This column is written and edited by the Young Socialists, an international organization of young workers, students, and other youth fighting for socialism. For more information about the YS or to join, write: Young Socailists, P.O. Box 2396, New York, NY 10009, or call (212) 475-6482.
LOS ANGELES - As a 14-member delegation of young people from the Los Angeles area was in Cuba attending the International Youth Festival, plans were being made for activities upon their return.
The local chapter of the Young Socialists has been helping to organize reportbacks from the Festival with other delegation members. They plan to send delegates to high schools, college campuses, union halls, churches, and organizations to talk about what they learned at the week- long gathering.
In these meetings, they will share their discussions with youth from around the world who oppose the U.S. embargo on Cuba and support Cuba's sovereignty.
The all-out campaign to tell the truth about Cuba will be timed with the return of students to school, many of whom are fighting to defend affirmative action and against attacks on social services. The meetings will be used to build for the October demonstrations against the embargo.
All members of the delegation went as reporters for area newspapers like L.A. Watts Times, a small Black community newspaper; and La Gente, a student newspaper at UCLA; and radio stations. When they return, they will be writing articles and talking on the radio about their experiences.
BY JENNY BENTON
FORT MADISON, Iowa - Mark Curtis, a political activist
framed-up on rape and burglary charges seven years ago, is
currently imprisoned in the Iowa State Penitentiary here. I
first became aware of his case only nine months ago, but
have since had the opportunity to visit Mark in the maximum
security facility.
As a member of the Young Socialists, the opportunity to meet this courageous fighter has solidified my resolve to continue the fight to win Mark's freedom and change a system that uses imprisonment as a form of intimidation against those who struggle for the rights and dignity of humanity.
Under capitalism, the justice system serves not to provide equitable justice, but is an integral component of a society that exploits working people. Thousands of workers are unjustly convicted and face the harsh conditions of prison. Yet despite the often demoralizing conditions he faces in prison, Mark continues to actively participate in politics.
During the course of our visit, Mark led a discussion on the importance of creating a workers and farmers government. Before he was sentenced to one year in lockup, Mark organized study groups with other inmates.
After witnessing firsthand the conditions Mark and the other inmates face each day, I am better able to appreciate the discipline and level of political consciousness of Mark. His example is one of a revolutionary who has not been beaten by the prison system.