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UK Democracy- British police disrupt students’ peaceful march in London


Scuffles broke out between student protesters in London and the British police at the Parliament Square, where police sought to disrupt a peaceful students march.

On Wednesday, up to 10,000 people, including students from across the country descended in central London to march against high youth unemployment, debt and the increased cost of university tuition fees.
The National Union of Students (NUS) chose the slogan for “Demo 2012” as ‘Educate. Employ. Empower’ to reflect and give voice to a host of problems affecting not only today’s students but an “entire generation”.
The marchers started off in a positive mood, but as the weather turned cold and rainy and the protest headed through south London many demonstrators became discontented with the NUS for sending the route so far from publicity-friendly central London.
Earlier, some activists had announced their dissatisfaction with the official route of the demonstration.
The march ended in a chaotic rally in south London, where the stage was invaded during a speech by NUS president Liam Burns.
At present, 21.9 percent of under 25-year-olds are not in work or education. At the same time, funding for the Job Centre services, which advise young people on getting back in to work and training, has been cut.
Rising tuition fees will always be a component of the protests, but this time the focus is on unpaid internships, postgraduate study and bursaries, to name a few.

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