Over 400 people marched around Cambridge city centre in support of the rusticated student Owen Holland today.

Students and academics alike were protesting the 7 term ban handed out to the PhD student, who will not be allowed to step foot on Cambridge premises until Michaelmas 2014 for his role in the David Willetts protest last term.

A crowd gathered outside Senate House at 1pm where CUSU President Gerard Tully read out a statement on behalf of Holland.

Crowd outside Great St. Mary's Church

In the statement, Holland says that: “I have been humbled by the level of support I have received these past few days. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to assemble here today, and to everyone who has signed one of the various petitions expressing consternation at the severity of my sentence.”

 “I can tell you that I plan to appeal the sentence before a higher court, and I have every that the seven senior members of this University will heed your calls for the sentence to be overturned.”

Following Holland’s statement, the crowd then set off up King’s Parade and down Pembroke Street and going past the Cambridge Union on their way back to Great St. Mary’s Church.

There was one dissenting voice who held up a banner stating that: ‘A small cult of individuals shouldn’t be allowed who gets to speak’.

Leo Shine, a student at King’s, told Varsity that he was protesting against the placards that stated ‘Defend the Right to Protest’ rather than the march itself, as “I don’t think what they were doing was really a protest.”

He added: “I think there should be some punishment, but I am not sure it should be for one person and nor that it should be for that length.”

It was also announced just before the march that almost 2,500 people have now signed the CUSU petition condemning the sentence handed out, reflective of the overwhelming support for Holland.

The protest passed without incident and with a surprising lack of police presence.

University officials, fearing a repeat of the Old School occupation two years ago, closed the Senate House gates.

A spokesperson for the University said: "Senate House Yard is closed today in the interests of safety and the university will be monitoring the situation."

Among the protestors were academics, including Dr. Priyamvada Gopal who spoke on the lawn by the gates of Senate House, where a meeting took place following the march.