriff who is walking alongside the protest.

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Huge cheers are heard from the crowd as police allow more protesters through to join the demonstation.

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Some protesters have gone past Trafalgar Square towards the Houses Of Parliament, rather than towards London Wall as agreed with police. They are going to be "contained", according to one policeman. "They were warned about leaving the prescribed route", he told our reporter Lucy Sherriff.

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Thousands of students and activists are marching through central London to protest rising tuition fees. More than 4,000 officers have been put on duty around Wednesday's demonstration - the larges...
Thousands of students and activists are marching through central London to protest rising tuition fees. More than 4,000 officers have been put on duty around Wednesday's demonstration - the larges...
 
 
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11:32 AM on 11/11/2011
If I walked down the street in the middle of the night with a crowbar, a couple of screwdrivers and a mask over my head I would be arrested and CHARGED with 'GOING EQUIPPED' even though I haven't actually done anything - surely the same should apply to these protesters that attend these marches equipped with masks or scarves over their faces so they can't be identified later if there is trouble. If they have no intention of taking part in any trouble should it occur they have no reason to conceal themselves.
06:18 PM on 11/09/2011
The mainstream media / nightly news will not report this in the US. They very rarely report on the OCCUPY movement at all. Many of us feel like they do not want people to know what is happening.
Our news outlets and television stations are owned by large corporations and if it's not in their best interests to report a story, they will hide it all together. They must think that if they ignore the protest movement that it will go away.
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John michael Adams
04:20 PM on 11/09/2011
socialists... lol so funny.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ussuri
ask questions, question answers
04:19 PM on 11/09/2011
occupy London
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
BcemXAHA
אני כלום בלעדיהם
05:31 PM on 11/09/2011
bs
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ussuri
ask questions, question answers
05:41 PM on 11/09/2011
Jerusalem belongs to the Palestinians.
Long live Palestine !

occupy London
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laterthanyouthink
My snark font is: ON
01:24 PM on 11/09/2011
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

People of the world - it's time.
lastpost
see biography
12:32 PM on 11/09/2011
"We only got the attention of the press and government last year because of attacks at Millbank."
Lets condition the people to believe that their only recourse to right what they consider wrongs is not the referendum, but riotous behavior. Then, when it all kicks off, wring our hands and say “Now why on earth did that happen”.
Another classic was last evening’s televised refusal to supply requested information. Transparency has finally manifested itself in government. If only in that crystal clarity, with which incessant disingenuous claims of its existence can now be seen clean through.
12:59 PM on 11/09/2011
This is spot on. If the 1,000,000 people protesting the Iraq war would have gone on a mad rampage history may have been different in terms of our participation.

Jezzz - 1,000,000 people walked through London and it made no difference whatsoever.
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OhioYippieHippie
☮ If I'm free, it's because I'm always running.
05:23 PM on 11/09/2011
stop marching and walking START TAKING
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06:08 PM on 11/09/2011
I'm afraid I have to fan you, even though you have ruined my evening by making me wonder whether I should have smashed a few windows after all... :-(
11:58 AM on 11/09/2011
Eves - Police
6/4 Students
4-1 Draw
10-1 Rubber bullet used
50-1 PM resigns as a direct result of something that occurs today
100-1 This protest has any impact on legislation moving forward
10:40 AM on 11/09/2011
It is true that police have a difficult job, but that is part and parcel of the job, to maintain their composure. But watching their actions as a group is very telling.

During the Chinese Torch carry in 2008 the police were systematically shoving any citizens who were unlucky or unwise enough to get within reach of the police. This was happening at street corners and pathways along intersections. It was clearly aggressive in nature and not gentle, sending numerous people to the ground.
It was strange to witness because it served no useful purpose. Police shoved citizens in any direction, no rhyme or reason to it.

Add Kettling to the mix and most free societies would have to question authority, so in the end maybe it is exactly what the masses need to wake up and realize that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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laterthanyouthink
My snark font is: ON
12:51 PM on 11/09/2011
"the masses need to wake up"
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06:09 PM on 11/09/2011
I think it's the government that needs to wake up. These kids are awake.