School students protest and walk out against Trump
On Friday 13th July, school students at a number of schools in London responded to the call of Socialist Students and Young Socialists to protest – and walk out – against Trump while he’s visiting Britain (see photos below).
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
After demonstrating at school gates around 8.30am, students travelled to Trafalgar Square to demonstrate against the US president, and later joined the very large anti-Trump march – estimated at 250,000 – which assembled at 2pm at Portland Place.
Socialist Students and Socialist Party protesters called for an immediate general election to end the Tory government, as well as its relationship with the Trump administration, describing both as racist and sexist.
Our placards included: “Fight Trumpism, fight capitalism,” and many chanted “Tories out, Corbyn in.”
Socialist Students national organiser Theo Sharieff, 23, said:
“These walkouts prove that young people are politically engaged and ready to fight for our future. Trump exemplifies the inequality and bigotry of the capitalist system, which is punishing working-class and young people to defend the profits of big business and the super-rich. We can support resistance to him in the US by bringing down our own Trumps in government in Britain.
“Socialist Students is calling on Jeremy Corbyn and the trade union leaders to coordinate strikes and protests, demand a general election now, and fight that election on a socialist programme. We say that should include scrapping tuition fees, reinstating EMA, an immediate £10-an-hour minimum wage, rent caps and council house building, and public ownership of the banks and biggest corporations to pay for it.”
Socialist Party London youth organiser Helen Pattison, 27, added: “The Socialist Party and Militant before it have a proud tradition of helping young people organise to fight for their rights. Young people are angry and have every right to be. Our futures are being stolen from us. As well as fighting for free education and decent jobs, we demand votes at 16.”
.