BY VERÓNICA POSES

DENVER, Colorado - Approximately 3,500 people participated in the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) conference that took place here July 14-17.

Although NCLR president Raul Yzaguirre denounced both major political parties for using Latinos as scapegoats, most of the discussions in the different workshops focused on electing Democrats, especially Latinos, to office. At a workshop focused on youth, a Democratic congresswoman from Denver argued, "It's the only way of having political power."

A Young Socialist member from Minnesota mentioned how thousands of ordinary working people and youth who demonstrated in California have been able to stop the implementation of the anti-immigrant law Proposition 187. Participants at the workshop, most of them high school students, applauded.

Interest in fighting against attacks on affirmative action and for immigrant rights was registered at the Pathfinder book table set up outside the Denver Convention Center where the conference was taking place. Almost $200 in books were sold. One conference participant was eyeing the book The Politics of Chicano Liberation when a woman from Chicago who was passing by told him, "Highly recommended." Six participants bought copies of that title.

Inside, the CIA, the FBI, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service had recruiting tables. Ramón, a young student from Arizona, thanked the socialists for being there. "I want to fight for affirmative action but the organizers of the conference say that what I should do is vote," he said. "What I want to do is get involved."

Outside the conference site, a group of Chicanos, mainly high school students, gave out leaflets urging people to boycott Coors Beer because of its long history of discrimination against Latinos and women. Coors was one of the sponsors of the event.

While in Denver, supporters of the Socialist Workers Campaign were able to get the party's presidential ticket on the ballot. People who stopped by the literature table, Militant subscribers, and others who heard vice presidential candidate Laura Garza speak during a tour stop in Denver volunteered to be among the eight electors needed to get on the ballot. The $500 needed for a filing fee was raised at a class on "Immigrant workers and the fight for socialism."

"It's more important now than ever to fight for immigrant rights," said Vanessa Knapton, a Young Socialist member from Los Angeles who kicked off the class. Two students at the University of Colorado who attended the meeting, later decided to join the Young Socialists.  
 
 
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