From the Guardian Buoyed by their recent action on Gaza, thousands of students are set to march through central London today demanding the abolition of tuition fees for university and college education... ..."The NUS has abdicated its responsibility to members by giving up on mass campaigning." ...Wes Streeting, the president of the NUS, has faced criticism from campaigners over his refusal to back the campaign and his condemnation of the recent Gaza protests. watch video at solomonsmindfield

Wes Streeting National Union of Students President said: "I also remain alarmed by reports of antisemitism on too many of our campuses. While criticism of Israel is perfectly acceptable and many of the protesters have campaigned peacefully, there can be no justification for the kinds of incidents that have been recorded on our campuses and in our communities. It is the responsibility of us all to not only face this reality, but to challenge this kind of racism head on." Gaza Solidarity broke the news on 9 February - see the full statement from Streeting here A response from the President of Essex University Students Union, Dominic Kavakeb, to the national president, Wes Streeting's slurs linking student Gaza occupations to anti-semitism Posted at SOAS Students in Solidarity with Gaza Wes Streeting has disgracefully played the race card to criticise the wave of student activism. In response, Dominic Kavakeb (Essex university) has written the following response: We would l...

GazaSolidarity spoke to John Carroll in the National Union of Students press office concerning the reported support of the President for the wave of student occupations sweeping the UK. The official position of NUS is being sent to us and will be posted as soon as we get it. [update 17.25 GMT] see the official NUS position sent to us a moment ago: NUS President Wes Streeting said: "I do believe that student political activism is alive and kicking, and is to be encouraged, but I do not believe that these occupations have been the student movement's finest hour. "Students have every right to campaign actively and vocally on the situation in the Middle East, as well as wider political issues of the day, but all students also have the right to study in an environment that is free from disruption, intimidation or harassment. Where students are currently occupying teaching and learning spaces on campuses up and down the country, they are causing significant disruption to the ...

From the Manchester University occupation The Manchester Uni occupation applauds Wes for this sentiment. We would be very happy if he came over to address our occupation on the importance of building a fighting student movement for Palestine as well as using his position to push the NUS to put pressure on our Vice-Chancellor Alan Gilbert to concede to our demands, send a letter to our union’s Gen Sec Rob Pinfold congratulating us for our actions as well as Labour Students in Manchester who have been hostile to us. We would also be very happy if the NUS pledged to campaign to defend occupying students against any reprisals from management. Get cracking Wes! On this blog NUS were cited by the Nottingham Evening News as calling on students to end sit-ins a week ago: They have held their protest and made their point, and have in fact continued the occupation despite calls by the National Union of Students for all such campus protests to end NUS President, and Labour student, Wes Streetin...