BY SARAH KATZ AND J. PARADISO
This column is written and edited by the Young Socialists (YS), an international organization of young workers, students, and other youth fighting for socialism. For more information about the YS write to: Young Socialists, 1573 N. Milwaukee, P.O. Box #478, Chicago, Ill. 60622. Tel: (773) 772-0551. Compuserve: 105162,605

CHICAGO - Nationally, the Young Socialists raised a total of $5,779 through its six-week spring fund drive, which ended May 31. This surpassed the national goal of $5,200 by more than $500. Virtually every chapter of the Young Socialists was successful in collecting funds through organizing political events that both raised money and drew young fighters closer to them.

"It was through consistent efforts around a few well- planned events that the Seattle chapter of the Young Socialists was able to meet and surpass its goal for the YS National Fund Drive," wrote Kate Porter. "We kicked off the fund drive by arranging for YS leader Jack Willey to speak at two local college campuses as part of his West Coast tour. Selling raffle tickets in preparation for our main fund-raising event on May 16, allowed us to steadily bring in money through the middle of the drive."

Porter said the event included a presentation of the documentary Cuba and Angola, a used book sale, and the raffle drawing. "The fund drive has put the chapter on a better footing for the work of regularly raising money to cover our weekly expenses," she added, "and organizing events that attract more young people to the YS."

The Seattle chapter has already scheduled a June movie showing of The Battle of Algiers, about the Algerian revolution of the 1960s.

YS member Ryan Lewis from New York said, "Through intensified efforts toward collecting pledges and organizing fund-raising activities over the past two weeks, we raised $847, surpassing our local goal of $800.

"The highlight of our planned activities was the May 22 forum at the Pathfinder Bookstore in Brooklyn titled, `Ours is the Epoch of Revolution.' Andy Terranova, an Irish freedom struggle activist who had attended the World Youth Festival this past year in Havana, and Joshua Carroll, a leader of the Young Socialists, spoke at the event," Lewis added. "The two panelists sparked a lively discussion about the openings that exist today for revolutionary minded youth to step up and broaden our involvement in working-class and anti-imperialist struggles."

Terranova spoke of his personal experiences in Northern Ireland, and on a Sinn Fein Youth solidarity delegation to the Basque Country. He explained the close ties between the Irish and Basque struggles, and pointed to some of the political lessons learned by Irish nationalists from the fighting example of the ANC-led movement against apartheid in South Africa.

Carroll pointed to the noticeable increase in working- class resistance here in the United States, and linked it with the stepped up resistance around the world of working people and youth.

Through collecting pledges at the event, drawing a raffle for prizes donated to the YS, and selling used books on a side table, the YS collected more than $500 that evening. "We also collected contributions from a number of young people who are not currently members, but are interested in the Young Socialists," Lewis stated.

The goal of the chapter during the drive was to broaden the reach of the YS, bring potential recruits closer to joining, and work more closely with other political forces active in the fight against oppression. "Coming out of this work, one young person asked how she can join the Young Socialists," Lewis concluded.

"On Memorial Day, supporters of the Young Socialists gathered for a picnic and fund-raiser on the Miami beach to raise money for the national YS fund drive," wrote YS member Chad Reeser.

Two Haitians came to the picnic site when they recognized Lavarice Caudin a Haitian activist. They also recognized Rollande Girard, who had spoken at a rally for immigrant rights as a Socialist Workers Party candidate in last fall's elections. They asked for more information and to be contacted about the YS. "We raised a total of $90 for the fund drive," Reeser said.

In Los Angeles, YS members Heather Martin and Carlos Hernández wrote, "The YS here organized a forum on "Building a Revolutionary Youth Movement Worldwide" on May 29 and raised more than $200 for the fund drive." Martin participated in a panel that included Olga Russi, a Puerto Rican independentista.

"Russi discussed the historical roots of the present conditions that increasingly propel young Puerto Rican fighters to the forefront in resisting colonial domination," Martin said, and "I spoke about the economic crisis unfolding in Indonesia and the crisis of imperialism worldwide."

The discussion following the presentations covered a range of topics including the emerging student struggle against the implementation of Proposition 209, which seeks to eliminate affirmative action in California. Martin also pointed to the importance of building an organization like the Young Socialists for the coming battles, where youth will continue to be at the forefront with other fighters against the injustices of the capitalist system.  
 
 
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