BY ANDREA MORELL
BOSTON - Behind a banner that declared, "Stop Clinic Violence - We Will Not Go Back!" participants in a Northeast Young Feminist Summit that took place in this city February 27 through March 1 marched and chanted in support of women's right to reproductive freedom and other demands. The conference, sponsored by the National Organization for Women, drew 800 youth, mainly high school and college students. Asked why she had come to the conference, Jessica Champaign from Yale University said, "I see myself as radical. I was feeling frustrated because the problems seemed so big. I was wondering how other people were tackling them."

George McKibbons, a student at Newton North High School near Boston and one of a score of young men who participated, described himself as a human rights activist. He said this summit is the first women's rights activity he has ever attended.

Before the march stepped off a rally was held celebrating the historical continuity of struggles for women's liberation. Elena Tate, a high school student and a member of the Young Socialists who was involved in planning the summit, told the crowd, "We are going to link up with struggles that have gone before for safe and legal abortion, the right of women to vote, with women in the civil rights movement."

NOW National President Patricia Ireland addressed one of the general sessions, hailing the recently concluded Winter Olympics as one of the most important events for women because of the achievements of female athletes, especially some on the U.S. team. The theme of feminism as doing one's "personal best" was sounded throughout the conference from the platform. The opening plenary featured Lynette Woodard, a basketball player and stockbroker, and Judge Nancy Gertner, a Clinton appointee to the federal bench.

Wide-ranging discussions took place in the many workshops. The International Women's Rights discussion drew more than 100 people to hear presentations by Wafaá Salman, an Iraqi educator who has been speaking out against U.S. war moves in the Persian Gulf; Annette Kouri from Montreal, an activist in the struggle for Quebec independence; and Lois Reckett, a NOW leader and participant in the 1995 UN Women's Conference in Beijing.

Salman explained the consequences of the 1990-91 U.S.-led war against Iraq. "I call it the Gulf slaughter because that is what it was - thousands of civilians, mostly women and children, killed by the bombing," said Salman. "This is what the United States government is planning again." Her presentation sparked a wide discussion. When one participant asked whether something had to be done to overthrow the regime in Baghdad, Salman replied, "That is not the right of the U.S. to decide. Only the Iraqi people can do that." Afterwards Salman was surrounded by youth wanting to continue the discussion, with several requesting she speak on their campuses. Two people bought copies of "Washington's Assault on Iraq: Opening Guns of World War III" in New International.

Panelists at the workshop on affirmative action presented a wealth of statistics illustrating women's underrepresentation in corporate board rooms and other positions. Responding from the floor to several people who asked how can affirmative action be fought for, Linda Marcus, a railroad conductor and socialist, received applause when she posed affirmative action as a way to overcome divisions among workers and youth along race and gender lines.

At the workshop titled "High School Students Organize!" activists from two Massachusetts high schools described events they have organized that are aimed at raising women's sense of self-worth as human beings. These included educational programs to encourage women to get into sports to develop self- confidence; demanding curriculum changes to "write women back into history" and achieve math and science equality; and activities discouraging destructive diets young women go on for the sake of a false image of female beauty.

Two workshops took up experiences of discussing and fighting for women's rights in the workplace. Young Socialists from the Northeast hosted a workshop to discuss the inter- twined battles for women's liberation and the fight against imperialism's march toward fascism and war, which 17 young people attended.

Thirty-four participants bought copies of the Militant and one subscribed. Seventeen Pathfinder titles were sold and 47 youth signed up to receive more information about the Young Socialists and their activities.

Andrea Morell is a member of the United Transportation Union Local 898 and the Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. Congress in the 8th District. Olympia Newton, Nick Pell, Linda Marcus, and Mary Nell Bockman contributed to this article.  
 
 
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