STUDENTS have been kicked out of the NUS UK conference after a protest was sparked by hundreds of delegates.
Students from the NUS LGBT+ campaign took to the stage and sat down in protest after they were told they would not be allowed to present their motion which would push for the union to support decriminalising sex work, because they had run out of time.
Beth Douglas, NUS UK’s LGBT+ (Women’s Place) officer made an unofficial speech from the stage occupation.
She said: “One in 20 students have engaged in some form of sex work. We are around you, we are on your campuses, work in your offices and keep your student unions alive.“
In the last trans day of remembrance a report came out that said 88% of trans people who have died in Europe their known occupation was a sex worker.
“It’s killing trans people, queer people and migrants so stick up for your students and your sex workers because we are here and we are around you and we’re not going away.”
A group of students from Queens University in Northern Ireland also joined the protest, as they too were not allowed to discuss their motion supporting abortion rights in their country.
Much of the NUS UK delegation joined the sit-in on stage, bringing the conference to a halt and sparking a clear-out of all other members.
Rachael Powell, Vice President of Equality and Diversity at Queen Students Union, Belfast said: “In Northern Ireland we still have the Offence Against the Person Act 1861 which incriminates abortion in every circumstance unless if the mother’s life is at risk.
“Our abortion laws are older than the invention of a f***ing lightbulb.
“If you obtain an abortion in NI you can be sentenced to life in prison even if this pregnancy is related to rape, incest, fetal abnormality making our laws among the strictest in Europe.”
The conference is split in to a number of zones, with each one dedicated a set amount of time for discussion.
The welfare zone saw an hour-long discussion on mental health wellbeing, which meant time ran out and nothing more could be discussed.
Some of the protesters have blamed chairperson Robbie Young for stalling proceedings to stop the sex work motion from being discussed.
A large percentage of students at the conference who were not involved in the protest think the action is a waste of time.
One delegate said: “If this is the level of ridiculousness we need to deal with at conference, then I’m seriously considering disassociating myself.”
Another added: “What is the point of this? It’s a waste of time and means that now there’s even more motions that we can’t discuss.”
The protestors remained on the stage for more than an hour and a half, demanding the union to listen to their demands.
They include ending ‘bureaucratic manoeuvres’ and ‘democratising the NUS’.
The National Executive Council held negotiations with the occupiers, and finally brought the protest to an end.
The EDIT understands a promise has been made for the motions to be voted on by an online ballot.
It’s also thought no occupiers will face any disciplinary actions, and will receive an official apology from NUS UK.
Robbie Young was unavailable for comment.
