The Sussex University Protesters Were Evicted Yesterday

Yesterday afternoon, a reported 80 police, 30 bailiffs and 25 private security guards showed up at the University of Sussex to evict students who'd been occupying a campus building there for the past eight weeks. Considering the students there weren't holding anyone hostage or threatening violence of any kind – merely protesting the proposed outsourcing of 235 campus jobs – the military-style assault that the eviction resembled seemed a tad heavy-handed.

First, a team of bailiffs scaled the building, using pneumatic drills to break down doors and entering the occupied conference centre from the roof and through several fire escapes. While 13 police vans waited on the street below and bailiffs executed a visibly well-planned operation, occupiers sang songs of resistance from a terrace to supporters below.

Following the bailiffs' entry, the occupiers made their way down the stairs and joined the crowd of supporters outside. In the process, one student was arrested.

Protesters responded by sitting down in front of the convoy of police vans in the hope of preventing police from driving off campus with the detainee. Three other students were subsequently arrested, reportedly on grounds of obstruction.

A spokesman for the anti-privatisation campaign announced that footage will be released showing that activists were assaulted by private security and police while being arrested.

“Today’s actions are indicative of the authoritarian management culture at the university, in which they are willing to bring in external security, appeal to the High Court and carry out an eviction. This only reinforces what we’ve been fighting for: a campus free from privatisation and run democratically by students and staff,” said student activist, Adriano Merola Marotta.

Following a national demonstration at the university last week, university management obtained a court injunction prohibiting anyone from “entering or remaining on the campus and buildings of the University of Sussex for the purpose of protest action (without the consent of the University of Sussex)” until September 2013.

In light of this injunction, the university management were subsequently granted a possession order for the entire campus by the High Court of Justice, sending a clear message that property rights prevail over the right to protest.

Many have argued that the injunction, which bans all forms of protest, contravenes basic human rights under international law, namely the freedom of expression. Unnamed barristers are reportedly seeking to challenge the injunction in the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of the protesters, pro bono. Meanwhile, students haven’t exactly been put off by the ruling, only organising further demonstrations against both the proposed privatisation and the injunction itself.

Despite the High Court of Justice’s ruling last week, which enabled today’s eviction, staff and students seem only more determined to resist the proposed privatisation of services. Support for the campaign has been widespread, with 10,000 people signing a petition against the oursourcing and injunction, and 25 MPs signing an early day motion opposing the university’s privatisation proposals.

With the occupation over, campaigners are looking at other means of resisting privatisation if the movement isn’t to grind to a screeching halt. But, for the time being, momentum seems to still be on their side, with strike action by campus staff looming round the corner. “Our campaign is only going to get stronger. We’ll keep on fighting,” said Adriano.

More from the Sussex University occupation:

Was Yesterday the Start of a Summer of Student Fury?

Students at Sussex University Are Into Their Third Week of Protest