Dear Lee Sanders, Stuart Richards, Carolyn Pike

RE: Legal notice

We have been informed that the University of Birmingham has blocked all accesses to the North Gate House. This is a legal offence as we have secured our squatting rights to reside in this building. Indeed, if any residents become ill due to your negligence in restraining access to food, water, legal advice and other supplies you will be considered liable. Furthermore, such practice constitutes “false imprisonment” and is indeed another infringement on our rights.

We therefore demand that you remove all obstructions immediately.

Yours,

The residents, 1 North Gate House (R), B15 2TT, Birmingham

Update 13:49

A crowd of students and staff have just managed to get through the blockade and have delivered us fresh supplies. Photos soon. Thanks for the solidarity.

Update 14.02

The University of Birmingham Guild of Students, in defiance of the university, has just delivered us food. Thanks guys.

Update 16.34

We have agreed this statement of international solidarity.

We offer solidarity with students, teachers, pupils, parents and education workers who have been fighting the privatisation and marketisation of education; who are fighting for free and emancipatory education. We are with all who are fighting the so called “Bologna-Process;” which is cutting the quality of education all across Europe and robbing Europe’s youth of a decent education.

While we take action to build local pressure to change our individual institutions and governments, we must always be aware of the global and structural nature of our problems and learn from each other’s tactics, experiences in organizing, and theoretical knowledge. Short-term changes may be achieved on the local level, but great change will only happen if we unite globally.

We are inspired by the students and workers who have lead the struggle against tyranny in the Arab world; who are giving their blood to overthrow the military dictatorship in Egypt right now. The struggles of Greek workers and Chilean students are examples we should seek to emulate.

We back the work of the international students movement which is uniting struggles worldwide and we back the joint international statement.

Update 18:06: In an amazing act of solidarity the Guild of Students have just given to us 27 freshly-baked pizzas (one for each occupier) hand-delivered by the Guild President himself.

Update 19.34

As the occupation continues into the night, the University of Birmingham Guild of Students has now released this statement of support.

update 22.44

new statement in reply to the University of Birmingham

https://brumoccupation.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/response-to-the-university-of-birmingham-with-regards-to-our-occupation-reinventing-our-university/

Update 23:30

A student has just been assaulted. They were punched three times through a open window by a university security guard who seemed to be attempting to force entry into the building. Police called and are now on site.

Update 23:40



The solidarity occupiers on the street outside have been threatened with arrest by university security for ‘breach of the peace’ and have moved down the road. Police have left after we gave witness statements to the above assault.

24/11/2011

Update 00:03

University security behaving very childishly and vindictively. They’re now preventing us from sleeping by constantly ringing the door bell, banging on the windows and laughing despite being told to leave us alone.

Update 00:09

Uni security surrounding the building with cameras and torches trying to record us through the curtains. Still ringing the door bell every few minutes apparently trying to get us to go to the door so they can film us.

Update 00:21

Uni security still ringing the doorbell constantly and laughing… It’s like they’ve just discovered this hilariously original prank.

Update: 00:36

University security attempting to force entry again. Have forced a window open (damaging the window frame in the process) and trying to get through the window. Update 00:58 Stand-off between university and students. Police officer on the scene has refused to stop the attempts to break into the building as he says we are ‘illegal occupiers’ and refused to give his ID number when asked. Update 01:15 Sorry for the lack of updates, very difficult situation at the moment. Security are continuing to surround the building banging on doors and windows however seem to have given up trying to break through the window for now after we re-secured it. A large group of supporters has gathered outside the building now which seems to have put security off continuing to attack us. We thank them all very much for their support. Update 01:21: We have now discovered that the ‘police officer’ we talked to earlier was actually university private security impersonating a police officer and the police were never actually there. Update 01:36: We believe the university private security man who took part in the first assault (punching an occupier three times in the face through an open window while trying to force his way through) has been taken by the police for questioning. We seem to be in something of a ceasefire now that there are too many people outside the occupation with cameras for the security to continue their completely illegal attacks. Crowd outside are singing for us, the solidarity is wonderful 🙂 Update 02:08 Due to security backing off to deal with the new protest outside we managed to fix the damaged window and have now re-locked it. People power works. Update 11.18 Student supporters of occupation to discuss what next for the occupation? They are meeting at 5pm today at the Muirhead Tower. “Right everyone, so a few of us decided that we should perhaps all get together for a little bit and discuss what to do next, in terms of solidarity and creating a more visual and dynamic presence, what other things can we do outside the occupation other than just voice our solidarity with the occupiers inside? Some people have cooked up a few ideas already, but if you have your own then make sure you can come to this today! It’ll only be half an hour.” Update 11.36 We have just received this solidarity message from Birmingham against the cuts, which alliance of grassroots campaign groups and trade unions from all across Birmingham. Update 11.53 We have received this statement of support from the national campaign against fees and cuts http://anticuts.com/2011/11/24/statement-on-university-of-birmingham-occupation/ Update 13.03 BBC West Midlands have arrived with camera crews outside the occupation. Update 16.08 The university are trying to get a High Court hearing late notice in two hours time to get an interim possession order against us to force us out of the premises. Update 18.03 we have received this letter of solidarity from university of birmingham students To the occupiers, We are sorry to see the way the university has reacted to your peaceful occupation; we are ashamed of our university’s actions. On a day when over 10 universities all across the country went into occupation it was only the University of Birmingham that decided it would crack down on peaceful protest. The attack on the occupation last night and the blockade that they have enforced on you is entirely disproportionate. Especially considering that your occupation, even according to the university, has not been disruptive. We believe, like you, that people should be treated as human beings and the university should be run for the public good, not as a business. The cuts to pay and pensions of support staff already on poverty pay is morally abhorrent, especially while high paid university mangers take pay rises of as much as 11%. We stand with you in your opposition to the cuts to staff pensions, which are the main cause of the strike on November 30th; we also want to offer solidarity to staff unions. We like you, think it is important we support the strike on November 30th because if we want to retain the brightest and best academics in the UK as our teachers, then we must give our lecturers fair pensions. We would like to point to the university that the Guild of Students itself fully supports the strike on November 30th, this is clearly not the belief of a minority. The university seeks to portray you as a minority opinion on campus. This is not true: we are elected representatives from all across campus and we support you wholeheartedly. We would be in occupation with you if it were not for the blockade the university has put on the occupation and for fear of the threat of disciplinary actions that university is using to smother dissent. Stay strong if the university take action against you, we will be there to defend you. Solidarity Edward Bauer – VP Education Kelly Rodgers – Women’s Officer Guild of Students Leander Jones – Community Action Officer Guild of Students Ben Aylott – Chair Postgraduate and Mature Students Associaton, University Senator Susanne Kluber – Chair International Students Associaton, Guild Councillor Daniel Harrison, Chair, Birmingham Labour Students, Guild Councillor Mma Yeebo-Agoe – Ethnic Minorities Guild Councilor Alice Swift – Chair of People & Planet, Campaigning & Political Mini-Forum Guild Councillor and Ethical & Environmental Committee member. Sean Farmelo – Philosophy, Theology and Religion Guild Councilor and Ethical and Environmental Committee member. Bryn Gough – Political Science Guild Councillor Nazakit Mohammed- Civil Eng Guild Councillor Carmern Castrillon – Arts, Cultures and Langauges Guild Councillor Yusri Hamidi- Computer Eng Guild Councillor Antoine Vallatos – Chemistry Guild Councillor Anwar Sattar- Post Graduate Guild Councillor Usamah Khalid- Open Place Guild Councillor Zain Ali- Open Place Guild Councillor Muneeb Akhtar- Chem Eng Guild Councillor Sam Weaver, Biosciences Student Representative Sivan Lavie Oxfam Co-chair Rosie Pinsent Chair of Art Soc Sebastian Egerton-Read – Secretary Student Broad Left Laura Hamilton, Geology Student Representative & Lapsoc Vice President Amanda Moorghen, Philsophy SH Student Representative Update 18.33

We have received this message of solidarity from occupy Birmingham, who are camped in the centre of town.

“We, the occupiers of Birmingham, are disturbed to see the way the university has reacted to your peaceful occupation. The University of Birmingham has, alone, reacted with aggression and has sought to harass those of it’s students that have offered their solidarity to trades unionists and occupiers.