The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.59/No.31           August 28, 1995 
 
 
Young Socialists Around The World Youth Support The Struggle To Free Abu-Jamal  

BY BROCK SATTER

PHILADELPHIA - Young Socialists from New York, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland converged here August 12 to take part in a demonstration with thousands of fighting youth, workers, and others in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

The New York Young Socialists issued a joint statement with the Socialist Workers Party demanding a new trial for Abu-Jamal and calling for the abolition of the death penalty. The Young Socialists showed their support of the struggle to free Abu-Jamal by carrying YS banners during the march with the same demands. They were joined by another banner in the name of "supporters of the Young Socialists," from Delaware.

A lot of the youth here were trying to understand the nature of the U.S. government and why such injustices as the Abu-Jamal case are happening in the United States and other parts the world. Many were open to communist ideas. More than 30 people from the northeast and other parts of the country signed up for more information about the Young Socialists.

YS members and other participants in the recent Cuba Lives International Youth Festival talked up their experiences in Cuba with the many youth who turned out for the demonstration. They were able to report on the widespread knowledge of the Abu-Jamal case among the delegations from Europe and also among a layer of Cuban youth.

They were also able to report that the festival workshop in Villa Clara province, which discussed the topic "Democracy and Participation," passed a resolution condemning the scheduled execution of Abu-Jamal. Many young people at the Philadelphia protest signed up to get a full reportback on the Cuba Lives festival.

The Young Socialists were also able to introduce many of young fighters to the Mark Curtis case. "I found it easy to talk about the case at this demonstration, because the Mumia Abu-Jamal case has opened the eyes of many of the people here about the nature of the cops and the courts. People instantly understood the frame-up of Mark Curtis," said Jack Willey, a member of the Manhattan Young Socialists. Dozens of people signed up for more information about the Curtis case.

As schools begin to open up in the fall, many young people will be planning to make the Abu-Jamal case more known among students and will be trying to keep the pressure on for a new trial.

The Young Socialists will take a part in helping to lead this effort. In New York, the Manhattan Young Socialists are part of a Youth Outreach Committee on Mumia Abu-Jamal. The Pittsburgh Young Socialists are also active in a defense coalition in their city. In Cleveland, the Young Socialists are working with young people who came to the demonstration and others who want to build a coalition there.

Brock Satter is a member of the Manhattan Young Socialists.

 
 
 
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