Thousands of students joined protests across the country opposing the racism and bigotry of Pauline Hanson and One Nation on August 13.
The protests were called by the National Union of Students and buoyed by a big turn out of high school students, who skipped school classes to attend the rally.
The impressive turnout, particularly of high school students, reflects the anger among many young people that Hanson’s far-right politics are getting a hearing in the corporate media, and in-turn being reflected in high polling figures across the country.
While One Nation has been consistently polling between 25-30%, its support among “Gen Z”, 14–29-year-olds, is around 10%.
The rally in Gadigal Country/Sydney was electric, with big groups of students arriving with homemade placards, often still wearing their school uniforms.
University students rallied on campuses across the city before converging on Sydney Town Hall. Students from the University of Sydney briefly took over Redfern Station with chants of “Whose station? Our station!” before catching the train across to Town Hall.
While many students travelled from nearby inner-city high schools, others travelled from as far as the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and even regional New South Wales to join the rally.
About 2000 students and supporters filled the Town Hall Square, where they heard speeches from student activists and NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong.
References to Hanson, Barnaby Joyce and billionaire Gina Rinehart were met with boos, while calls against racism, transphobia and misogyny were loudly cheered. One student commented that it “felt like a music festival” because of the outpouring of energy and enthusiasm from the youth.
While anti-racism and opposition to Hanson’s “monoculture” was a key theme, many young people also held signs supporting LGBTIQ rights.
Protesters then marched around the block before returning to Town Hall Square for a final rally.
About 1000 high school students from dozens of schools joined the rally in Boorloo/Perth, reports Blair Vidak.
The crowd was large and lively, with many students bringing creative and humorous homemade placards.
They chanted "Unite to fight the right" and "racists not welcome here" as they marched.
