BRITAIN: Students strike against racism

BRITAIN: Students strike against racism

On November 25, the day after racist chanting marred an England-Spain soccer international, French teacher Sebastian Gnahore somewhat apprehensively went to work at his school in Leicester. Gnahore had been copping racist harassment from some of his students, and despite asking for one student to be removed from his class, the school had refused to act. So when his Year 9 class echoed the monkey calls they had heard on the television last night, he quit. However, when his next class heard why he was missing, they walked out, led by a group of young black, Asian and white women. Calling "strike, strike!", and chanting anti-racist slogans, they were joined by a large section of the school, who stood in the rain for hours. Gnahore decided to stay, but refused to teach another class until those suspended for the protest were allowed back into school.

From Green Left Weekly, December 1, 2004.

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From GLW issue 608