High school students across Australia are being called upon to participate in a walkout next week to protest Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party. The demonstration, scheduled for August 13, is being organized by a group identifying as High School Anticapitalists, which has garnered support from student organizations, including the University of Sydney Students' Representative Council.
Organizers state the protest aims to voice opposition to what they describe as the rising influence of Hanson and her party, particularly in the lead-up to upcoming state elections. Promotional materials from the group assert that One Nation, alongside "billionaires and the ruling elites," advocates for a society characterized by authoritarianism and hate, while benefiting the wealthy.
The High School Anticapitalists claim that mainstream political parties have contributed to the normalization of One Nation's policies, allowing the party to gain significant traction. They allege that major parties are adopting One Nation's platform, including rhetoric against abortion and migrants, thus legitimizing these positions. The group also criticizes Labor's policies on refugees and national security, accusing the party of adopting Islamophobia and continuing the "dehumanizing treatment of refugees" through offshore detention.
Even the Greens are targeted by the group, which argues that the party ultimately supports capitalism rather than advocating for more profound systemic change. "We think there is nothing logical about scapegoating immigrants, attacking abortion rights, or calling for a monoculture, except if you abide by the logic of the ruling elites," the organizers stated.
Recent protests have occurred outside a One Nation event in Melbourne, where hundreds demonstrated against the party as it announced candidates for the Victorian upper house. Protesters carried signs and chanted slogans, indicating existing opposition to One Nation's presence.
The High School Anticapitalists believe that opposition to Hanson and capitalism is widespread among young Australians, but they are calling for greater youth mobilization to transform this sentiment into an organized force.