The word comes from the Greek ek and phrasis, ‘out’ and ‘speak’ respectively, verb ekphrazein, to proclaim or call an inanimate object by name
Protest is an art form. The storytelling behind the art is what makes it powerful. It’s the storytelling that gives it emphasis and relevance.
Protest seems to only work as a collective, one persons voice can quickly become ignored. Change occurs when a group attacks an issue and defends their ground. Outside Agitators is the idea of individual stories and their motivations, based around experiences with education occupations, marches and campaigns happening across the country. Putting the story back behind the book blocs. Outside Agitators is the idea of getting involved with politics, protest and everything in the middle. The nature of protest is communicating your belief, and fighting for what is it worth. Is that not the same with art? Communicating a set of ideals, feelings and conveying a point to attempt to bring on change? The name comes from the people interviewed in the following pages and is representative of how they see themselves, and why. If we can’t change the system from inside the walls of the government, then we’ll be the Outside Agitators to try and force change. Is protest in itself a significant work of art, and how does storytelling make it’s effect more profound?
Protest London Dialect Bristol Ukraine
1 9 21 33 45
By exploring the nature of Ekphrasis as storytelling of a medium of art, I have transcribed it to a printed document that explores the way storytelling enhances protest. My art form is protest, and the writing is the stories written by those involved. Outside Agitators features different insights into protest in order to give a bit of backstory behind the nature of protest, in order to encourage others to stand up for a cause. Alternatively, I would want a reader to come away feeling like they want to say something about what they’ve just read, whether they agree or not, and whether
Protest London Dialect Bristol Ukraine
this discussion sparks them to create their own disobedient objects, their own works of art.
The objects made from protest are just as important as the act itself.
These are what lingers, what people see on social media and
write about. What I am interested in though is the story behind these objects, behind protest, behind the people. If each object had a supporting narrative that could be heard or read then the protest itself would be much more meaningful. The act of protest itself would be more personal to each and every person it affects, be it a professional freelance photographer or a student waiting at a bus stop. This is the narrative that interests me - and this is where I see the real value of Ekphrasis stepping in. If each object of protest had the same elaborate story and narrative as some other paintings with artistic description, the act of protest itself would be much more interesting than the cause.
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Thrown at my feet 15 minutes after handing him the flyer in the first place. 2
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Outside Agitiators Protest
Solidarity is unity (as of a group or
“Thus, a group’s solidarity is a function
class) that produces or is based on
of two independent factors: first,
universities of interests, objectives,
the extensiveness of its corporate
standards, and sympathies. It refers
obligations, and, second, the degree
to the ties in a society that bind people
to which individual members actually
together as one. The term is generally
comply with these obligations.
employed in sociology and the other
Together, these provide the defining
social sciences as well as in philosophy
elements of solidarity. The greater the
or in Catholic social teaching.
average proportion of each member’s private resources contributed to
What forms the basis of solidarity
collective ends, the greater the
varies between societies. In simple
solidarity of the group”
societies it may be mainly based around kinship and shared values. In more complex societies there are various theories as to what contributes to a sense of social solidarity. [1]
- Michael Hechter [2]
Well some of the things I’ve heard are really cringe-worthy; “For fucks sake, get over it, ah them again, blah blah blah.” It’s like… you know… you don’t have to protest but show solidarity.
- Ben Gerdziunas on Free Education protests at Frenchay.
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Outside Agitiators Protest
Short statement, stuck on blue card and laminated. Found on Ashton Avenue Bridge. Probably in relation to the “no buses� protests that happened across this bridge in early 2014.
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Reading the crisis in the book shields
Outside Agitiators Protest
The Book Blocs represent what the technocrats of finance and the politicians call a ‘lost
aring across k Blocs, appe oo B e es th What do ? Firstly, the ve in common ha , es ti ci l internationa that began in omical crisis on ec e th of t d then contex es in 2007, an e United Stat th d an ken in ta ri as B which w ta of the world, st re e th to spread violent ch a new and un la to y it un as an opport ivatisation of mmons: the pr co e th of e ur entire enclos miliation of an hu ry la sa e th welfare and orters, the ly, their supp nd co Se . on ti genera ort-term graduates, sh w ne , ts en ud ed new poor: st newly qualifi . Workforces rs ke or w ct contra future and no skills but no d an e dg le y with know al pact: ‘I stud from the soci ed ud cl ex , any rights d’; ’Despite m ing lies ahea nts.’ hard, yet noth pa than my re ork I’m poorer w rd ha of s year share, which protest they of s rm fo e Finally, th c rights and for democrati d an m de a e unit e. The link ony of financ m ge he e th of a refusal racy and the m for a democ ai cl e th n ee betw dental. We lth is not acci ea w of on ti lly redistribu lism is radica e when capita m ti a in e liv now of liberal the expression a to separated from to turn to Chin we only have d an , cy ra oc th dem flooded e ngs that have si ri up e Th . an grasp this thing other th lises can do no po ro et m al glob e that is both w language, on speak in a ne ocratic. t and pro-dem anti-capitalis
generation’: a feeling that goes beyond borders and national differences, initiating a new form of internationalism. This is a generation that will not surrender, that tries to tackle these radical transformations with an unprecedented synthesis of struggle and knowledge, institutional innovation and reappropriation, conflict and communication. The book shields, in terms both symbolic and concrete, are the manifestations of the revolt: the material culture of movements that are against capitalist private property and look beyond the forms of public and state property. Just as knowledge and communication require social relations in order to exist, so the democracy claimed by the Book Bloc is free and common to all, an insurgent and pluralistic democracy in which bodies and books break boundaries and open themselves to life.
An extract from Disobedient Objects, Caroline Flood and Gavin Grindon.
OSCAR WILDE THE HAPPY PRINCE AND OTHER STORIES
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Protest London Dialect Bristol Ukraine
I spoke to Megan following the protests on 26th November, as she mentioned them on Facebook. She is a friend of mine that currently studies French and Spanish at Kings College London. Images courtesy of Megan. This narrative explores the role of a bystander and the many stories generated from being a passive piece of the protest puzzle.
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Police have made 11 arrests after thousands of
“We have no alternative and there is no choice.
students marched through London protesting
Voting hasn’t worked, but we have things that
against education cuts, tuition fees and student
work - arts, literature, petitions and protesting.”
debt. Two were held after charging at police
BBC education correspondent Sean Coughlan
guarding the Conservative Party headquarters in
said those gathered in Parliament Square earlier
central London. The Free Education march was
listened to speeches and chanted slogans.
called to oppose tuition fees of up to £9,000.
One group of protesters made their way to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
The march was not endorsed by the National
where they were met by riot police.
Union of Students, but was backed by groups including the National Campaign Against Fees
A Starbucks coffee shop was also targeted,
And Cuts.
with demonstrators chanting criticism of the company’s tax affairs.
The largely peaceful demonstration ended with a rally in Parliament Square after protesters
‘Making us pay’
broke through barriers to gain entry. Some of them broke off to other parts of central London
Demonstration organiser Aaron Kiely said the
where there were clashes with police.
protest was the beginning of a “major wave of action” running up to next year’s general
A small group pushed a wheelie bin at police at
election.
the entrance to the nearby Tory offices where a man and woman were arrested for affray.
“We want to end the lifetime of debt which
The other arrests included two for assaults on
is a massive burden for students,” he said.
police officers, one for criminal damage and
“Students are really angry because we go to
possession of an offensive weapon and another
university and then at the end of it we get an
for violent disorder.
average of £40,000-worth of debt. That puts you in a hell of a difficult position when you start to
The Metropolitan Police said three officers had
think about a mortgage and a family.
suffered minor injuries. “We need an alternative.” “Various missiles were thrown at the officers and protesters pulled down protective fencing around
Graduate Sarah Bates added: “They are making us
the grass area in Parliament Square,” the force
pay for the banking crisis, austerity and cuts are
said in a statement. Demonstrators chanted
making problems for everybody, and people don’t
slogans such as “books not bombs” and carried
know how or where to voice their opinions.” [3]
banners saying “free education, tax the rich”. One student, 20-year-old Hannah Stewart from Central Saint Martins college, said: “I’m here because three quarters of students cannot pay their debts off.
e t m / t m / t m / t m / t m / t
education for the masses / not just fo the ruling classes / education for the masses / not just for the ruling classe / education for the masses / not just f the ruling classes / education for the I guess when masses / not just for the ruling classe seemasses that / not just f / educationyou for the many people the ruling classes / education for the masses / not just for the ruling classe all taking / education for the masses / not just f action/against the ruling classes education for the something masses / not just for theyou ruling classe / educationget for the masses / not just f into it‌ the ruling classes / education for the masses / not just for the ruling classe / education for the masses / not just f the ruling classes / education for the
Outside Agitiators London
Well I actually didn’t go to protest, but it was happening just as I was trying to get the bus home and all the roads were shut! It was pretty massive. The king’s group waited for the main part to join them then the crowd must have taken about 25–30 minutes to go past! It was a lot of things: against fees rising, against fees in general, also some stuff about the abductions in Mexico I walked with them for a bit didn’t talk to anyone Any specific little details you remember? Just interested Hmmm, they were very positive, not so much angry as assertive and positive and lots of chanting, cheering on the other groups that joined in. It did get you riled up easily
From the London Protests 26/11/14. Type overlaid from a panoramic shot of the banners and shields in this protest.
Riled up easily? How so? I guess when you see that many people all taking action against something you get into it! I’d only heard it was for free education, so I didn’t join in, and I probably would’ve if there had been more info. I can’t remember the whole of any of them but one had another line that rhymed with “…education will be free!” and obviously stuff like “what do we want? FREE EDUCATION! When do we want it? NOW!” I haven’t heard of any more like that—it was pretty big. There is the marking boycott that teachers and professors are doing. When’s that?
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Outside Agitiators London
Oh shit, of course! I completely forgot I saw photos of a sit in yesterday! Protesting students occupied the Great Hall
seen increased discussion about the cost of
foyer in a sit-in protest today as part of the Free
education at King’s since last month’s demo.
Education campaign. Speeches from students,
Ben Wood, Chair of the Labour Society
KCLSU officers and a representative from the
commented on increased dialogue within the
National Student Assembly addressed concerns
student body: “There’s more conversation,
about the cost of education at the College,
people saying why they believe in [the
including living costs such as accommodation
campaign]”. Conversation was deemed a little
as well as tuition fees. The sit-in at King’s was
too loud for College Dean the Rev. Richard
part of a nationwide call for campus occupation
Burridge, who came downstairs and asked that
from the National Campaign Against Fees and
applause be kept down. Today’s demo angled
Cuts. NCAFC are the organisation behind the
its message toward issues within the College’s
students protests on 19th December, which
control that relate to education costs, as well
saw thousands of students take to the streets
as calling for government action. As the sit-in
of London to call for free education. Cat Denby,
came to a close, the group moved to lecture
a King’s student who helped organise the
halls to spread the message. Coinciding with
demonstration said: “momentum seems to have
a College open day, KCLSU’s vice principal for
carried on not just from those who are politically
welfare Jamie Sweeney addressed prospective
active at KCL, but also those who want change
students in open day talks, highlighting the
within our university system”. “The movement
prohibitive cost of College accommodation.
doesn’t just benefit us, it would also benefit
Students attending the sit-in talked about
people high up in the university with pride in
future meetings to continue the campaign
what they do. “University shouldn’t be about
within the College. A number of student-led
money, it should be about passion for knowledge
campaigns are stepping up their calls for senior
and education”. Students were willing to open
College staff to hear the concerns of students
dialogue with senior college staff, Denby told
with regard to the cost of education at King’s. [4]
us: “I’d love to see university staff supporting the campaign”. The student community has
ALTERNATIVE
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tuition fees / no way / tax the rich / make them pay / tuition fees / no way / tax the rich / make them pay / tuitio I can’t fees / no way / tax the rich / make them payremember / tuition fees the / no way / tax the rich / whole make them payof/ tuition fee of any / no way / tax the rich / make them pa them but one / tuition fees / no way / tax the rich / make them had pay another / tuition fees / no way / tax the rich make them pay / tuitio line/that fees / no way / tax the rich / make rhymed with them pay / tuition fees / no way / tax the rich / ‘…education make them pay / tuition fee / no way /will tax the rich / make them pa be free!’ / tuition fees / no way / tax the rich / make them pay / tuition fees / no way / tax the rich / make them pay / tuitio
y on
es ay
y on
es ay
y on
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Outside Agitiators London
Thought as such‌ is an act of negation, of resistance to that which is forced upon it; this is what thought has inherited from its archetype, the relation between labor and material. Today, when ideologues tend more than ever to encourage thought to be positive, they cleverly note that positivity runs precisely counter to thought, and that it takes friendly persuasion by social authority to accustom thought to positivity.
ADORNO
EVITAGEN DIALECTS
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Outside Agitiators Dialect
I do loads of campaigns and stuff outside of campuses…
So you’re an outside agitator?
I’m the one the Daily Mail tells you about.
Protest London Dialect Bristol Ukraine
The language encountered at protest is an art form in itself. Tones, afflictions and gestations all change with the passion put behind the chants. This section of Outside Agitators explores some of the chants, speeches and conversations overheard and engaged with during protest.
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Outside Agitiators Dialect
… To be honest I haven’t seen anything on Facebook—I’ll catch the news though— should probably be aware!
… And yeah I think I saw a little but wasn’t in uni much today … Sorry unfortunately I don’t they all seemed to be third years
Sheff ASN Follow @SheffieldASN Sheffield has taken out a possession order on the whole of campus in response to today’s occupation, banning all protest on campus. Retweets 101 Favourites 10 6:43PM - 3 Dec 2013
This afternoon we have gone into occupation as part of
Rather than merely occupying this space, however,
a nationwide movement against tuition fees, and in
we intend to regenerate it into what it should be, and
favour of free education.
transform it into a place of learning. For the duration of this occupation, let Inox Dine be known as the Free
In the UK today we are forced to endure a system in which
University of Sheffield. We will be opening up this
you are either put off higher education by the prospect
space to students, academic and non-academic staff,
of paying £9,000 fees a year, or accept the burden of an
and members of the public to come and take part in
amount of debt that you will likely never be able to pay
organising and attending workshops. These can be
off. We think that this is totally unacceptable and morally
anything from practical to academic, and political to
abhorrent, and argue that education is a universal human
apolitical, insofar as they conform to our dedication
right that should not merely be reserved for the wealthy
to providing an education that is non-hierarchical,
elite, or for those willing to sell themselves to the banks.
collectively and directly democratically run, and universally safe and accessible. In doing so, we hope
As such, we are issuing the following three demands to
to prove, if only within a limited time and space, that
the management of the University of Sheffield:
education can be free, and much more equitably run.
1. Lobby the government to scrap tuition fees
If management seek to destroy this occupation, let all bear witness to the fact that they have nothing to do with
2. Give all members of staff that are employed directly or indirectly by the university a living wage in line with
the genuine provision of education, and are instead its plunderers.
the national standard (as set Loughborough University and the Living Wage Foundation) 3. Halt the privatisation of the services that maintain the university, and in particular the Students’ Union In order to make this point, we have chosen to occupy the
You are warmly invited to join us! Solidarity to all who believe in an education that is free and fair. The Free University of Sheffield. [5]
Inox Dine restaurant. Inox is designed purely to generate private profit, and is almost universally loathed (by those who know it exists). It is clear that Inox is not intended to improve the student experience; its prices are extortionate and it advertises business lunches and champagne, and yet for some reason it is located in the Students’ Union building. We can think of no place on campus that is more painfully representative of the neoliberal degradation of our university, and of education in general.
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Outside Agitiators Dialect
Have you done anything like this before then? Yeah yeah, a couple, I supported… I wasn’t a student at the time but back in 2011 I marched in Bristol and stuff. There was loads of demonstrations back then like every weekend. Every weekend we’d just go to town and be a menace. Was that for the education increases? Yeah this was just after they got in and were going to triple the fees, and it was like the National One in London wasn’t it .
Perhaps because their cause was j
u
s
t
i
f
i
e
d
,
the students I saw had none of the swaggering, self-righteous manner of the student protester of legend. The police, too, were decent towards them, and avoided their form of swagger that often crops up when there's trouble in the air. - Harry Mount, Journalist of the Daily Telegraph [6]
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Outside Agitiators Dialect
When ÂŁ9k fees were introduced in 2012, I remember there being a concern among campus activist groups that new students might be more inclined to concentrate on demanding their ‘value for money’ rather than the abolition of fees and the reversal of cuts. It turns out there was little cause for concern in this department. [7]
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Outside Agitiators Dialect
Orwell
1984
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Outside Agitiators Bristol
8th December, 14:30 Students across different UWE campuses came to protest outside Red Bar at Frenchay for free education, and to make their voices heard in light of the upcoming election, so that some action will happen in regards to student fees.
Protest London Dialect Bristol Ukraine
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Outside Agitiators Bristol
The following conversation took place on Frenchay Campus. I was involved from sort of 2010 when we occupied the
Looking around at the other sort of people you’ve got here,
Core24, so that was like the first time I got involved in
I think there’s a good sort of spread of people who’ve not
anything like this. Umm but then I’ve also been… I was
done anything like this before, and then people who have.
also down at Sussex University occupation when that
And then people who have at UWE, I meant we’ve all been
really kicked off, which was really interesting; that was
around UWE for like several years.
properly… spiky, it was nice. How long have you like managed to stay situated in an Did you get arrested or anything, was it like that?
Occupy then?
No no, so far so good. There was definitely arrests, like…
When we did Core24 we were right there up until
during the big demonstration we had at Sussex there was
Christmas really, it’s a real bugger because everyone
like… they’ve got a building on their campus where all the
goes home. At the time we were one of the longest
sort of like admin-y shift goes on, and so there was an
occupations in the country, like UWE had a really good
attack on that. Which was odd in like the way the police
record in that sense. We stayed in the longest, there
were coordinating the demonstration stuff, and like the
wasn’t any violence or anything, it was a good time.
building got stormed, stuff went everywhere. I remember
Basically we set up in Core24 and we used that place,
turning back to the occupation and the situation created
and there was like free lectures on different subjects,
where like you either stay still, you leave or you are at risk
different events and it’s a good base for people to come
of being arrested.
in and say “Well I’m interested in what are you saying, why do you think we shouldn’t have to pay money for our
Have you ever been arrested before then?
education?” You know, “Well I’m interested in what are you saying, so why are you saying it?”. Well if we had the
I have not been arrested no, I’ve managed to avoid that
option then why would you? Education is a right; everyone
one. People who’ve been arrested… Someone I know got
should be able to learn stuff if that’s what they want to
picked up on a student demo once, nothing serious. There do. Especially with the way the markets gone now - the were no real charges, but basically the UWE bus turned
amount of people I know who have come out with good
up in London, everyone got off and we were walking down quality degrees and have fuck all job options. the street and then just a gang of police appeared who stopped and searched everyone except for me. It was just the fact that there was enough of us and they just sort of picked students, and I just kept walking and pretended I wasn’t involved. Matt ended up getting put in the back of a van for having a pen in his bag. They accused him of conspiracy for committing criminal damage, and then he just got let go later on.
Let them have their war for money.
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Outside Agitiators Bristol
Front side of a card containing legal information. Given at the start of protests “in case anything happens�.
Reverse side of a card containing legal information. Given at the start of protests “in case anything happens�.
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Outside Agitiators Bristol
WELL I’M INTERE
YOU’RE SAYING YOU SAY in ensuring working class people have access
against police brutality on campus and police
to free education. We’re here to demand that,
brutality in general, but also to demand free
they’re no going to give it to us. We very very
education. So that means no fees, cancellation
nearly beat student fees four years ago, we
of student debt, that means students being
only missed it by… what, nine votes? Thats
given a state pen to live; bringing back students
the biggest parliamentary defection in a UK
grants so that education is accessible to
government in decades. Right, that was entirely
everybody regardless of their means, and so
about student protest. Student movements
they’re not landing with huge amounts of debt.
now are being attacked by police all around the country, a year ago in London police broke in,
The issue with it as it stands is even with the
arrested and beat students… like on Thursday
very big… like allegedly beneficial repayment
last week a student got pepper-sprayed on
structure you’re still left with forty four grand
campus, like there needs to be solidarity with
minimum of debt. That there is in disposal of
those protesters and with people standing up for
student loans but it can be re-sold. That means
our own rights and situations. If anyone wants to
that you are not in a safe position. Your future
get involved, we’re going to be in there and out
is in the hands of clearly corrupt politicians,
here, and generally doing stuff all night, pretty
clearly corrupt people that have got no interest
much. We’re here until we win.
Speech given at the start of the Occupy protest at Frenchay.
So this is a protest against fees, against cuts,
RESTED IN WHAT
Press Statement from UWE-nofeesnocuts.tumblr.com [8]
G, SO WHY ARE YING IT? Students at the University of the West of
support to the students of Mexico who live in
England have gone into occupation in support
constant fear of being abducted and killed for
of Free Education for all. Education is a human
demanding what is theirs and those in the United
right that has increasingly been annexed off by
States suffering and resisting police brutality.
the political elite for the privileged few, for hose able to take on the £44,000 worth of debt that
Join us in lecture room 2B025 to stand up for
an undergraduate degree incurs. In protesting
• Free Education
this system over the past week students at
• Cancellation of student debt
Warwick University have been met with police
• Unconditional student grants
brutality, pepper sprayed and threatened with
• Our freedom to protest
tasers; students at Sheffield University have
• A living wage and fair conditions for all staff
been illegally and dangerously locked into their
who work for UWE directly or indirectly
occupation, with security blocking fire exits with
• Divestment of arms trade connections
the use of chains and padlocks.
• Police off campus
Bristol’s students are united in solidarity with
Universities are not factories, nor prisons.
the comrades nationally and across the world
Knowledge is not a consumer product and we are
that are standing up for their rights, and resisting
not your clients.
oppression by the elite. We send our full hearted 40
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Outside Agitiators Bristol
It’s the concept that I want to get across. For change to occur, it needs to be there. Regardless of what s
i
d
e
you’re on, or whether there even is a s
i
d
e
you take, there
should be an element of support.
Anon on request.
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Outside Agitiators Bristol
It is one of the ironies of our age that now, when the street has become the hottest commodity in advertising culture, street culture itself is under siege. From New York to Vancouver to London, police crackdowns on graffiti, postering, panhandling, sidewalk art, squeegee kids, community gardening and food vendors are rapidly criminalizing everything that is truly streetlevel in the life of a city. This tension between the commodification and criminalization of street culture has unfolded in a particularly dramatic manner in England. In the early to mid-nineties, as the ad world leaped to harness the sounds and imagery of the rave scene to sell cars, airlines, soft drinks and newspapers,
This is not a protest.
the lawmakers in Britain made raves all but illegal, through the 1994
Criminal Justice Act. The act gave police far-reaching powers to seize sound
Repeat.
equipment and deal harshly with ravers in any public confrontations. To fight the Criminal Justice Act, the club scene (previously preoccupied
This is not a protest.
with searching out the next all-night dance site) forged new alliances with more politicized subcultures that were also alarmed by these new police
This is some kind of
powers. Ravers got together with squatters facing eviction, with the so-
called New Age travellers facing crackdowns on their nomadic lifestyle, and
artistic expression.
with radical “eco-warriors” fighting the paving-over of Britain’s woodland
areas by building tree houses and digging tunnels in the bulldozers’ paths. A
Over.
common theme began to emerge among these struggling countercultures: the right to uncolonized space —for homes, for trees, for gathering, for dancing. What sprang out of these cultural collisions among- deejays, A call that antiwent out on Metro Toronto corporate activists, political and New Age artists and radicalpolice ecologists radiosmay on May 16, 1998, the date of well be the most vibrant and fastest-growing political movement the first since Global Paris Street Party ‘68: Reclaim the Streets (RTS)
NO LOGO
NAOMI KLEIN
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Outside Agitiators Ukraine
A fisherman fills out a crossword puzzle after resting his hooks over a bridge connecting the western and eastern districts of Mariupol. In the distance, a sporadic rumble of Grad missiles and artillery strikes reverberates through the open fields. “Let them have their war for money,” he says. “I’ll continue fishing for my own interests.” [9]
Protest London Dialect Bristol Ukraine
Ben Gerdziunas is a freelance photographer, who has not only photographed the protests over at UWE but also ones over Europe and the Middle East. Images are used with his permission, and full credit goes to Ben for the photos used here.
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Outside Agitiators Ukraine
KIEV, Ukraine September 16 “Do you not speak Ukrainian? Why do you come up to us and start speaking Russian?” – member of Pravvy Sektor [“Right Sector”] A steady mass of people gather in front of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament. The frontline crowd consisting mainly of Pravvy Sektor, a right wing Nationalist party, is on the move. The semi paramilitary group outflanks the frontline guards, as tyres burn and an MP is dumped into a trash container—a spectacular result of mob justice. Metal fences crash down and the lush garden inside the compound is invaded. The symbolism of occupation prevails; the physical presence in an exclusive and guarded environment is enough to claim victory. Boiling it down to Maidan tactics, the veteran members are quick to arm themselves by breaking down wooden fences. Shortly after, the attack is halted by the leading members of the faction. Exchange of sneers and insults to and from the disengaging soldiers enforce the victory/defeat relationship on both sides and the message of domination is cemented beneath the downtrodden metal fencing. Symbolism of territorial control forms integral part in the mood of the mob. Less than a pre-planned objective, it is a manifestation of a de facto end goal. Even though the government troops stands guard, the ability to freely manoeuvre in an occupied space underlines the transfer of power from authority to the masses. With the feverish rise of the nationalist party Pravvy Sektor, however, in whose hands the authority will remain once the dust settles is yet to be seen. [10]
The symbolism of occupation prevails; the physical presence in an exclusive and guarded environment is enough to claim
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Outside Agitiators Ukraine
Sometimes you are almost in a cloak, when all sides acknowledge you’re with a camera and you can almost observe everything unfold in front of you. Sometimes, however, you can become a target—by accident or not. This is more prevalent in places like Israel and Palestine, where many ‘journalists’ have a very one sided objective—whether pro-Palestinian or Israeli. Likewise in Ukraine, some ‘journos’ were accused of shipping information back to Russia or ultimately—as per the case of Russian actor Mikhail Porechenkov— wearing PRESS vest and helmet, while firing at Ukrainian positions in Donetsk airport. In the words of a Russian journalist Alexander Vishnevsky: “Anyone who uses weapons, while hiding behind press ID assumes responsibility for the future deaths of journalists” So the amount of mistrust and suspicion varies. I have been on the receiving end of that only a few times, and mainly due to my own fault of not having the correct accreditation at all times.
image credit: Ben Gerdziunas
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“DNR [Donetsk People’s Republic] will win,” reads a sign on an avenue in Mariupol.
Student demonstration against tuition fees at UWE
Outside Agitiators Ukraine
Around 30 students gathered today to peacefully protest against tuition fees. Ben Gerdziunas [11]
Two plain clothes security personnel were seen
The demonstration finished in 2B025, the largest
following the crowd. When approached, the two
lecture room on Frenchay campus.
men refused to identify themselves. “No, we’re just waiting for someone” they said inside Core24.
The protesters staged a quiet sit-in at the lecture, declaring the room ‘occupied’.
At 2.30pm, students set off from patio outside Red Bar towards B block, addressing students
Jessie, present at the lecture for Psychology
and chanting slogans.
exam revision, said: “What can they achieve? They are here, which means they can afford to
The procession was met with polarized reactions
go to University.
from bypassing students. “This again, get over it”, said one student. However most expressed
How about those who can’t, they’re not
support and surprise for not knowing the event
represented. These things make a small impact
was being organised.
and fizzle out, even though I do support it.”
“It’s a good idea, but I’ve got exams” said
Sam Grist, studying Masters in Journalism said:
a student sitting inside Core24.
“It’s difficult with these sorts of radical politics. No party in Britain is advocating for
The two unidentified men approached by
free education.”
WesternEye inside B block refused to answer questions, while their radios transmitted incoming
An occupation is planned today on Frenchay at
messages from the campus’ security team.
7pm, room 2B025.
Kate Best, Operations & Security Manager, said: “they are there to ensure your own safety. We support your right to protest.” When asked why they were in plain clothes and refusing to identify themselves she commented: “They’re employed as porters; maybe they’re just a bit excited.”
“These things make a small impact and f
even though I do support it� 52
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Outside Agitiators Ukraine
I was rushing to the protest in Kyiv
As for the protest at Frenchay, it was
because I found out about way too late.
surreal walking behind the crowd and
So as I was approaching, I realised I’m
hearing all the comments directed at
wearing my favourite colours—all black.
the protesters: “this again, get over
In a far-right led protest. I was quiet
it, stop it, leave university”, laughs
humbled that the only tear gas grenade
and sneers. The lack of even minimal
thrown during the protest was aimed at
solidarity with a cause which affects
me—lesson learned about the colours.
each and every student was startling; not very surprising though.
[1] ‘Solidarity’ Wikipedia. Wikipedia.
[7] ‘7 Reflections on the National Demo for
Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/
#FreeEducation’ (2014). Novara Wire.
wiki/Solidarity
Available at: http://wire.novaramedia. com/2014/11/7-reflections-on-the-
[2] Hechter, M. 1987 Principles of Group
national-demo-for-freeeducation/.
Solidarity, p. 18. [8] UWE Free Education (2014). Available at: [3] BBC Education & Family (2014) ‘Arrests in student demo clashes’, 19 November.
http://uwe-nofeesnocuts.tumblr.com/ image/104756109943.
Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/education-30113313.
[9] Gerdziunas, B. MARIUPOL, Ukraine Ukrainian Refugees in the Epicentre
[4] Ferriday, Z. (2014) ‘King’s students
of Turmoil - BenGe -, www.benge.co.
occupy Great Hall foyer for free
Available at: http://benge.co/ukraine-
education’. Roar News. Available
symbolism-of-occupation.
at: http://roarnews.co.uk/ wordpress/?p=15175.
[10] Gerdziunas, B. KYIV, Ukraine - Symbolism of [temporary] Occupation - BenGe -,
[5] The Free University of Sheffield’s
www.benge.co. Available at: http://
press release statement,
benge.co/ukraine-symbolism-of-
published on facebook.com/
occupation.
thefreeuniversityofsheffield on 3/12/14. [11] Gerdziunas, B. (2014) ‘Student [6] Mount, H. (2010) ‘The students and
demonstration against tuition fees at
police I saw today were utterly dignified
UWE’. WesternEye. Available at: http://
– Telegraph Blogs’, Culture, 10 November.
www.westerneye.net/news/2014/12/
Available at: http://blogs.telegraph.
student-demonstration-against-tuition-
co.uk/culture/harrymount/100048723/
fees-at-uwe/ .
the-students-and-police-i-saw-todaywere-utterly-dignified/
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Outside Agitators is the idea of getting involved with politics, protest and everything in the middle. The nature of protest is communicating your belief, and fighting for what is it worth. Is that not the same with art? Communicating a set of ideals, feelings and conveying a point in order to attempt to bring on change? And furthermore if we class protest as art, then what is it that makes it come to life? What provides that passion behind the protest, creating picket signs, book blocs, banners and chants? The name comes from the people interviewed in the following pages and is representative of how they see themselves, and why. If we can’t change the system from inside the walls of the government, then we’ll be the Outside Agitators to try and force change.