Tens of thousands students in the U.K. took part in protest marches and sit-ins against higher tuition fees and loosing their education allowance, with demonstrations turning violent in central London.
An estimated 130,000 students across the country took part, according to The Guardian, including more younger students than participated two weeks ago.
The largest protests were in central London where protesters smashed windows on buses, shops and offices, including the Treasury.
Two police officers and 11 civilians were injured. The police reported 32 people were arrested, reported The Guardian.
A minority in the crowd caused the violence, earning disapproval from other protesters. Two girls stopped masked young men from totally smashing a police van. “If we let the government portray us as violent then there is no way they are going to listen to us,” one of the girls said to the crowd, according to a BBC report.
The students are protesting tuition hikes of 3,000 pounds to 9,000 pounds (US$14,500) per year as funding for higher education is being cut by 40 percent. The government is increasing tuition to cover budget shortfalls. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who is a focus point of the protests, spoke of his massive regret for breaking his pre-election pledge of opposing tuition increases, reported The Guardian.
An estimated 130,000 students across the country took part, according to The Guardian, including more younger students than participated two weeks ago.
The largest protests were in central London where protesters smashed windows on buses, shops and offices, including the Treasury.
Two police officers and 11 civilians were injured. The police reported 32 people were arrested, reported The Guardian.
A minority in the crowd caused the violence, earning disapproval from other protesters. Two girls stopped masked young men from totally smashing a police van. “If we let the government portray us as violent then there is no way they are going to listen to us,” one of the girls said to the crowd, according to a BBC report.
The students are protesting tuition hikes of 3,000 pounds to 9,000 pounds (US$14,500) per year as funding for higher education is being cut by 40 percent. The government is increasing tuition to cover budget shortfalls. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who is a focus point of the protests, spoke of his massive regret for breaking his pre-election pledge of opposing tuition increases, reported The Guardian.
