Students across South Africa have been fighting for almost a year for free higher education. October 26 is the national day of action for this movement, when students planned to march to Parliament to call for free and decolonized education.

Student leaders released a statement that reads “Taking inspiration from the youth of 1976, who defiantly stood against the apartheid state…#FEESMUSTFALL seeks to fulfill a generational call whose duty is to answer the unanswered, give birth to the new, give hope to the hopeless and convince those who have been marginalized to the sidelines of humanity that they too are human, and that we love and care for them.”

Read their full statement below:

Fees Must Fall Western Cape statement on the #26October march to parliament. All are welcome to join us. Free education first, land next. pic.twitter.com/37AOO4x7tP

— #26October (@FeesMustFallWC) October 26, 2016

Follow the organizers on Twitter for updates about the action:

“We have set out on a quest for true humanity, and somewhere on the distant horizon we can see the glittering prize. Let us march forth with courage and determination, drawing strength from our common plight and our [blackness]. In time we shall be in a position to bestow upon South Africa the greatest gift possible–a more human face” – Steve Biko

For more news like this, sign up for Blavity’s daily newsletter.

decolonize education

Get relevant content delivered to you once a week