School students unite in their call for People’s Vote

MORE than 200 pupils from four schools here are expected to take part in a joint walkout at noon today to protest over the “unwillingness of politicians in Westminster to address the grave concerns young people have” over the draft Brexit deal, according to organisers.

Students from Lagan College, Wellington College, Methodist College and Our Lady and St Patrick’s College in Knock are expected to take part in the walkout.

The event is being co-ordinated by Our Future Our Choice NI (OFOC NI), a group of young people campaigning for a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.

In a statement, they said they had organised the protest with the help of students from the four colleges.

The walkout campaign has been branded #WalkForOurFuture, and will see events take place in each of the UK’s four home nations today.

The OFOC says it is a “movement of young people campaigning for a People’s Vote to draw attention to the outrage felt by young people about this bad Brexit deal”.

The series of OFOC interventions is called #DayofOutrage, and organisers have said that more major protests are planned across the UK.

The Lagan College walkout organising committee said: “Politics students at Lagan College have become frustrated with how the politicians in our country and the rest of the UK have ignored the opinions and views of young people regarding the issues of Brexit and other political issues.

“We didn’t get the chance to vote on the outcome of our future, so we want to take this final opportunity to express ourselves and our views.

“In order to achieve this, we have decided to hold a Walkout For Our Future from school for year 13/14 students on Monday, November 19 at 12pm.

“We invite all sixth-year students, staff and schools from across Belfast and Northern Ireland to join us in this movement to have our voices heard.”

In a statement, OFOC NI said: “We are a group of young people from across Northern Ireland who have been campaigning since the end of August towards getting a people’s vote on the final Brexit deal.

“We have grown as a movement and throughout our time working we have been encouraging young Northern Irish people to become involved in politics and allowed them to have a voice.

“We are delighted to have been able to inspire and support the school students who are involved in this event.

“They are an inspiring selection of students and we hope that others will be inspired by their actions.”