International Socialists

In wet rainy weather, about 50 students gathered on the Otago university union lawn to protest the lack of tertiary education funding in the National Government’s first Budget.

At the union, the a Victoria university flag was burned in protest at the disenrollment of three students for burning the NZ flag in a protest against NZ involvement in the war in Afghanistan. Those students were supposedly disenrolled for breaching health and safety guidelines, so this flag burning was done with welding gloves and mask.

Speakers from Young Labour and Taryn from the International Socialists spoke to the students, many of whom were members of Labour or the IS, before the march set off at a brisk pace for the National Party HQ. There were more speeches on the street there, including one by James G, who had been interviewed earlier on the radio one show “the revolution will not be televised”.

The demo was small but noisy and upbeat. With a good group like this, organised through the EAG, we can help rebuild the student  movement!

Pictures: Ashley