On a sunny Thursday, Sydney’s Town Hall was met with a sea of uniforms, picket signs and bellowing chants. Highschoolers to university students left their classrooms for the streets as part of the Students Say No to Hanson protests. A nationwide walkout against the rise of Pauline Hanson and her party One Nation.
The National Union of Students had initially organized these protests with university students as the sole attendees. But this large-scale event would quickly grab the interest of high schoolers; many of whom are below the minimum age to vote.
Students dropping pens for the pickets has come with criticism from the likes of One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce to Victorian Premier Ben Carroll; with the former stating that the event was influenced by a “socialist clique of people” whilst the state PM urged students to remain class bound.
“The best way to change your future and the world, is to get an education and stay in school”. Ben Carroll said.
But these official condemnations haven’t deterred the many who came out sporting a wide range of signs and props. One attendee even holding up a giant paper mache head of Hanson on a stick.
For those who aren’t yet old enough to vote, going out and protesting against a political party is their next best option.
Mable, a university student and protest attendee, believes that young people led protests reminds officials that their policies impact more than just adults.
“Young people all over the world feel like they’re not being represented and not thought about in the physical process because they’re not of voting age, but politics is more than just voting, and I think today shows that politics means a lot to a lot of young people.” says Mable.
Many attendees talked about the various subjects they were missing out on due to their attendance at the protest. From major exams to their favorite music class. Whilst wagging would indicate a dislike for school, many students expressed the opposite.
“It’s sad I have to miss out on these classes because I love them. But I feel like this protest is extremely important” said Sophie, one of the many highschoolers at the event.
Under one message of defiance against Hanson’s policies, all attendees were compelled to participate due to various reasons.
For some, their attendance was fueled by their ethnic background being targeted whilst others felt concerned about the rise of right-wing populism as seen in other countries like America and the UK.
Regardless of induvial motives, the massive turnout made it clear that our country’s future voters our more politically conscious then what their elders may assume.
This event isn’t a one-time affair as many students plan on returning for a second national rally on 17th September.
Listen to the many young voices behind the protest on AFTRS FM.
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