This time six years ago we were preparing to light up at 16:20 in the Grahamstown Botanical Gardens, just next to the university currently known as Rhodes’ campus. But today, there is a completely different atmosphere.

Rubber bullets and tear gas have been fired at protesters, who are calling for the university to shut down until it sorts out its campus sexual assault / rape culture. Last night, barricades went up at all entrances to the campus at around 7pm.

The student independent newspaper Activate has been covering the news on the ground since protests erupted on Sunday night:

This decision saw students taking to the streets of campus and setting up barricades at the entryways to campus: Drama Department, Eden Grove, the gym etc… The difference, notably, between this particular shutdown and the shutdown of the #FeesMustFall movement is the insistence that both dining halls and healthcare facilities (Counselling and Healthcare Centre) be left untouched and open and that important vehicles such as ambulances be allowed through.

However, the university has not agreed to an academic shutdown and classes are going on as normal.

Although the barricades were removed by the vice chancellor himself and other academic staff, the protest remained a peaceful one until the police got involved. The violence from the police is brutal and uncalled for.

In the video above, Vice Chancellor Sizwe Mabizela is seen pleading to the police to release those in their custody and speaks about the violence.

Vice-Chancellor Mabizela calling for the police to stop. pic.twitter.com/olkjM3ZQgx

— Activate (@ActivateOnline) April 20, 2016

#RUReferenceList Tension rising at #Rhodes this morning. Various arrests made. Video via .@NandiJkjpic.twitter.com/6h1hBcPiya

— The Herald PE (@HeraldPE) April 20, 2016

This latest video shows an arrested student suffering a panic attack in the back of a police van:

[source: iol&activateonline]