Melbourne school students plan walkout in support of Palestine

The planned student strike to support Palestinians next week has drawn swift criticism from state and federal opposition MPs.

A planned student strike in Melbourne to support Palestinians next week has drawn swift criticism from state and federal opposition MPs who argue students should not be used as “political pawns” in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Free Palestine Melbourne posted details of the student walkout, organised by School Students For Palestine, on the group’s social media feeds on Monday afternoon, prompting a statement from federal Education Minister Jason Clare that children should be in class during school hours.

The group said the walkout would begin at 12.30pm – school lunchtime – on Thursday, November 23, followed by a protest in the CBD at 1.30pm.

One of the students involved in the event told The Age via email that groups of student activists were promoting the strike in a number of inner-city schools, including Princes Hill, Fitzroy High, Brunswick Secondary and Thornbury High. She said students from across the state had also registered interest.

“We’ve been inspired by school walkouts in the US and UK, and we want to make our voices heard. It’s important to show that there are millions who stand with Palestine,” the student said.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said on Tuesday morning she expects students to stay in school next Thursday, after plans of the student strike emerged on Monday, but noted that many students have been directly affected by the war in Gaza.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said on Monday that “school students should be at school during school hours”.

The Greens’ federal education spokesperson, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, has written to Care urging him to retract his comments, and called on the government to support students’ democratic right to walk out in protest of the war in Gaza as well as for Friday’s National Climate Strike.

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