LAST TUESDAY over 80 students from the University of York marched into the city centre to protest against the proposed cuts to higher and further education, the scrapping of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and the raising of the cap of tuition fees.
Upon reaching Parliament Street, the University contingent joined with students from York College and York St John University, as well as hundreds of pupils from secondary schools across the city.
Estimations currently put over 500 people in attendance, all of whom embarked on an impromptu march around the town centre after a brief rally by the Parliament Street fountain.
The students initially marched towards Coppergate, but were turned back by police. As an alternative they then headed for St. Helen’s Square, where they rallied outside the Guildhall. Chants such as ‘Nick Clegg, shame on you, shame on you for turning blue,’ and ‘Education is a right, not a privilege’ could be heard echoing around the square but students quickly became restless and moved up Lendal towards the inner ring road, holding up shoppers and passersby as well as traffic.
Although the march was lively, there were no reports of violence to persons or to property. A moderate police presence was visible on the streets of York but following Tuesday’s proceedings, relations between the authorities and students remain amicable. A small group of students were able to climb the steps up onto the city wall where they waved placards and led chants, but were quick to descend after the march picked up again.
After the march, protesters assembled once again on Parliament St, where speeches were made by students from the University, members of York Socialists, and representatives of local trade unions and other activist groups in the city of York.
Footage of the march has been captured for Vision by Jamie Arden.