Judge recognises students freedom of expression claim and adjourns courtcase
UCL OCCUPATIONS COURT HEARING ADJOURNED AFTER JUDGE ACKNOWLEDGES
STUDENTS RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
On Friday 3rd December two students on behalf of the UCL Occupations
attended a hearing to resist the university’s application for a
possession order. After almost an hour of legal debate, the judge
acknowledged the occupying students’ rights to freedom of expression
and freedom of assembly and concluded that no possession order could
be granted without a full hearing of all the legal arguments. The
hearing has been adjourned till Tuesday 7th December at 10:30am.
The solicitor for the defence, Kat Craig, from Christian Khan
Solicitors said “This result is a recognition of the importance of the
rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, and is a
testament to the students dedication and commitment to ensure access
to education for all by means of peaceful protest.”
The UCL Occupations see today’s result as a small victory in the
on-going fight to achieve their demands, and prevent education cuts
and tuition fee rises. The occupied space provides a safe place in
which students can exercise their democratic rights to freedom of
expression and protest. In just over a week the space has become one
of the most active hubs for student opposition to the cuts, as well as
a forum for intellectual inquiry. The UCL Occupations plan to use the
extra time to reopen negotiations with the UCL management, as well as
allowing the voices of students heard in a democratic and peaceful
manner, in the lead up to the crucial Commons vote next Thursday.
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