Liverpool uni – ‘before long, everyone wants a leaflet’…

Ruby Whitehead, Liverpool Socialist Students

University of Liverpool Socialist Students leafletted outside busier lecture halls, during transitional times when lectures were starting and ending. We were at two separate lecture halls to get a wider reach.

One person would take a leaflet, before multiple others followed their lead. Staff were also interested in learning about the strike. We had new signups, donations, and a couple of new people coming to the Socialist Students meeting we held later that day.

Campus security questioned who we were (Socialist Students), and if we were allowed to be leafletting on campus (yes we are). But this did not impact our leafletting. We still made a massive push towards spreading information about our demonstration on N20.

…college students know the system is rigged

Amy Birnie, Liverpool Socialist Students

We have been campaigning at the City of Liverpool College, raising awareness about the upcoming International Youth Strike on 20 November. We had a positive response from staff and students.

We sold the Socialist paper, and people left their numbers to be contacted to find
 out more. People were eager to attend future meetings.

Issues raised included the jobs market, poor learning conditions, and the cost of living. These concerns mimic the sentiment we’ve heard throughout our campaign.

Students are aware that the system isn’t working for them. And they’re keen to act.

Young people are aware of the issues facing society. These issues do not exist in a vacuum. Capitalism’s drive for profit has undermined the workers it depends on for too long.

We are campaigning every day in the buildup to 20 November. It is essential to harness the support of students who agree that funding should be focused on students, rather than war.

Socialist Students is campaigning alongside over 25 other youth organisations across Europe, to demand that our governments prioritise our future.

I’ve joined Socialist Students and the Socialist Party to champion this. And I call on anyone reading this to do the same. It’s vital that we unite against war and austerity on 20 November.

…school students made more curious by heads trying to stop us

Dean Young, Liverpool Socialist Party organiser

We leafleted outside Alsop High School for the start of the school day. We ran out of leaflets!

School students were curious about what was going on. Many were eager to read what Socialist Students stands for, and what the international youth strike is.

Some security/management at the school came out and attempted to intimidate us, taking leaflets out of the hands of students. It didn’t stop students. Some were made more curious by such over-the-top tactics.

One 15-year-old, after being told not to take a leaflet, came up to me and asked: “Are you guys Trotskyists or Marxists Leninists?” He took a leaflet.