Press release for immediate use
Latest form the Leeds Occupation:
Please find attached Leeds Occupation press release. For interviews please contact the press rep: Georgia Emblen – 078214 53935 (please note Georgia will not be available between 11.30am and 5.30pm on Thursday 9th due to participating in the protest in London).
Following talks with the University of Leeds’ secretary, Roger Gair, the occupants and University staff have mutually agreed on the date of Saturday 11th December to end the occupation. The occupiers are planning on marching out triumphantly to join with Leeds Against the Cuts (a trades council initiative) in the city centre for a rally which will be followed by a tax dodgers tour of shame. The tour of shame will be a collection of ‘mini protests’ outside major tax dodgers’ shops, in order to highlight how ordinary people are forking out for the benefit of the super rich. It is estimated that £120 BILLION has been evaded by these companies.
Occupier Georgia Emblen stated, “I am glad that we have come to an agreement with the University and we can end the occupation on good terms. We have managed to achieve one of our demands, and we have also managed to set up the Leeds Education Assembly to help further our anti cuts campaigning. The occupation has been a massive success, and I look forward to strengthening our campaign.”
Occupiers also participated in yesterdays protest in Leeds and are travelling down to London early this morning for the march on parliament. After the protests yesterday, morale in the occupation was high, and the occupiers celebrated by making banners and placards in preparation for travelling to London.
100 students are occupying the Michael Sadler building, Leeds University, in protest against crippling tuition fee rises, draconian education cuts, the scrapping of EMA, and the all out assault on the living standards of ordinary people and the welfare state. The building was occupied following a hugely successful day of action on Wednesday 24th November. 3,000 Leeds students participated in a series of student walkouts, protests, and marches, with many workers joining in solidarity. Since then we have organised an Education Assembly of over 200, and another strong protest of 500 on Tuesday 30th November. It is a democratic occupation where all decisions are made by working groups and mass meetings. We demand the Vice-Chancellor refuses to implement cuts or tuition fee rises. We also demand that there are no victimisations or repercussions for those involved in the occupation, protests and walkouts.
For more information please contact press rep Georgia Emblen 078214 53935 (please note Georgia will not be available between 11.30am and 5.30pm on Thursday 9th due to participating in the protest in London).
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