Stop Bush 2007

Resistance statement In defiance of the biggest 'security' campaign ever seen in Australia aimed at intimidating and deterring people from protesting at APEC, up to 15,000 people joined the 'Stop Bush - Make Howard History' protest on September 8. The rally was a huge victory for the movement - a mass demonstration of our collective strength on the streets that Howard and Bush can only pretend to ignore. The spirit of the rally reflected a determination to stop the war, for real action on climate change, and to defend workers' rights regardless of who wins the federal elections. Its success means Bush will add Sydney to the long list of cities that have greeted him with mass demonstrations demanding an end to the war. Howard will remember APEC as the summit that was meant to bolster his domestic support. And the NSW Labor government will regret that 'violence' has only been used to describe police behaviour at the rally. As well as the September 8 rally, the national student walkout on September 5 was a significant victory. Hundreds of mostly high school students around the country left school to attend protests (300 in Sydney, 600 in Melbourne, 300 in Wollongong, 200 in Perth, 300 in Brisbane). This took place despite a concerted campaign of intimidation targeted at students by the police, education departments, schools and the media. The walkout, initiated by Resistance, shows the anger and determination amongst young people to stop Bush and Howard's policies and the role students can play in helping to give others the confidence to take action. This article is an attempt by Resistance to assess how the movement won these victories and look at some of the lessons from building the protest.

Here are some photos of the student walkouts and APEC protests. For more go to http://www.greenleft.org.au/2007/723/37544 If you have photos or footage, email it in! pike.brianna@gmail.com

To find out what happened in your city or to get involved in post APEC debriefs check out the branches section (along the left hand side of the page)

Despite a concerted campaign of intimidation by police, hundreds of students walked out of class on September 5 in an impassioned protest against Australian Prime Minister John Howard and US President George Bush. The walkout was initiated and led by Resistance.

Young people in this country have played an important role in changing public opinion. It was young people that were amongst the first to protest the racist policies of Pauline Hanson with high school walkouts against racism, and in 2003, tens of thousands of students walked out of class to oppose the invasion of Iraq in the Books Not Bombs student strikes. Last year high-school students marched again in a national day of student action in response to Howard's attacks on workers rights.

We have proved it in practice that when we stand up and take action together, at our universities, high schools, TAFEs, workplaces and in the streets, we can make a difference.

Student Walkout September 5! To find out whats happening in your city check out the branches section (along the left hand side of the page) or go to www.walkout2stopbush.org.au

Brianna Pike, 20 July 2007 Organising is well under way for protests during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney in September, to which PM John Howard will be welcoming his war criminal mate, US President George Bush.