The all-boys school, together with seven other schools including Rosebank-based St Teresa’s School, Roedean School in Parktown, Saint Stithians, St Andrews School for Girls, Redhill High School and St Mary’s, all joined leading activists of the #BringBackOurGirls movement on 19 May.
Since the kidnapping of 230 Nigerian girls by Islamist military group Boko Haram in March, the international community has embraced the social media campaign, #BringBackOurGirls – demanding action to rescue the Chibok girls.
Most of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign activity has been highly visible on Twitter, Facebook, and international media outlets, but the Joburg North schools decided to bring the campaign to our streets.
The chilly weather did not deter the pupils as they all engaged in some sort of protest action outside their schools at 7.30am.
St John’s boys formed a human chain around the perimeter of the school with over 700 pupils holding up banners in silence for the Nigerian schoolgirls.
Support from motorists driving past was overwhelming, with people hooting, waving and flashing lights in support of the protest which appeared to be very close to the pupils’ hearts.
On 5 May, pupils from Parktown High School for Girls also held an assembly entitled Being Brave, aimed at sending a message of encouragement to the abducted girls.
The #BringBackOurGirls has gone on to be used in over a million tweets worldwide.
It would appear that the Nigerian government has listened to these calls as they have not only offered a cash reward to anyone who can help locate and rescue the girls, but has also accepted international offers of help.
It would appear that social media and protests such as this one have played a pivotal role in forcing the issue onto the agenda of our world leaders.
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View the video of the Johannesburg Schools’ Bring Back Our Girls’ Protests below:
