Statement from Socialist Students
The Sunday Times, the Sun and GB News have all run stories about the 20 November walkouts. Responding to a request for comment from GB News, Socialist Students national chair Adam Powell-Davies said:
“Socialist Students is a democratic, student-led campaigning organisation in schools, colleges and universities across the UK. It fights for a socialist transformation of society to meet the needs of all, not the profits of a few. Our members organise campaigns and protests against war, climate breakdown, poverty and discrimination, and link student struggles with workers’ struggles on and off campus.
“Young people will not sit quietly while our schools, colleges and universities are cut and billions are found for war. On Friday 20 November, as part of the International Youth Strike, thousands of students across Britain will walk out and protest alongside hundreds of thousands of young people across Europe. Socialist Students is organising protests in over 50 towns and cities, and over 100 educational institutions so far.
“The National Education Union, the largest education union in Europe, has voted to back young people’s right to protest and to oppose disciplinary action against students who take part. University staff in the University and College Union have called a day of action in every university on the same day. Teachers, lecturers and parents who are concerned about safety are welcome to join us on the day, and we are inviting them. Parents and teachers joined the walkouts we organised against Trump’s state visit last year.
“20 November is World Children’s Day, the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the UK ratified in 1991. It gives young people the right to express their views on matters that affect them, and the right to peaceful assembly. No student should be punished for using those rights.
“Chris Philp says parents want their children in lessons. So do we: lessons with specialist teachers, in classes that are not overcrowded, in buildings that are not falling apart. Underfunding does far more damage to education than one day of protest.”
Background
The NEU’s national executive passed a motion last week supporting the International Youth Strike. It resolved to “express support for the right of young people to peacefully organise, protest and make their voices heard, including those taking part in the N20 day of action”; to “oppose disciplinary action against students participating in peaceful protest activity, including detentions or other sanctions, and to support campaigns defending students’ rights where required”; and “to provide members with information about the N20 International Youth Strike through NEU communications channels, providing members with how they can safely and responsibly support participating students’ rights in line with safeguarding requirements and legal obligations”. As the Sunday Times reported, the NEU is also exploring having members volunteer as stewards to keep the protests safe and peaceful. Socialist Students enthusiastically welcomes the support of the NEU.
The University and College Union has called a day of action in every university in the UK on Friday 20 November, with protests, rallies and union meetings to highlight the crisis in higher education.
The International Youth Strike was called at a meeting of youth and student organisations from across Europe in Cologne in June. Students in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and other countries will take action on 20 November.
