BY SARAH KATZ
CHICAGO -A November 22 dinner and YS forum put the Young
Socialists here on course to go over its fund drive goal. The
Chicago chapter came out of the event with over $900 in pledges
and donations, towards its goal of $700.
The weekly Militant Labor Forum turned over its space for the event. Mick McDonald, a leader of the YS in Canada and a member of the United Steelworkers of America Local 5338, spoke on "The Struggle for Quebec Independence and the Socialist Revolution in Canada; Report from the founding convention of the YS in Canada."
McDonald started off his talk by pointing to some of the most recent examples of workers fighting back, including the strike that week of 45,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal workers. He and other YS members had been able to join the 126,000 teachers across Ontario picketing against education cuts.
The struggle of Quebecois for their independence was a major part of the forum, as it was during the convention. Quebecois are an oppressed nationality within Canada who face discrimination in education, health, and employment based on the language they speak, French. The YS, McDonald stated, supports this important national struggle because it "is a fight for justice and equality and part of the fight for a workers and farmers government in Canada. This fight mobilizes tens of thousands of working people in Quebec against the Canadian state."
Tami Peterson, the local fund drive director, explained that the YS does not accept money from any foundation or capitalist enterprise. "The funds we raise from working people and youth are used to participate in political events not only in the United States but around the world," said Peterson. She explained how the YS joins struggles such as fights against police brutality, solidarity with striking workers, and the fight for immigrant rights. Forum attendees made pledges and gave donations totaling $482.
Hiruy Abdu, a student from Ethiopia, attended the event "to know more about this unique national question." He was able to speak with McDonald for a while after the forum.
The YS fund drive in Philadelphia got off to a great start the same day, with a YS forum on "Revolutionary Leadership for the 21st Century to Combat Imperialism's March toward Fascism and War." After this successful event, the Philadelphia YS decided to raise its fund drive goal from $100 to $250. More than 30 people came to the forum. The guest speakers were Brock Satter, trade unionist and a leader of the Young Socialists from Newark; Tom Caison, from the Ghetto Liberation Party; and Sharell Wilson. Some of the issues discussed after their presentations were police brutality, unemployment, affirmative action, and abortion rights.
Satter spoke about the weakening of imperialism, citing high unemployment rates in industrialized nations, the currency crisis in Asia, and Washington's isolation in its recent war drive against Iraq.
Caison said the United States has dominated and thereby influenced the culture and politics of other nations. Therefore it has become the "American empire," which he said was the "enemy of humanity," because it was the major cause of famine and other social ills around the world. According to him, it is necessary to organize and educate the people in the communities. Shaklee Wilson briefly spoke about sexism and chauvinism as issues that must be dealt with while organizing a revolutionary leadership. She talked about the increasing mechanization of labor and its affect on employment, and also recited a friend's poem for the women of today.
People coming to the forum had a chance for more discussion at a dinner beforehand that raised $163. Another $106 was collected from contributions and a raffle. A film on the life of Che Guevara, a central leader of the Cuban revolution, was also part of the evening events.
Contributions towards the YS fund drive should be sent to 1573 N. Milwaukee Ave. #478, Chicago, IL 60622.
Sarah Katz is a member of the United Transportation Union Local 1494; Karan Jain in Philadelphia contributed to this article.