by Adam Williams
awilliams@thekmgroup.co.uk

Canterbury students have slammed the violence which marred Wednesday’s national demonstration against rising tuition fees.

Lauren Crowley, vice president (education) at Kent Union, was among more than 500 students and lecturers from the University of Kent who joined the march through Westminster, which was overshadowed by damage to Conservative Party headquarters at Millbank.

She said: “After months and months of preparation from officers across the country, it was a real shame to see the headlines on the news and I’m genuinely stunned by what happened.

“Lots of the students who came with me were very upset by the actions of a few.

"It was billed and promoted as a peaceful protest and there was no sign at the start it would turn out like it did.

“It’s undermined so much of what we we’re trying to do. The government aren’t going to give into that kind of violence and extremism.

“The press coverage we had received up until the start of the march was enough to get our message across without needing to take it any further.”

A small group of protestors broke into the foyer at Millbank, breaking windows and furniture, with some also making it on to the roof.

Lauren added: “At first, we knew very little about what was happening. The march was due to go past Millbank anyway and finish at the Tate Britain.

“We were just following the people in front and when we got to Millbank, we were being waved towards the building by a marshall.

"We walked into the courtyard until one of my colleagues spotted people burning things at the front and we quickly decided to take our group away from there.

“Some journalism students went back to get some footage and pictures for our papers, but they were stuck there until around 5pm.

"We were all supposed to return to Canterbury by bus at 5pm, but in the end, we didn’t leave London until 8pm. Quite a few were told to stay in the student union at LSE where there was an after-party, as the roads had been shut off.”

Adam Porter, president of the NUS, added: “We are deeply disappointed at the actions of a minority of those 50,000 people who attended.

"Their actions were shameful, dangerous and counterproductive.
“We did everything we could to organise a peaceful and responsible action but sadly it was hijacked and our press coverage overshadowed.”

Pictures supplied by Kim Conway.

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