Defend Simon Furse and Kelly Rogers

Left Unity stands in complete solidarity with the students at Birmingham University whose only ‘crime’ has been to defend education. Re-instate Simon and Kelly!
Dear comrades,

We are writing on behalf of Defend Education Birmingham calling for solidarity with our comrades Simon Furse and Kelly Rogers who have both been suspended from our university following arrests after a protest that ended in a sit-in and then kettle on campus. For more on this, read http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/police-accused-of-kettling-student-protesters-at-a-national-demonstration-in-birmingham-9095907.html.

The letter below has focused the issue down to its simple core – the suspensions from university. The letter does not comment on the arrests that were made. We stress that this is not because we believe the arrests to be correct, but rather that we hope to gain more signatures on the basis that students should not be suspended due to their sit in.

At the time of writing we do not have details concerning what, if anything, the arrestees will be charged with. We will update you as soon as possible with these details.

We want all of you, in whatever official or personal capacity, to sign this letter as well as mobilise any high profile contacts you have to also sign this letter. It is our further aim to get this letter into the Guardian or Independent in order to raise the profile of these suspensions.

This has been an extremely tough time for the group and we know many comrades will want to express their support and solidarity for Kelly and Simon. Thanks for all your help.

Best,

Defend Education Birmingham.
Letter concerning suspensions

Two University of Birmingham students, both well known activists Kelly Rogers 21 and Simon Furse 22, were suspended today following a national demonstration on campus yesterday. An email from Dr Chris Twine, Director of Student Services, was sent around the College of Social Sciences stating that the two students, “have been suspended from study and barred from University premises with immediate effect.” The email goes on to state that the students are “not to be allowed access to any teaching or learning activities.”

These suspensions follow a national meeting and demonstration at the University of Birmingham which culminated in the occupation of the Aston Webb’s Great Hall. When the students attempted to peacefully leave the Hall, they found themselves kettled by police officers and University security. The students were held there for over four hours, before being released one by one to be questioned by the police at 6pm on Wednesday the 29th. Along with twelve other protesters they were held for over 24 hours in Birmingham police stations.

These suspensions are at odds with freedom of speech and the right to protest, setting a threatening precedent for how dissent is dealt with on campuses across the country. These actions follow recent suspensions at Sussex University which have directly targeted those who use their democratic right to speak up and demonstrate for the betterment of education. We believe that the suspensions seen at the University of Birmingham are further evidence of the contempt for freedom of expression, both political and academic, in the contemporary university. It is becoming more apparent that those who manage our education have very little interest in serving those students and lecturers without whom education would not be possible. We condemn these suspensions in the strongest terms and call for the immediate readmission of the students affected.

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This email was sent to all CoSS staff today:’Dear colleagues The following CoSS students have been suspended from study and barred from University premises with immediate effect (in accordance with University Regulation 8):

Simon FURSE (1077679) Economics & Pol Sci, year 3
Kelly ROGERS (1079556) BA International Relations with Pol Sci, year 3 This is following a review of evidence from yesterday’s demonstration and subsequent police actions.

The should not be allowed access to any teaching or learning activities. Should they attempt to do so, please get in touch with me. We would not wish to disturb any teaching activity that they attend, but may want to speak to them afterwards.

Kind regards
Chris Dr Chris Twine Director,
Student Services E: c.r.twine@bham.ac.uk