An Instagram video showing a Black student being restrained by security guards who demanded to see his student ID has sparked more unrest at the University of Manchester.

The video was filmed in the early hours of Saturday morning, when security on Fallowfield campus restrained, Zac Adan, 19, as he returned to his halls.

Security guards can be heard repeatedly asking Adan to give them his identity card, while he insists he is a student at the university.

on friday evening 2 security guards at manchester university’s fallowfield campus assaulted a black student. They repeatedly said that he looked like he didnt belong and there is a lot of drug dealing going on on campus #hmpfallow  #9k4what #occupyuom #studentsdeservebetter (1) pic.twitter.com/LinixM66eZ— izzy (@izzy_b32) November 15, 2020



izzy on Twitter

Adan told VICE World News he was racially profiled by the security staff. “It was horrible. It was really really horrible. I literally just left my friends as it was happening, and I was on my own when the incident happened. I was really lucky someone recorded it.”

“They said they didn't recognise me, that there'd been a lot of drug dealing on campus. I said, that's got nothing to do with me, and it was very very obvious,” he said. “They were so adamant that I didn't go to this uni. It must have been based on what I look like, also known as my skin colour, my tracksuit, my hoodie.”

He added, “It's clear, clear racism.”

The incident comes at a time of growing tensions between students and the university. In the past month students [have torn down COVID-security fences](https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5bgqw/university-of-manchester-lockdown-fences) that were erected without warning, and[ occupied a tower block](https://www.vice.com/en/article/akdg5j/university-of-manchester-rent-strike-occupy-tower-block) as part of a rent strike.

Further protests are now planned as a result of the incident involving Adan, VICE World News has been told.

Students in England have expressed scepticism at government plans to evacuate all students from university halls for Christmas, while also stopping the spread of coronavirus across the country.  The Department of Health plans would involve mass testing across campuses, and a travel window that would stagger the return of students on public transport between the 3rd and 9th of December. The Department of Education has encouraged universities to roll out online learning to facilitate the transition.  Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said: “The mass movement of students across the country at the end of term presents a really significant challenge within the COVID-19 response. The measures announced today will help minimise that risk and help students get home to their families as safely as possible for Christmas. It is crucial that students follow the guidance in order to protect their families and the communities they return to.” However, many students have expressed concerns about the implementation of the plans. “I can't see how it's enforceable because you've got thousands and thousands of students across the country,” Barnaby Fournier, a first-year Manchester University student told VICE News. “If you don't go home during that week it's not like they're going to chain your door so you can't go home anyway.” “It's quite disheartening because we're already missing out on so much compared to the traditional uni experience,” he added. “So to be sent home ten days before we were meant to go home to just sit in our room is just another blow.” Fournier says the new travel window has disrupted students who may need to fly home and had already made travel plans. "I think a lot of the anxiety around finding out now is why didn't the government plan this out before we came?” he says. “One of my flatmates is from Belfast, so she has flights booked out for the 19th when term was meant to end, so that's put her plans into complete havoc." Students also expressed concern that the possibility of being forced to isolate in halls after testing positive could deter students from taking part in mass testing. “Testing itself I imagine is really going to appear scary to students,” Ben McGowan, a first-year Manchester University student said. “The threat of being locked in halls on your own whilst everyone else goes home if you test positive could discourage a lot of students from testing at all.” Some believe it will bolster a nationwide <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k9pke/bristol-university-students-rent-strike-pandemic" target="_blank">rent strike movement</a> that’s calling for the potential suspension of rents while online learning is used.  <div class="article__embed article__embed--vice" data-related-article="true" data-children-count="0"><iframe src="https://www.vice.com/en_uk/embed/article/g5bgqw/embed" frameborder="0" style="border:0px none;margin:0px" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> McGowan, who is currently striking over rent, says this recommendation – asking students to leave their halls earlier than normal – only justifies their anger: “I think if any universities have the gall to charge any rent for the next month they’ll rightfully face a massive resistance when rent is due in the new year.” Larissa Kennedy, the NUS national president, told VICE News that more support is needed for students: “Students were sold a lie about the experiences they would have on campus, just to extort them for their rent and fees. That’s unacceptable.” “What we need right now is support for students who have to isolate,” she added. “And if universities and Westminster aren’t going to come through, we, students are organising to take this ourselves: we’ve torn down fences, gone on rent strike, held protests and campaigned, and we’re prepared to do it for as long as it takes for the government to realise that students deserve better.”

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The University of Manchester said it had suspended the security guards in the video pending the results of an investigation, and had spoken to Adan.

“We are deeply concerned by these images,” the university said in a statement.

We are deeply concerned by images circulating online (involving one of our students and security staff).We have spoken to the student concerned, launched a full investigation and have suspended the security officers (without prejudice) pending the results of this investigation.— The University of Manchester (@OfficialUoM) November 15, 2020



The University of Manchester on Twitter

But Adan said the university had not been in contact with him. “I am so, so pissed off,” he said.

“I know I'm going to be taking it further, so what they do is up to them. At the end of the day, this militant regime they've got on campus has to stop. If they don't stop it, we'll stop it.”

'It Was Horrible' – Black Student at Protest-Hit University Says He Was Racially Profiled

Operation 'Evacuate All Universities in England' Won’t Work, Say Students

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