US students set to walk out

By Natalie Zirngast

High school students will walk out on November 30 in Seattle to join a protest against the World Trade Organisation (see Green Left Weekly page 20). The protest is being organised by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and will target the Convention Centre, where the conference on international trade is being held from November 30 to December 3.

Twenty-five thousand people are expected to participate in the walkout, including both workers and students. Students from at least four local colleges and eight high schools are expected to form one of the largest contingents.

One of the main organisers from the IWW, Jason Adams, commented on the willingness of students to take action on social issues: "When I was a freshman in high school, the US started bombing Iraq. Some guy tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I was going to the walkout to protest it. It was a totally spontaneous thing. When I looked out the window of my social studies class, it was really amazing to see people streaming out of classes to protest the war."

Activists on high schools and colleges are busy building the walkout, and a teach-in was held on November 6 at Seattle Central Community College to inform students and others about the role of the World Trade Organisation.

From GLW issue 385