Young people gathered on Wednesday to protest political unrest and violence across the Middle East, one of many recent demonstrations outside Sheffield’s Students Union building.
Sparked by the US-Israeli decision to launch a bombing campaign on Iran, their signs and shouts also protested aggression in regions such as Gaza and Lebanon – which they called a ‘not new but ongoing issue’.
Alistair Tice, 70, Socialist Party organiser, said: “It’s quite inspiring to see young people get involved… and it’s not surprising when you look at the world. I think the future for young people today looks very, very bleak.
“Whichever way you look at it, the planet is not delivering for the overwhelming majority and for young people this is more and more of a struggle. There’s nobody standing up for them.”
Mr Tice attended the protest, often involved with youth activists after growing up as one, while joking things have got “50 years worse” for Wednesday’s students – who called for more of their peers to join as he had.
River Kay, 21, student, said: “After the 2024 Palestine encampment a lot of activism died down. I think a lot of people can feel defeated when there isn’t that physical presence.
“People all of a sudden feel disempowered and disillusioned, then they don’t actually want to get out there and try and organise again.”
Members of the group shared complaints that social media “doesn’t solve any of the problems people are facing” and instead leaves young people feeling disinterested because of misinformation and ‘divisive soundbites’.
River Kay said: “It’s frustrating on my end because people consider themselves social media activists but they won’t actually turn up to or organise protests.
“I believe in actually trying to build a movement on the ground. That’s why it’s good to form protests even when you’re not sure how many people will turn up.”
Though small, Wednesday’s protest grew as a number of people spontaneously joined the demonstration.
One of these students, Jamie Gould, 24, expressed skepticism about getting involved, but said: “Even if I end up deciding that this group isn’t for me, in the meantime I can’t just do nothing.”
