Climate strikers in May, photo Paul Mattsson

Climate strikers in May, photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Lily Douglas, Waltham Forest Socialist Party

On 19 July, members of the Socialist Party and Socialist Students braved the rain outside parliament to support school students striking against destructive climate change.

It was the latest in a series of brilliant student strikes, which over the months have shown how determined young people are to fight the Tory government’s failure to tackle climate change, and for their futures.

Perhaps because of the horrible weather and being the last day at school – the best day at school! – the protest was smaller than the previous ones.

However, the smaller turnout is also a warning that the movement needs to develop and build its links with the workers and trade unions, with clear demands of what students are fighting for.

Building up to the ‘Earth Strike’ on 20 September we are doing what we can to make it a success by putting demands to the trade unions and linking up with the young people and students.

While it was not a huge turnout on the 19th, we did manage to engage with some students who are interested in finding out more about Socialist Students and how we can fight for socialist change.