Student Activism

Students around the world have always been leaders for change, revolution and righteous causes. The intellectual powerhouse that constitutes the international student body epitomizes the power of the mind when put to use to change the world.  Many times student protest and change occur in solidarity with others around the world regardless of cultural differences. The student movement is alive and well today throughout the U.S and founded upon a proud history dating back to the 1930s.

It was in the 1930s that the American Youth Congress, supported by First Lady Roosevelt, lobbied the US Congress against racial discrimination in favor of accessible education and youth programs for all. Since then, American students have helped to change the world on a vast range of fronts for the betterment of all. A similar group to the American Youth Congress cropped up in the 60s and called themselves the Student Nonviolent Coordinating committee and they also fought against racism and for full public school integration.

In response to the Kent State shootings in 1970 the largest student strike in American history occurred. The Ohio National Guard shot dead students protesting the invasion of Cambodia. In response more than 450 university, college and high school campuses across the country were shut down by student strikes and (both violent and non-violent) protests that involved more than 4 million students.

Today student activism is alive and well and serves to bring issues of rights and equality to the forefront of the news. In recent years teaching, sweatshop labor, American involvement in war and of course the state of the environment, have been debated and accountability demanded from student leaders. The intelligent young minds of the American student population own a proud history of change and the promotion of human rights.