Hundreds of defiant Sydney students wag school for pro-Palestine march

Ignoring warnings from politicians to stay at school, Sydney students have massed in their hundreds to join a CBD rally, many saying they’ve done so with their parents’ blessing.

Hundreds of schoolchildren supporting Palestine under a cry of “we’re not gonna f … ing stand for this” took to the streets of Sydney as adult protesters clashed, with some ripping down posters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the CBD.

The rally, which came despite political leaders urging kids to stay in school, threatened to turn ugly before it had even started when a man holding an Israel flag walked among the children.

“What is he even doing here, does he want to get bashed,” one teen could be heard saying. The man was eventually moved on by police after arguing with officers as well as opposing protesters.

As the rally made its way through the CBD, two adults could be seen tearing at posters showing Israeli hostages.

Students said it was their ‘duty’ to protest. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Despite calls from leaders urging them to stay in school the teens laughed off pleas from the likes of Premier Chris Minns, the federal education minister and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to “get educated”.

Year 12 student and rally organiser Eva said protesters were “demanding the complete end of the bombing of Gaza and the siege being enforced by Israel, which is leaving over two million Palestinians in Gaza without adequate food, water, electricity and medical supplies”.

“Israel has killed more than 7000 children.

“High school students in Gaza right now can’t go to school,” she said.

“The least we can do here in Australia is come out to show our support for an end to the bombing.”

Many of the several hundred who turned out wore traditional headscarfs, waved Lebanese and Palestinian flags, and said they believed it was “their duty” to wag school for the protest.

Students from Sydney walk out of high schools across the city to demand justice for Palestine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Protesters assembled from 1.30pm at Sydney Town Hall. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Many students told reporters they wagged school with the full support of their parents.

“It is imperative that we do not look down upon students for striking, we are protesting because of the unlawful occupation of Palestine,” Jaseena Al-Helo, another year 12 student originally from Palestine, said.

“You do not have to be Palestinian to sympathise with this genocide, merely human.”

Despite it being organised by a group of teens, several adults could be seen, including Sydney Palestine Action Group leader Josh Lees.

Placards on display at the protest. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

CONDEMNATION

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin condemned the CBD rally.

“We absolutely condemn the cynical recruitment of children to this extremist agenda. This may be presented as a spontaneous initiative led by idealistic high school kids but we know this is the latest stunt by hardened anti-Israel activists to advance their propaganda campaign,” Mr Ryvchin said.

Students carry signs during the protest. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“Those who have supported it, including some teachers and the Greens, should be ashamed.

“We are deeply concerned for the welfare of Jewish students and teachers and what awaits them when their peers, filled with racist slogans and violent chants, return to their classrooms.

“The damage to our society and to our education system could be devastating and long-term. That this has been allowed to happen is a failure of community, parenting and education that will require deep reflection and serious action.”

‘ENTIRELY INAPPROPRIATE’

Earlier, the school-day protest was slammed by the former education minister, who described Friday’s rally occurring during school hours is “entirely inappropriate”.

The Daily Telegraph also revealed the pro-Palestine school strike at Sydney’s Town Hall would be kept to footpaths on the planned march, because of failure to submit an application to march within the legal time frame.

Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Mitchell, the education minister for the Coalition government before the March state election, slammed the event.

“Parents would rightly expect that when their children go to school, they go to learn. While students have every right to Voice their views, protesting during school hours is entirely inappropriate,” she said.

“Every effort should have been made to move this rally to a Saturday so that student learning was not disrupted.”

SYD Students 4 Palestine and School Students for Palestine only applied to NSW Police to march from Town Hall down Park, Pitt, Market and York Streets, on Monday. Protesters applying to march on roads must submit their application a week before the event.

Police instead would aim to keep an expected 200 students along footpaths, it’s understood.

An organiser addresses the protest. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Ministers throughout the week have called on students to stay in school or risk a black mark going on their school record.

Education and Early Learning Minister Prue Car said there was no excuse for students to skip school.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley’s office deferred to Ms Car for comment.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb said: “Police are responding to an unauthorised school student protest. Police have sufficient numbers to respond, expecting professional protesters to attend in support.”

The NSW Department of Education had taken the “clear position” that Friday will be a normal teaching day and any student who is absent will be marked as such, with schools to follow up with parents for an explanation.

In the public system, parents must provide an explanation to the school within seven days, after which absences are put on the student’s record. They also have to provide a good excuse — such as illness or bereavement — and schools are able to determine what constitutes a valid reason.

Public school teachers were warned they “must not participate” in the rally if they’re on duty, with the NSW Department of Education reminding staff they won’t be entitled to paid leave to attend either”.

The letter sent to all government schools said staff have a “clear duty to retain public confidence in public education and ensure the department remains apolitical and professional”.

The Sydney march comes a day after hundreds of Victorian students marched through Melbourne’s CBD in their own School Strike for Palestine Rally.

Originally published as Hundreds of defiant Sydney students wag school for pro-Palestine march