NUS Student Protest: You Had To Be There

From the beginning, I knew it was going to be one hell of a long day.

On Wednesday the 10th November 2010, students from all around the UK boarded coaches and other assorted means of public transport to join as one group, in order to protest against rising tuition fees.

Being a current student at Teesside University in the North East of England, this meant setting off in our convoy of 3 privately hired coaches at the unholy time of 5:15am - there was plenty of time within our exhausting 6 hour journey to London to catch up on our missed sleep.

Our arrival in London instantly replaced our fatigue with a new sense of excitement and anticipation. As our coach parked by the Victoria Embankment we could see many other students who had also decided to join the cause, all walking alongside the River Thames on their way to the start of the march.

With over 50,000 students present, the march took a while to get some movement going. In the meantime this gave me perfect opportunity for me have a look at all the signs and banners brought along.

The most common signs gave a direct and simple message about the injustice of education cuts.

There were also a variety of very light hearted and comical signs, like this 'kitten' sign.

I also saw one hastily scrabbled together sign that was an ominous indication of things to come.

Gradually students began to move; the march was now underway. There was definitely a tangible energy about the place and it was liberating to march past such famous political landmarks like Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament.

There was also a variety of interesting costumes worn by some of the more creative protesters. My favourite was someone dressed up as the grim reaper but with a David Cameron mask.

The good humour was also continued by the occasional musical instrument brought along to the march. A guy cheerfully played staccato phrases on his trumbone inbetween the student chanting.

The chants that students shouted had different levels of anger and malice. The most common chant was:

“No ifs, no buts, no education cuts”

Then there was the more aggressive:

“You cut back, we fight back”

And finally the chant that created an angry mob:

“Build a bonfire, build a bonfire put the Tories on top,

put the lib dems in the middle and then we burn the f**king lot”

That bonfire. That infamous bonfire at Millbank tower where there was vandalism and riots. It's amazing how the actions of the few can taint the actions of the many.

Generally though it was a very peaceful, successful protest. A very serious message was delivered: students won't stand for the rise in tuition fees and education cuts.

After spending the day on my feet and travelling halfway across the country, it was time for me to get back on my coach and brave the 6 hour return trip back to Teesside University.

I always said I knew it was going to be one hell of a long day.

Nick Adams
Guest Contributor