Vol. 71/No. 45      December 3, 2007

BY MICHAEL ORTEGA  
QUITO, Ecuador—A delegation of Young Socialists joined more than 2,600 youth at the 15th congress of the Continental Organization of Latin American and Caribbean Students (OCLAE), held here November 12-17. They came to join the discussions taking place across the continent on how to advance the fight against imperialism and to contribute their experiences in the class struggle in the United States.

The Young Socialists were invited to speak on a panel in a workshop titled “Experiences in the anti-imperialist struggle: New experiences of the student movement.” Michael Ortega of the YS in Los Angeles spoke on the activities of young revolutionaries in the United States.

“At the heart of the class struggle in the U.S. today has been the proletarian movement for legalization of immigrant workers,” said Ortega, who has taken part in numerous immigrant rights mobilizations. “That struggle has been fueled by the capitalist rulers’ brutal assault on working conditions. From this struggle we’ve seen a vanguard develop whose increased combativity has been an example for the U.S. working class. The Young Socialists have been a part of building and explaining the importance of this struggle. We point to how this movement helps strengthen the working class as a whole to be able to fight in our interests.”

Other panelists included two leaders of the Federation of University Students of Ecuador (FEUE) and a delegate from Colombia. Many delegates were both glad and surprised to hear of the class struggle in the United States, and of young revolutionaries fighting in the main bastion of imperialism.

The YS was also invited by the FEUE to speak on a panel before a group of university students in the philosophy department at the Central University of Ecuador.

“Most of us in Ecuador know nothing about the harsh conditions that workers face in the United States. This is why I wanted to make sure your organization spoke to some of the students here at the Central University, so they will really know what it’s like,” said a FEUE leader.

Emily Paul, a member of the YS from New York, was one of the speakers at a march by students at the OCLAE congress that highlighted the anti-imperialist themes of the meeting.

“We are here in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Latin America to combat imperialism,” she said. “We fight against imperialism, alongside other workers, students, and youth from inside the belly of the beast—from the proletarian fights for immigrant rights to struggles against racist attacks, and to defend workers’ rights and strengthen the unions.

“We also join with others to oppose imperialist war and in the campaign to win the freedom of the five Cuban political prisoners in the United States, who are in prison for defending the Cuban Revolution. Today they are on the front lines of the class struggle in the U.S.”  
 
 
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