THE Young Socialists March for Jobs and Free State Education marched from Wolverhampton to Birmingham yesterday.
And last night they were staying at the Irish Centre in Birmingham, and were having dinner and a shower, both organised for them by the GMB union in the city.
Today, students from Birmingham University are joining the Young Socialists marchers for a march through the city.
Birmingham University students union welcomed the Young Socialists march on their coaches down to London for Wednesday’s mass National Union of Students demonstration and the YS marchers are looking forwards to meeting them again.
Young Socialists marcher Monty said of Wednesday’s march in London: ‘Thousands of students marched yesterday against education cuts.
‘We were marching to demand jobs and free state education.
‘Our slogans rocked the march.
‘They were: “What do we want? Free state education! When do we want it? Now!, Workers, students youth unite! Forwards to a general strike!’’
‘When all the students unite with the workers that will be the end of this government.
‘The only thing they need is the leadership.
‘We came back on our march last night and today we are marching from Wolverhampton to Birmingham to build the leadership.’
Half of Wednesday’s march in London was dispersed at Parliament Square, when stewards announced that police had blocked the road and they could go no further.
YS marcher Lydia said: ‘The NUS leaders never wanted a march in the first place.
‘Due to the pressure from the mass of students, they called a march, but they called for fees to be frozen instead of abolished, which is what the students wanted.
‘Huge numbers of students made the great effort and sacrifice to come down to London from every part of the country.
‘Our slogans were meaningful and strong and truthful to what we’re fighting for.
‘They attracted a lot of attention and lots of students started shouting with us: “Education must be free”.’