BY CINDY JAQUITH

DETROIT - "I'm a socialist but I don't spend a lot of time talking about the future under socialism," James Harris told a campaign rally here September 27. "I concentrate on what working people are living through today and the struggles we must engage in to rid ourselves of capitalism. Because it is our generation that must be up to this task."

Harris, the Socialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. president, campaigned here and in northern Ohio the last week of September. At his wrap-up campaign rally, he was joined on the platform by Dylan Wilkerson, a high school student who participated in last summer's U.S.-Cuba Youth Exchange; Rosa Garmendia, Michigan SWP candidate for Congress in the 11th C.D., and Ved Dookhum, a leader of the Young Socialists who is traveling with Harris.

Harris spent most of one day campaigning in Toledo, Ohio. First he talked with workers at the Jeep plant there, a number of whom were attracted by signs supporting the October 12 march on Washington for immigrant rights. Many Jeep workers are either Latino or from the Mideast.

The socialist presidential candidate was then interviewed by the city's main daily, the Toledo Blade, which ran an article the next day.

Harris visits youth `Autonomous Zone'
That evening, Harris met with activists from the Autonomous Zone, an organization of Toledo youth who engage in social protests, such as picketing public appearances by ultrarightist Patrick Buchanan. The youths questioned Harris for several hours. "It's obvious there's an objective situation for revolution, but as Lenin pointed out, that's not all that's required," said one young man. "What are the first steps that we can take?"

Another activist raised, "A lot of us have had problems working with the unions. We run into people in the AFL-CIO or UAW [United Auto Workers] who are like Buchananites."

"What do you say to a Jeep worker who says, `I make $60,000 a year. Why do I need socialism?' " asked a third youth.

"I say the same thing to the Jeep worker that I'm saying to you," answered Harris. "I don't tell people what they want to hear. I tell them that what is before us is deepening economic crisis and social explosions."

"I can't give the perfect speech where everyone will say, `Yes! Let's make a revolution,' " Harris continued. "Capitalism itself will convince working people as the crisis deepens. So what socialists do is explain politics and urge others to engage in protests, to read books on the lessons of working- class struggle in the past, and to join our movement. This is all part of the preparation process."

Taking up the questions about the unions, the socialist candidate pointed out, "It's a mistake to equate the union with the union bureaucracy, which claims to be more progressive than the ranks." This is false, he explained. The election of John Sweeney as head of the AFL-CIO and the involvement of youth in "Union Summer" do not indicate any change, Harris said. "These moves are all aimed at retaining the dues base of the bureaucracy and giving an appearance of vitality to the labor misleadership."

Harris explained that the only way for the labor movement to regain vitality "is to think and act socially - to take up the fight for immigrant rights, for affirmative action, against the attacks on Iraq. He urged the young people present to peruse a campaign table full of books from Pathfinder on many subjects, including the labor movement.

By the close of the meeting, activists had purchased copies of Teamster Rebellion, Fascism and Big Business, Sexism and Science, Lenin on Imperialism, and two copies of the Young Socialists' Political Principles, Campaigns, and Rules of Organization.

The next day a worker bought the Communist Manifesto and Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, when Harris campaigned outside the UAW-organized American Axle and Manufacturing. The socialist candidate also campaigned among strikers at the Detroit Free Press and News, and addressed students at the University of Detroit.

BY MAGGIE PUCCI

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Laura Garza, U.S. vice presidential candidate on the Socialist Workers Party ticket, made a campaign stop here, September 22-25. The tour began with a Militant Labor Forum at the Pathfinder bookstore attended by about 35 people, including several students and young workers, a reporter for Pacifica Radio, and a filmmaker currently putting together a documentary on the 1996 presidential elections.

Garza pointed to U.S. president William Clinton's signing of the reactionary "Defense of Marriage Act" in the middle of the night as an example of the rightward shift of ruling-class politics. Garza was joined on the panel of speakers by Sam Manuel, candidate for Washington, D.C., delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, and Caroline Bhengu, a leader of the Young Socialists in Washington.

Manuel announced that the Socialist Workers presidential slate of James Harris for U.S. president and Garza for vice president would be on the ballot in Washington, D.C., as would Manuel's name as the only opponent to Eleanor Holmes Norton, the incumbent non-voting Washington, D.C., delegate to the House.

After the forum, many participants went with Garza to a popular night spot where a fund-raiser was being held for the local coalition working to build the October 12 immigrant rights demonstration here.

On September 24, Garza began the day with a 10-minute interview on Radio Mundo, a popular Spanish-language radio station.

Garza visits international students
Later that morning Garza spoke before a class of 25 students at Woodrow Wilson High School. Accompanying Garza was Brian Williams, the Socialist Workers candidate for city council. Several other campaign supporters were in attendance, including Diana Newberry, a leader of the Young Socialists from New York who is traveling with Garza, and Bhengu from the local YS chapter.

The advanced level English as a second language class included students from Cambodia, Senegal, Mexico, Poland, Russia, and the Czech Republic. A lively debate ensued when Garza asked students what they thought about abortion rights. Many students said they had been taught that abortion was the same as killing babies. Garza responded, "It's OK if you disagree with a woman getting an abortion, but it has to be up to the woman to decide what will happen to her body and her life." Many of the students did not know that abortion is legal in the United States. Three signed up for more information about the Young Socialists.

That night Socialist Workers campaign supporters attended a candidates night sponsored by the Washington Tenants Advisory Council. Sam Manuel made a five-minute statement to the crowd of about 75 people, and participated in a question and answer period.

At a meeting for young people interested in the campaign that wrapped up the tour, Young Socialists members and other youth interested in the YS were able to continue discussions with Garza. Joanne, who is about to start school at American University, asked to join the Young Socialists.

Washington Hispanic, a Spanish-language community newspaper, conducted an interview with Garza. Washington campaign supporters plan to follow up on the interest several other radio and newspapers expressed in the campaign.  
 
 
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