Resistance calls national high school walkout

July 1, 1998
Issue 

Following the success of the high school strike against One Nation in Victoria on June 25, the socialist youth organisation Resistance has called a national school walkout on July 24. A walkout is also planned in Sydney for July 2.

July 24 is immediately before One Nation MPs take their seats in the Queensland parliament.

The walkout will defy the hypocritical outrage of the mainstream media, government ministers and education departments.

The Melbourne Herald Sun reported the June 25 walkout on its front page, giving prominent coverage to school principals and government bureaucrats calling for students to remain "apolitical and respectful of the diversity of opinion in our wider community".

Many young people are determined to be the exact opposite and believe they cannot remain "apolitical" in the face of increasing racism. The numbers prepared to join the strike in Victoria on very short notice demonstrated that.

"We're sick of being told to be passive and apolitical, and that we can't think for ourselves", walkout spokesperson Jacquie Moon said. "It's totally hypocritical; it comes from people who themselves support the very parties that enact racist policies, including Liberal and Labor, and who've done nothing to stop Hanson."

Plans for the July 24 walkout and other actions will be discussed at the Resistance national conference, scheduled for July 11 to 13 in Melbourne.

"We'll have high school students and Resistance members from across Australia there for the conference, and we'll make full use of opportunity to get organised", Moon said. Moon will be co-facilitator of a workshop discussing high school protest action.

Resistance has pledged to organise public protests against Pauline Hanson wherever she speaks in the major cities, and to explicitly counter her racist and nationalist politics.

High school students in Sydney will walk out of school on July 2 in disgust at the racism of Pauline Hanson, reports Marina Carman. The protest is being organised by Resistance. Students will rally at Town Hall at 1pm.

Inspired by the June 25 walkout by Melbourne students, students from at least eight schools have decided to hold the action.

Resistance member Emma To told Green Left Weekly: "We see racism around us every day at school. Young people need to stand up against Hanson. We may not be able to vote, but there are other ways of saying that we don't agree with Hanson and the pathetic response to One Nation by both major parties.

"Both Liberal and Labor parties are really to blame for the unemployment and cuts to social services. They created the climate for the racist scapegoating by One Nation."

Resistance member Danny Fairfax added: "We're rallying in defence of migrants and Aboriginal people, and young people too. Hanson has announced that she supports compulsory national service for young people and tough 'law and order' policies for youth. Instead of helping solve social problems, these policies target the victims."

[For more information about the Resistance national conference, ring (03) 9329 1277.]

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