Hello everyone,

This is Martha from Adelaide High writing and I just wanted to post this update to all of you on where our movement has gone since I first started this petition. On June 1st, over 300 students walked out of their classes in unison and gathered in the quadrangle of the school for a rally/protest against the culture and demand for change. Our walkout garnered the attention of media, important figureheads and political figures. Linked are some relevant articles covering the event:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/02/adelaide-high-school-students-walk-out-of-classes-in-protest-against-sexism

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-01/adelaide-high-school-students-protest-sexual-assault/100182114

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/lainie-anderson-its-not-just-the-culture-at-adelaide-high-school-is-it/news-story/6f330f1c4dc37e03b228d9b032099909

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/opinion/david-penberthy-adelaide-high-schools-sexism-protest-is-evidence-of-a-global-problem/news-story/6f73c43e1aff89631c2234b4d5493af3

After our rally, we were soon to realise that what we were fighting for was not just within our school but was a national issue at hand. We were contacted by different groups and important figures such as Chanel Contos and Sarah Hansen Young. Our next action as a group is partaking in organising a national student walkout. Students from Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne will be walking out of school on the 24th of June in solidarity with youth victims of sexual violence and to push the agenda of education reform into our state and federal parliament. The advertiser discussed the matter in this weeks issue of the Sunday mail:

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/growing-list-of-social-and-political-influencers-backing-adelaide-high-girls-sex-harassment-protest/news-story/f9658d24ceccd03a5bce98e633ec0e88

Our rally and march in Adelaide will take place on the 24th of June, our movement is grassroots and student-led, however, due to the large scale of this event, we have partnered with the March4Justice SA branch; Justice4Women SA. 

The rally will officially begin at 12.30 pm at Victoria Square Adelaide. More information can be found on our Facebook event; https://fb.me/e/HvzmlkSs

The link to our GoFundMe page set up to aid cover important costs of the rally will be linked here as well, any donations are much appreciated; http://gf.me/u/zwy8n8

Concluding this update I'd just like to say that all this pivotal progress we have made as students is really owed to all of you who signed, shared and discussed our petition and movement. This issue is so important and your support means the world to us as students who are used to being ignored and pushed away.

Thank you.

Sincerely all my love and gratitude to all of you,

Martha.