Pro-Palestinian students have flocked to the US Consulate in protest

More than 100 young people, including high schoolers, have staged a pro-Palestine protest outside the US Consulate.

A student protest calling for Israel to end the war in Palestine held at the American Consulate in Melbourne marches down St Kilda Road. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

A young cohort of high schoolers and pro-Palestinian supporters amassed outside the American Consulate building in Melbourne to protest the US’s support of the conflict in the Middle East.

Organisers of the protest, turned march, signalled their intention to carry out further demonstrations every week across the city, with the event on Friday the first of many to be held outside the consulate building.

Chants of “shame, shame USA” and “Israel, USA, how many kids have you killed today?” echoed throughout the courtyard, as police officers watched on.

The group of more than 100 supporters consisted mostly of young students and members of the Free Palestine Melbourne group.

Young protesters, including an anti-Zionist Jewish man, spoke to the crowd of protesters calling out the US and Australia for their support of Israel. Photo: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling.

The crowd listened on as a number of speakers, including 16-year-old high school student Ava, called out the Australian government and the Labor Party for not condemning Israel.

“I am expected to ignore the unabashed support Labor is giving Israel, I am expected to just go on with my life,” Ava said.

“Going to school and attending classes, doing homework, as if nothing is out of the ordinary. It’s disgusting.”

She warned high school students across Melbourne would unite to walk out of class later this month on November 23 as a show of solidarity for the Palestinian people.

A student protest calling for Israel to end the war in Palestine held at the US Consulate in Melbourne marches down St Kilda Road. Photo: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling.

Students for Palestine convener and Socialist Alternative member Jasmine Duff said Friday marked the first time the group had protested at the consulate.

“This is the first time that we’ve been outside the US consulate protesting but it’s not going to be the last,” Ms Duff said.

“We’re going to be coming back every single week.”

The pro-Palestinian protest turned into a march down St Kilda Rd, disrupting traffic and public transport. Photo: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Signs and flags were held high by those who amassed outside the American Consulate on Friday. Photo: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

She said the reason for targeting a US affiliated building stemmed from the country’s support of Israel and its right to defend itself against Hamas militants following the deadly attacks on October 7.

Some 11,000 civilians, including more than 4000 children, have been killed in the Gaza strip since the attacks triggered the Israel-Hamas war.

“We think that is just another, in the long line of US, destructive wars waged on small nations that can’t defend themselves,” she said.

As the speeches wrapped up, a procession of protesters made their way down St Kilda Rd chanting “free, free Palestine” with trams and commuters forced to wait behind them, causing significant delays.