More than 150 school students take school off, march through Rundle Mall for Palestine

Students who flocked to the protest in Adelaide’s CBD have revealed their reasons for ignoring the government’s call for them to stay in class.

South Australian students defied the government’s call to stay in school on Thursday, appearing in droves at parliament and unexpectedly marching through Adelaide’s CBD.

On Thursday at 1pm, more than 150 primary and high school students gathered on North Terrace calling for a “permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, some accompanied by parents and guardians.

They joined hundreds of their peers in Melbourne, Sydney and Wollongong who also skipped class for national protests.

Josie Ats (centre), 16, Adelaide Botanic High is an organiser for Adelaide Students for Palestine. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Adelaide Botanic High student Josie Ats, 16, told The Advertiser her parents gave her permission to attend as a speaker.

“I would love to be in school right now, but this more important at this moment,” Ms Ats said.

She said the government “should be encouraging young people who are political and standing up for what’s right”.

“It’s hard not to be passionate about this when you’re seeing kids being slaughtered in Gaza,” Ms Ats said.

School students marching for Gaza through Rundle Mall. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“It’s a lot to take in, but when I feel like that, I just consider what it would be like to have that life and be those kids and it just makes me want to go out and do something.”

At about 1:30pm, the peaceful rally took an unexpected turn when organisers called on the crowd to mobilise and march through Rundle Mall waving Palestinian flags.

It is understood the march went ahead without a permit, although one police officer said it “wasn’t surprising”.

Police liaisons could be seen conferring with the organisers near the intersection with Pultney St, as officers formed a barricade across end of the thoroughfare to halt the procession.

High schoolteacher Natalie McKenzie, 58, was there with her 15-year-old daughter and said she thought criticism of the demonstration was “ridiculous”.

“I’m not talking about a week camp, I’m not talking about two days in a row, I’m talking about an afternoon where young people can show their voice,” she said.

“I think the more young people can delve into the adult world, look at the news, and get some understanding of what’s going on in the world is a good thing, because social media and this instant gratification just takes over for the kids.”

Jasper Michelis, 16, Woodville High School. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Jemimah Kennedy Rochester, 13, Woodvile High School. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Fazal Allamdar, 15, Adelaide High School. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Jasper Michelis, 16, from Woodville High, said his parents knew he was attending, but he “would have come out here even if they said no”.

“I’m hoping coming out here will show Palestinians we support them and pressure the government into actually doing something,” he said.

“I’ve seen people on the news insulting us. Some people were saying, ‘I bet they can’t even find Gaza on the map’ – I can find Gaza on the map by the way.

“We know what we’re protesting for and we’re doing the right thing, and I don’t know why more people can’t see what we’re doing is just.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said he feared the national strikes would alienate Jewish students.

“This will cause incredible emotional harm to Jewish students,” Mr Ryvchin said.

“Seeing their classmates chant slogans, march and wave placards that are hostile to their community, that ignore or deny the trauma of the October 7 atrocities, and which demonise their ancestral home will cause permanent damage to cohesion in classrooms.

“Jewish students and teachers will never feel safe and accepted among colleagues and peers that participate in these actions.”

Originally published as More than 150 school students take school off, march through Rundle Mall for Palestine