BY BROCK SATTER
A central activity of Young Socialists around the world
for the next two months is participating in and building the
broadest delegations possible to attend the August 1-7 Cuba
Lives International Youth Festival taking place in Havana
and other Cuban provinces.
"The Young Socialists in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, are part of the Twin Cities Cuba Network, which is building a celebration on July 26 to help raise money to help people go to the festival," said Young Socialists member Ryan Kelly.
Alejandro Herrera, a member of the Union of Young Communists (UJC) in Cuba, is touring across Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines to build the Cuba Lives festival. Young Socialists members in the Pacific have been part of the effort to organize this tour. UJC leaders are traveling around the world to bring young people to this festival.
"This festival will be a launching pad for young people around the world to defend the Cuban revolution. Many of them will become attracted to communist conclusions about what is necessary to confront the world crisis of capitalism," said Diana Newberry, a member of the Young Socialists National Committee.
Young Socialists are also preparing themselves to attend the convention of the Socialist Workers Party in Oberlin, Ohio, August 8-12.
Plans to attend SWP convention
At the convention, delegates from SWP branches will be
discussing the crisis of capitalism and how workers can
defend themselves from its depression-ridden conditions; the
struggle of workers, farmers, and youth in Cuba to advance
their socialist revolution; and the tasks and opportunities
to build a communist movement in the United States and
worldwide. The Young Socialists have been invited to observe
the gathering and participate in workshops and classes.
YS member Gloria DelCid in Peoria, Illinois, explained that the group there is, "making T-shirts to help fund-raise to get Young Socialists members and others to the convention."
DelCid said that while on a regional team to St. Louis to get the Militant newspaper into the hands of workers and other fighters and build the Cuba Lives festival, two high school students joined the Young Socialists. After hearing about the convention, they asked to attend.
In Seattle, Young Socialists member Meg Novak said, "We raised $274 at a Militant Labor Forum through a raffle to help pay for the expenses of young fighters who want to attend the Socialist Workers Party convention."
Leading up to the convention the Young Socialists will be carrying out a dues drive in order to consolidate the finances of the organization. A central part of building a revolutionary movement is to have stable finances. The year- old youth group is trying to conquer this essential bedrock of organization.
Responding to labor, political struggles
The Young Socialists are responding to a number of
political struggles. In the Twin Cities, Young Socialists
have taken part in the actions protesting the signing of the
death warrant for political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. "There
will be protests every Sunday until the date set for his
execution on August 17," Kelly said.
Many Young Socialists from across the United States will be going to the June 25 rally in Decatur, Illinois, in support of striking Caterpillar workers and other fighting unionists there.
This rally is being built by members of the United Auto Workers, the United Paperworkers International Union, and the United Rubber Workers. The Young Socialists will bring their solidarity to these fighting workers.