A group of students organised in the UCL Social Forum, UCL Stop the
War Society and the UCLSSWS, together with other activists, occupied
the UCL (University College London) on the eve of the national march
against the occupation of Iraq. The aim of this protest was to bring
attention to the imperialist war in Iraq while also providing somewhere
to stay overnight for other students who were arriving from all over
England to attend the demonstration that took place on March 19.
The action started with the tunes of the Samba band “rhythms of
resistance” on the evening of March 18. Around 60 students broke into
one of the rooms and for 16 hours provided a space where discussions on
the forthcoming General Elections, the G8 summit and the current
struggles of the Trade Unions were held. Room for stalls was allocated
in order to allow campaigning groups to distribute their propaganda.
Within a few hours, they were joined by dozens of students and
activists from outside UCL. Some anti-war activists, trade unionists
and Hands Off Venezuela supporters went there to express their
solidarity with the students. The political debates were followed by
various bands that entertained the students.
The students put up banners with slogans such as, “Students are not
products, teachers are not tools, Universities are not factories.”
Another banner read, “Students are revolting. Our college, our space”.
In the morning the students headed for the demonstration and joined
the thousands of protestors who met in London to demand the troops be
brought home.
