Join the international youth strike on 20 November

Tom Gibson, Yorkshire Socialist Students

August saw thousands of students walk out of schools, colleges and universities in Australia against the reactionary right-populist politician Pauline Hanson.

Hanson uses dog-whistle politics against minority communities, particularly the Muslim and trans communities, while portraying herself as the only alternative to the establishment’s hated two-party system; a familiar pattern.

Despite a recent rise in the polls, she is very unpopular with younger Australians, the majority of whom are repulsed by her reactionary social views and anti-working class economic policies.

The walkouts were organised by the National Union of Students in response to increasingly repulsive rhetoric from Hanson, and took place all across Australia. Thousands turned out, despite the ‘Labor’ government condemning the protests, summing up how the so-called ‘progressive’ capitalist politicians view actual resistance to far-right politics. This criticism did not deter the students, nor did Hanson’s asinine comments about the students’ action being funded by China.

On 20 November, students internationally will be walking out, protesting against the symptoms of the capitalist system: war, inequality, bigotry and climate disaster. Socialist Students is building for walkouts in Britain to be as big as possible.

The walkouts in Australia are yet another inspiring example of youth taking action worldwide.

Join the international youth walkout on 20 November