Resistance growing rapidly
By Sean Healy
The enormous success of the July 24 and 28 secondary school walkouts against racism, and the attendant media spotlight, have led to rapid growth for Resistance.
In the two weeks since the walkouts, more than 500 new members have joined Resistance, inspired to take a stand against racism and against the system.
Phone calls, letters sent by mail or e-mail or fax, young people dropping into Resistance Centres, all have increased dramatically. The number of "hits" per week on Resistance's web page, has quadrupled.
The majority of the 500 new members are secondary school students who participated in the walkouts. Many organised contingents from their own schools, often in defiance of school authorities.
Indicative was one note from a secondary student in Perth: "I attended the high school rally on the 24th in Perth and that has inspired me to join up. I was one of three from my school who escaped to go! I want to help fight the system."
Large numbers of university and TAFE students, as well as young people in general, have also made the decision to join Resistance, having seen the role it's playing.
In Sydney, Resistance has set up three locality-based high school networks, based on schools where Resistance has members, in the inner-west, the north shore and northern beaches and western suburbs.
Many students are also setting up their own Resistance groups in their schools. One new addition to Resistance's web page is a checklist of how to set up a Resistance group at your high school.
Resistance has also had a very positive response from young people in regional areas, including the NSW Central Coast, Geelong and Bendigo in Victoria and along the Queensland coast, with the possibility of new branches being formed from members there.