As the cost of higher education continues to skyrocket, students are feeling the financial strain more than ever. With university administrations using students’ hard-earned tuition dollars to suppress their voices and the current administration using taxpayer dollars to fund a genocidal onslaught in Israel, it’s no wonder that student debtors and the Debt Collective have had enough. In a powerful and inspiring display of activism, they recently led a direct action in Washington DC to demand change and say enough is enough.

The rising cost of tuition has been a major concern for students and their families for years. With the average student debt reaching an all-time high of over $37,000, it’s clear that something needs to be done to alleviate this burden. Yet, instead of addressing the root causes of this issue, university administrations have been using students’ tuition dollars to suppress any form of dissent.

This was evident in the recent events at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where students were protesting the tenure denial of a prominent Black professor. In response, the university’s administration used police force to violently remove the students from the building, all while claiming to support diversity and inclusion. This blatant disregard for student voices and the misuse of their tuition dollars is unacceptable.

But it’s not just university administrations that are failing students. The Biden administration, which promised to prioritize the needs of the people, has also disappointed. Despite widespread calls to end the US’s support for Israel’s violent attacks on Palestine, the administration continues to use taxpayer dollars to fund this genocidal onslaught. This is not only a betrayal of the American people, but it also contributes to the growing student debt crisis.

In the face of these injustices, student debtors and the Debt Collective have taken matters into their own hands. On June 21st, they organized a direct action in Washington DC to demand that the Biden administration cancel all student debt and end its support for Israel’s violence. The action, which included a sit-in at the Department of Education and a march to the White House, was a powerful display of solidarity and determination.

The Debt Collective, a grassroots organization that fights for economic justice, has been at the forefront of the fight against student debt. They have been advocating for the cancellation of all student debt, which they see as a form of economic violence that disproportionately affects marginalized communities. And they have been successful in their efforts, with the Biden administration recently canceling $1.3 billion in student loans for borrowers with disabilities.

But this is just the beginning. The Debt Collective, along with other student debtors, are demanding that the Biden administration go even further and cancel all student debt. And they are not alone in this fight. A recent poll showed that a majority of Americans support the cancellation of student debt, and even some members of Congress have expressed their support for this cause.

The direct action in Washington DC was a powerful reminder that when people come together and demand change, it is possible. It was a display of the power of collective action and the determination of student debtors to fight for their rights. And it was a call to the Biden administration to fulfill its promise of prioritizing the needs of the people and to use taxpayer dollars for the betterment of society, not for funding violence.

The Debt Collective and student debtors are not just fighting for themselves, but for future generations as well. By canceling all student debt, the Biden administration would not only provide much-needed relief to millions of Americans, but it would also invest in the future of the country. It would allow individuals to pursue their dreams without the burden of crippling debt and would stimulate the economy by freeing up funds for other forms of spending.

It’s time for the Biden administration to listen to the voices of the people and take action. It’s time for university administrations to prioritize the needs of their students and use their tuition dollars for their education, not for suppressing their voices. And it’s time for all of us to stand in solidarity with student debtors and demand an end to the student debt crisis.

The direct action in Washington DC was just the beginning. Student debtors and the Debt Collective will continue to fight until their demands are met. And as more people join this movement, the pressure on the Biden administration will only grow stronger. It’s time for the administration to make the right choice and invest in the future of the country by canceling all student debt. The time for change is now, and student debtors are leading the way.