Forceful Eviction of Peaceful Sit-In at Nottingham University

The peaceful protest occupation in solidarity with Gaza of lecture theatre B62 ended abruptly last night when senior management instructed security guards to forcefully evict the protesters.

After a weekend of being locked into a small section of the Law and Social Sciences building, power cuts, and a threat of disciplinary measures; the University management decided to forcefully evict the
protesters. At 6pm today (Sunday, 1 Feb 2009) on the 5th evening of the occupation security personnel accompanied by senior members of University management entered the occupied theatre. The students were told they had two minutes to leave and there was no opportunity given for discussion. Within this time the team (of approximately 12) from Nottingham Security began physically removing the protesters. The protesters seated themselves on the floor and passively resisted their efforts. Approximately 25 of the protesters were dragged from the building, some receiving carpet burns and bruised limbs from being placed in restraining positions.

Cameras were physically removed from the grasp of a few of the protesters and there is currently no footage or photos of the removal. The BBC were reportedly denied permission to access campus in a blatant act of censorship by the University. As they were being removed a student began to inform the police of events. When they arrived the police kept the protesters outside the north entrance of the Law and Social Sciences building, however they did not address any student claims of assault. The head of university security addressed the protesters and said they would be allowed in one at a time to retrieve their jackets and other items of property, but only if they showed their student ID.. Another security person said that no personal details would be taken (footage available) however once inside it was discovered that this was not the case. Anyone wishing to retrieve their property had to have their names and student numbers recorded. All of this took close to three hours, the students were forced to endure sub-zero temperatures and snowfall. Some simply decided to abandon their property from fear of punishment or due to weather conditions. Especially after the peaceful nature of their protest many of the students are consulting legal advice following the use of, what they considered, excessive force that caused some physical injuries.

Once again, the University of Nottingham distinguishes itself by acting in the most repressive and disgraceful manner against what was a very peaceful, very civil expression of dissent. This is yet another
example of the University Authorities trying to enforce a homogeneous culture of apathy and consent across the student body. Students who engage with the realities of this world are seen as a threat to the University's PR image of enforced servility parading as stability.

The protest has not disrupted any lectures. The room was available for lectures at all times and many lecturers and students verified the fact themselves. The University is to blame for any disruption as they are the ones who cancelled the lectures without consulting the students or the lecturers. As seen in previous episodes such as the AUT graylisting and the Freedom of Speech protests, it is obvious the
views and opinions of staff and students mean nothing to the authorities of this institution.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Eviction

[lylethelion]

So you asked for Notts Uni to shut down the on campus Star bucks and offer 10 free scholarships to Palestinians.

And to do so you trespassed and (almost) disrupted the learnings of HUNDREDS of students.

And you wonder why they used force to get you out? Seriously, grow up and get a job hippies. We don't care what you have to say. NO one cares what you have to say.

[PurpleTomato1]

The protesters have gone a bit quiet recently, maybe they've finally realised how stupid they've made themselves look.

[BlackNeon9]

@SleepySnooze lobbying doesn't work the system is corrupt.. the system must fall, and under its own weight and flaws, it will.. this is an example of the brutality of the system at its lesser extreme :-)

[FlamingFairy]

How disappointing - I was hoping to see some whining pantywaists get their arses kicked

[mr420B]

@ClementsTom i highly doubt anyone who is sympathetic to the people of palestine would just forget about it

[mr420B]

@lylethelion so anyone who stands up for the rights of people in other countries, who are being opressed by a country we fund (isreal) - is a hippy? i thought that the USA and UK and Isreal were all wanting peace, and to stp 'terrorism' are they hippies?

[ClementsTom]

Bunch of bourgeois idiot students. They'll be living in middle-class monotony in 10 years time and won't give a shit about Gaza and Palestine. They ought to do something more constructive than piss off the local constabulary with this embarrassing "protest".

[RugbyClens]

Typical students, wetter than a damp cloth. God damn hippies!

If you really believed in your cause, you would have fought for it.

[barnetbloobird]

stupid fucking lefty students

An embarrasment to the university

[SlackY101]

Get a Grip.

[biancalovessisteract]

Haha. "Real crime"? You must mean the arrest and detainment of students who download documents from US government websites for their dissertations.

Of course... that's what they need more time for.

[MrRAndom5]

lol dumb students think theyre helping, this wasnt reprted in any news and you made fools of yourselves.

ISRAEL FTW!!!