By Sarmad Ishfaq
Youth in historic social movements
Palestine’s Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement
Conceived in 2005, the BDS is a global campaign, which promotes distinct forms of boycott against Israel until it accepts several Palestinian demands. The movement considers the demands as obligatory under international law, which includes the withdrawal of Israel form the occupied territories, equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes.
The most important weapon perhaps in the BDS inventory are young students– not just Palestinians but students from around the world– who support Palestinian humanitarian rights. Palestinian students and scholars have since 1948 been denied basic rights including education and academic freedom.
National and local student unions across the globe have ratified the BDS cause. Over 30 student governments in America and nine in Canada have voted to campaign for their universities to divest from organisations that aid and abet Israel’s humanitarian violations.
In UK too has BDS struck gold, as many universities in South Hampton and London have terminated contracts with companies in BDS’ crosshairs. Furthermore, in the UK, the National Union of Students, a confederation of 600 student unions that represents 7 million students, has also endorsed BDS. Many of these student unions refuse to sell Israeli products in student shops or have terminated contracts with BDS’ targeted companies.
The youth have been pioneers and pivotal for social movements throughout history and continue to display their exuberance in contemporary movements as well. This endeavours to highlight some of the most memorable and significant movements from history and in more recent times where the youth were (and remain) a driving-force for change
In 2018, the controversial deportation of a student of Palestinian descent from Israel enraged the world (Israeli parliament passed a law in 2017 banning any supporter of BDS from the country). The scholarship-winning student was on her way to start a master’s degree from Hebrew University in Jerusalem but was denied entry due to her prior support for BDS. She challenged the decision and the court sided with her stating that her ban seemed to be motivated due to her political opinions.
The Arab Spring
From 2010 until 2012, the Arab Spring was a series of anti-government movements that began in Tunisia and spread. The methods adopted varied across the countries but included protests, civil disobedience, riots, sit-ins, and even insurgency. Most of the movements were met with violent responses from the government and led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. In Libya and Syria full-scale civil wars broke out, the regimes of Yemen, Tunisia, and Egypt were toppled.
Throughout the movement, the youth were discernably the instigators and the backbone of the movement. They were characterised by their massive population, connectedness to the internet, high youth unemployment, and expertise of social media. The latter was especially helpful in organising protests in various countries – from Facebook to Twitter, cyber activism during the movement displayed how civil society was shifting from traditional roles. Virtual civil society backed by the animated MENA youth, shook the anachronistic status-quo of authoritarian regimes. In Egypt, a Facebook page entitled “We Are All Khaled Said” helped initiate the revolution that overthrew Mubarak. The youth also responded massively to the calls of protests due to the movement not anchored on any ideological or religious rhetoric.
In Libya, the youth were highly vocal and critical of Gaddafi’s regime. Organisations like the “Shabab Libya” (Libyan Youth Movement), which became the voice of the Libyan people, spread awareness of the protests and disseminated news and videos for the local and international population. The crackdown on these youth protesters was merciless and enraged others into joining the movement, which led to the ongoing civil war. In Egypt, the youth not only came out in droves to protest but their enthusiasm motivated other initially dis-interested organisations such as Islamist and civil society groups. For example, the Muslim Brotherhood was not interested in partaking in the movement initially but did so later due to the insistence of its younger cadre. Young women were also particularly active in the movement. Thousands of images and videos of women in veils and niqabs waving flags in the streets and protesting proudly were aired by the media.
The Civil Rights Movement
From 1954 to 1968, the world witnessed African Americans stand up for morality, as they demanded legal and constitutional rights for themselves that other Americans already enjoyed. The decades-long movement was characterised by sit-ins, non-violent protests, marches, boycotts, and other stratagems to realise the end goals.
The youth not only became symbols of abuse and racism but also the poster boys of the movement itself. Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American was perhaps the movement’s most recognisable youth. The young boy was kidnapped, beaten, and lynched in a hate crime by two white men. In death, however, young Emmett inspired a nation-wide black protest at what had transpired. African Americans were outraged when they witnessed the mutilated body of Emmett and further enraged when an all-white jury acquitted the men responsible in only an hour.
One example of student resistance took place two years after Emmett’s death when nine black high school students entered a white-only high school. In 1954, the Supreme Court outlawed segregation in schools throughout the country. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) registered nine black students, known as the Little Rock Nine, to attend Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. The governor of the state, Orval Faubus and massive numbers of white people prevented the children from entering the school on several occasions. The situation was so tense that the President had to send the 101st Airborne Division to protect and ensure the students’ admission. Notwithstanding this, the Little Rock Nine were faced with verbal abuses and assaults from white students throughout their time in school. One of them had acid thrown into her eyes while another was pushed down a flight of stairs. Despite these racist actions plaguing them, all nine students graduated and had accomplished careers in their fields.
One of the most important organisations in the civil rights movement in the 1960s was the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). It was founded by Ella Baker at Shaw University and was established to give young blacks a voice in the movement. The group went on to play a pivotal role due to their community organising which included voter registration drives. They also played a seminal part in desegregating buses in what were called Freedom Rides, and aided marches led by Dr King.
In 1963, the Children’s Crusade in Birmingham took place, which aimed at desegregating Birmingham – notorious for its systemic and innate racism. Over 4000 black children walked out of their classes and protested non-violently in the city. Unfortunately, they were met with water hoses, arrests, and batons. Despite this maltreatment, children volunteered and displayed their commitment and courage in front of the nation. Video and pictures showing the violent crackdown on children circulated and caused hue-and-cry around the world. Eventually, the protests succeeded and resulted not only in the desegregation of Birmingham but also acted as a catalyst in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The writer is a freelance columnist.