About 100 Christchurch Girls High School students leading a sexual harassment protest have been turned away by police and their principal en route to their target Christchurch Boys High.
The students began a protest during their lunch break on Thursday.
They carried banners with slogans like our bodies are not your conversation starters, my assaulter got a second chance, no more excuses, dismantle rape culture and boys will be boys, with boys crossed out and responsible written in its place.
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Police were called to the school as the students took to the streets to head to Christchurch Boys High.
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They were followed by a police car, but were stopped when a second police car arrived about 100 metres down the road. Principal Christine ONeill had also got in her car to stop the students.
Police at the scene of protest involving Christchurch Girls’ High School students on Thursday.
O’Neill said she had become aware of the protest, but issues had been raised over the last week concerning gender violence.
It was really important to encourage students to speak up about that, and its not helpful to single out individual boys schools. Its important to address global, systemic issues.
Police youth and community relations manager Phil Newton said the students were stopped due to traffic and safety concerns.
They were a short distance from the school when they were requested to turn back.
About a hundred students from Christchurch Girls’ High School protesting against sexual harassment were stopped by police as they were heading towards Christchurch Boys’ High School.
A Christchurch Girls High parent, who wanted to remain anonymous, said it was sad and disappointing the students were silenced.
It was important their voices were not suppressed, she said.
It would be nice to be allowed to have their freedom of speech.
Christchurch Boys High headmaster Nic Hill said he was aware of the protest.
I dont have any comment to make on this other than that the two schools are working very closely together with our students on the issues, he said.
It follows chalked graffiti appearing on the walls and pavements of Christchurch Boys High School on Monday highlighting LGBTQIA+ rights, feminism and sexual harassment.
Students and staff at Christchurch Boys High School found chalked graffiti on the walls and pavements on Monday.
The chalked statements were also aimed at Nic Hill, claiming he protects bullies and telling him to control your boys.
Stuff understands the graffiti was put up by students at Christchurch Girls High.
Tabby Besley, managing director of InsideOut, a national organisation that helps improve the safety of Rainbow youths, said the graffiti was a clear cry for support from those students.