Up to 800 students marched yesterday through Central London yesterday, in a demonstration against student fees and the marketisation of the education system.

Chants such as “Education for the masses, not just for the upper classes!” rang out, as demonstrators marched from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), past the Universities UK HQ, to Kings College, the site of one recent student occupations in solidarity with Gaza.

The atmosphere was lively and peaceful, and attracted attention and support for onlookers along the route. A short sit down was held outside the University of the Arts, before the group moved onto its protest outside Kings.

Students demanded that not only should the Government reverse its policies of attacking students with a rise in fees, whilst banks and financial institutions receive billions of pounds to bail themselves out of a financial crises they created. The call went out united, “We will not pay for their crises!”

This unified movement, including organisations such as Another Education is Possible, and the union UCU, showed support and solidarity for a fresh movement to fight for a free education. Demonstrators also presented a strong anti-capitalist message, and presented arguments linking the attacks on education to the struggle against imperialism.

The day ended peacefully, and students left to go back to their campuses, many as far away as Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham. The task now is to mobilise and to build, and make sure that the fight for a free education is kept at the fore of the student movement.