Protesting in parliament square. Photo: Isai Priya

Protesting in parliament square. Photo: Isai Priya   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

London

On 24 September, hundreds of students walked out of their classes and gathered in Parliament Square to demand that the Tory government acts now to end climate change and save our future. The demo was part of other protests, organised by young people, around the country and across the world.

The Socialist Party message was very well received. Our young members went out into the crowd with leaflets and sign-up sheets for Socialist Students, with many leaving their details.

Unfortunately, the organisers refused to allow us, or anyone outside of the planned speakers’ list, to give a speech to the crowd. This is highly undemocratic.

It is essential that we have a free discussion, where young people can put forward their solutions, even if there are disagreements. Otherwise, we can end up with nobody putting forward the strategies we need to fight the failure of the Tories and Starmer’s Labour.

We need a democratically organised, mass, working-class movement for the climate. Capitalism is the cause of climate change. We have to fight against it, and for socialist change.

Maurice Cooper

Leeds

Socialist Students was part of a 150-strong protest organised by the student-staff Climate Coalition at Leeds University. Staff at the university won the right to have an hour stoppage at work, which facilitated a march from the uni down to the ‘youth strike for climate’ rally in the city centre.

Our leaflets for the Youth March for Jobs on 9 October were well received. Our banner and placards calling for ‘socialist change to end climate change’ drew attention. This led to Leeds Student Radio interviewing us, and someone joining us on the protest who wants to get active in Socialist Students.