Students organising the September 5 walkout against US President George Bush have initiated the following sign-on statement for parents and teachers to support the right of students to protest.
We, the undersigned, are concerned by the recent comments by NSW Premier Morris Iemma and education minister John Della Bosca that students who protest when George Bush visits Sydney in September are "ferals" and will face a "dangerous situation". We feel this is part of a campaign to intimidate students and deny them the right to protest.
We understand that young people have the right to independently form their ideas about the world and that engaging in peaceful demonstrations against the Iraq war, like the September 5 student walkout, is part of this process. Education can and should extend past the class room.
In the context of police intimidation we think that there should be an independent group of parents who can help facilitate a peaceful rally. Therefore, we are prepared to attend the September 5 rally and act as peace monitors.
[Parents and teachers can sign on by phoning Brianna on (02) 9690 1230 or emailing <pike.brianna@gmail.com>. For more information visit <www.walkout2stopbush.org.au>.]