Free David Murphy! Defend the Right to Protest!

by UCDSU Wed Nov 05, 2003 11:16

Emergency Motion on the Jailing of David Murphy.

Council notes that a member of Union Council for 2nd Year Arts David Murphy was jailed this morning for 3 weeks in Mountjoy Jail and fined €1,500 for protesting against bin charges in his local community.

Council condemns the jailing of David Murphy and 5 other residents from the South Dublin County Council area.

Council believes that everyone has the right to engage in peaceful protest and that the jailing and fining of protesters is an attack on civil liberties. David Murphy was an anti-fees activists last year and his jailing represents an attack on the student movement.

Council calls for the immediate release of David Murphy and the other jailed activists, and for there to be a Students’ Union “Free David Murphy Campaign” to publicise his case and organise protests. The Students’ Union should have the Union banner and/or placards on protests calling for the release of David Murphy.

Council mandates the Education Officer to organise a Union delegation to visit David Murphy. Council calls on the USI to organise a city centre demonstration calling for the release of the anti-bin tax protesters.

Proposed by Oisín Kelly, Education Officer.
Seconded by Aidan Regan, Deputy President.

by jim thomas Wed Nov 05, 2003 12:35

can some please tell the student union of ucd that the bin tax charges have nothing to do with students!!! WE ARE EXEMPT!!!!! if this random punter, david murphy decided that standing in front of a bin truck was a smart thing to do then he deserves to be jailed and jailed for life!!! cop yourself on SU!!! you please start dealing with real student issues. if mr murphy decides to protest that his business i am throughly disatifised some members of this union persist to continue to deal with non-student issues!! why did this college vote you in on the council certaintly not to enforce your blatantly socialist opinions on the rest of us. AT UCD THE STUDENTS ONLY CARE ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OUR EDUCATION AND NOTHING. i would ask the these certain union members to please carry out the duties we require you to and not your own personal agendas!! if not action may be required!!!! may i also point out that i am not in anyway affiliated with running of the council just a mere unhappy member!

by Joe Wed Nov 05, 2003 13:16

Jim you might want to consider that some of us paying the taxes that cover most of the costs of your college education are not too impressed by your boast that the only social justice issues that interest you are those to do with your education. Students are paid for by the same PAYE tax payers that are getting jailed for resisting the bin tax. That David would go to jail in solidarity with us is a point in favour of students.

by Pablo Wed Nov 05, 2003 16:34

You won't be exempt forever. Typical shortsighted bullshit! (or are you going to be a student forever?) I was once a student too! What a moron.

by Terry Wed Nov 05, 2003 17:59

You say all students care about is the quality of their education and nothing else.

Well firstly that's a gross generalisation, since clearly it isn't the case and secondly surely and especially for those of you studying 'politics', the whole Bin Tax issue is a real education with actual hands on experience. You won't find that sort of political education just going to lectures.

And anyway why do you think education only happens in universities/colleges? And is there some rule that says students must only think about their particular course/subject and nothing else when they are in college. What sort of world do you inhabit?

by Fergal Scully Wed Nov 05, 2003 19:09

I'm a UCD student. Although some of us are only concerned with ourselves alot of us see ourselves as citizens of this country and not just students.
When a member of our students Union is jailed for protesting we must all be concerned. I have no doubt that in the near future we students will be protesting about the education cuts and I for one would like the right to protest without being thrown in the joy.
Let us remember that the farmers broke similar injunctions in their pickets of co-ops and none were jailed.
The government wants us to concern ourselves ONLY with our own lives so we don't see the gradual process of civil liberty erosion and privatization of education that is going on world wide.

As a students union we must stand up for what is right and not just what we see as only effecting us personally.

by Starstruck - UCD Left Wed Nov 05, 2003 22:34

It is the brainwashed mentality of our friend here that gives the power to the ruling bodies to pursue such drachonian paths as this.open your fucking eyes !!!

by starstruck - ucd left Thu Nov 06, 2003 20:19

The protest went o.k today i guess but i think at the meeting afterwards the focus was blurred a bit with yhe bintax issue itself taking over from the main issue of the campaign which is our fellow student in prison for exercising his right to peaceful protest.
Hopefully now we can get the protest at mountjoy organised with the help of other colleges and give David the support he deserves.
Oh yeah and dont forget,the T.V licence people are coming to get Y O U.....