Tuesday 22 March 2011

Thugs and Police Smash Hetherington Post-Grad Club Occupation

Police and security workers have used extremely heavy handed methods to break up the occupation of the Hetherington Club.


The occupation had been getting coverage from across the media, and indeed across the world's media, as a decent, worthwhile retaking of a building - and creating a space that was helping students and the people of Glasgow.


Frances Curran, Scottish Socialist Party Spokesperson condemned the heavy handed actions of the private security company and the Police, saying,  “Students, university staff and the wider public need some hard answers about this totally over the top action by Strathclyde Police.


“All those involved in both the University hierarchy and the senior levels of Strathclyde Police must give a full account of their actions, how much they cost and how they justify what looks like a scandalous misuse of public funds to retake a closed building." (full statement HERE )


The thuggish and over the top action by the security forces come just as Parliament ends.  Various political representatives had praised the occupation and the occupiers for bringing a much needed and loved building back into the use it was originally charged with - concentrating on the welfare of students.


Scots Makar Liz Lochhead, singer song-writer, Billy Bragg and Comedian Mark Steele had visited the building, praising the work of the occupiers.


At time of going to press, the occupiers have managed to take over the Glasgow Uni Senate, and have been joined by Lefty rocker, David Rovics


SSP member and former SSY Spokesperson, Jack Fergusson appeared on SSP NewsNight Scotland tonight. (our podcast featuring Jack talking about the occupation can be found HERE )


For a full account of the Police actions, please visit the Scottish Socialist Youth site
The Free Hetherington Blog
More in the Morning Star.
BBC Coverage

***STOP PRESS*** - Just after the Newsnight Scotland Programme, @glasgowoccupation tweeted:

 glasgowoccupied 
The Free Hetherington. Reopened by request of Senior Management!
 glasgowoccupied 
We have won the Free Hetherington back! This evening management offered us the Hetherington on condition that we...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Where did all those cops come from? 80 odd and 18 vans just sitting about doing nothing better on a Tuesday morning?