Schools have been forbidden from discussing Palestine, but students have been making their demands for a ceasefire known, reports Shabbir Lakha

Fantastic #SchoolStrikeForPalestine in Glasgow today ✊ Weans chanting #CeasefireNOW at tops of voices! Let’s make this #FridaysForCeasefire 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/VT9bKz7ag1

— Counterfire Glasgow (@CounterfireG) November 17, 2023

School students have walked out of school across the country this week to add their voices in demand of a ceasefire in Gaza. It has been a phenomenal display of courage and determination of young people taking collective action.

Tower Hamlets students now marching to @rushanaraali’s office after she shamefully refused to vote for a ceasefire last night. #SchoolStrikeForPalestine #FreePalestine 🇵🇸 #CeasefireNOW pic.twitter.com/MGGpeNlPo6

— Shabbir Lakha (@ShabbirLakha) November 16, 2023

In Tower Hamlets on Thursday, an estimated 400 students assembled outside the Town Hall where they were addressed by Mayor Lutfur Rahman and parents before marching to the office of their local MP, Rushanara Ali, who abstained on voting for a ceasefire.

On Friday, hundreds of students in Redbridge, Newham, Glasgow, Bristol, Burton-on-Trent, Manchester and Luton took similar action. Even more are planning to strike next week.

The students, like all of us, can see the horrific mass murder of Palestinians taking place in Gaza, particularly the thousands of children killed by Israeli bombs. As well as the weekend local and national demonstrations, many young people want to have their voices heard.

Shamefully, many schools have instructed students and teachers not to discuss Palestine, effectively shutting down any discussion on the biggest political issue at the moment and by which so many people are affected. This is in stark contrast to how schools approached Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year when many schools held assemblies, vigils, fundraisers, and such.

The children are rising up for Palestine ✊🏽 hundreds of students and parents from all over Ilford walked out and came down to Redbridge Town Hall this morning to make their voices heard#SchoolStrikeForPalestine #CeasefireNow #FreePalestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/KelSjytLUx

— Shabbir Lakha (@ShabbirLakha) November 17, 2023

This is part of the reason why many young people and parents have felt this action is necessary to highlight the plight of the Palestinians, and even more so since a majority of MPs voted against or abstained on calling for a ceasefire.

Unsurprisingly, the Tory education secretary, Gillian Keegan, tweeted on Friday condemning students taking action and making baseless claims about students participating in or being exposed to ‘antisemitic chants’. The latter is a complete fabrication, but if she is so concerned about the education of school kids, she should perhaps focus on the schools that are literally crumbling and the teacher recruitment and retention crisis for which her government is responsible.

Hundreds of school students in Burton-on-Trent striking for Palestine today! #SchoolStrikeForPalestine 🇵🇸 #CeasefireNOW pic.twitter.com/sAmDnD4WKc

— Shabbir Lakha (@ShabbirLakha) November 17, 2023

The school children that walked out this week are carrying on a rich tradition of school students organising and taking collective action, from those who walked out to oppose the Iraq War, to more recent school strikes demanding climate action, which resulted in parliament having to declare a climate emergency.

The children are rising up for Palestine ✊🏽 hundreds of students and parents from all over Ilford walked out and came down to Redbridge Town Hall this morning to make their voices heard#SchoolStrikeForPalestine #CeasefireNow #FreePalestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/KelSjytLUx

— Shabbir Lakha (@ShabbirLakha) November 17, 2023

The school children are paving the way, and their courage should be applauded and supported.If you’re interested in getting involved with organising a school strike, find more information here. Follow @schoolstrikeforpalestine and @stwuk on Instagram for updates.