Radical student groups across Australia plan to stage anti-capitalism and anti-One Nation rallies on Remembrance Day, November 11, sparking widespread criticism from veterans, politicians, and education officials. The protests, organized in major cities including Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth, have drawn parallels to recent student demonstrations in France that escalated into riots and looting.

The High School Anti-Capitalists, a student group leading the movement, have expressed being inspired by the French protests and intend to organize school walkouts and peaceful rallies as part of a broader campaign against far-right politics and capitalism. Jules Arpula, a national spokeswoman for the group, said the selection of Remembrance Day was coincidental and not intended as an insult to veterans. Arpula emphasized the protests aim to raise awareness about the growth of the far right in Australia and align with a global youth movement addressing systemic injustices.

Veterans’ representatives have urged the students to reconsider the timing of their demonstrations. Peter Tinley, national president of RSL Australia, encouraged young people to pause at 11 a.m. on November 11 to honor those who served and sacrificed for freedoms enjoyed today. Tinley and other veterans acknowledged the right to protest but called for respect on a day dedicated to remembrance.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and officials from several state education departments urged students to prioritize school attendance on Remembrance Day. Clare stated that protests should take place on weekends, describing Remembrance Day as a "sacred" occasion meant for reflection, not activism. A spokesman for New South Wales Education Minister Prue Car emphasized the importance of being "at school and in class" on the national day of commemoration, while South Australian Education Minister Lucy Hood’s office described planning protests on November 11 as "distasteful."

Opposition figures and political parties also criticized the decision to hold rallies on Remembrance Day. Julian Leeser, opposition education spokesman, called the choice "extraordinary disrespect" to fallen service members and condemned any association with the violence seen in France. One Nation’s national education spokeswoman Colleen Harkin described the timing as "breathtakingly ignorant" and indicative of "poor judgement."

Students from multiple cities have pledged to participate in the rallies, which organizers say will remain peaceful. The unfolding controversy highlights the tensions between youth activism and the cultural significance of national commemorative events, with calls for a balance between the right to protest and respect for historic remembrance.