BY JOSHUA CARROLL
This column is written and edited by the Young Socialists (YS), an international organization of young workers, students, and other youth fighting for socialism. For more information about the YS write to: Young Socialists, 1573 N. Milwaukee, P.O. Box #478, Chicago, Ill. 60622. Tel: (773) 772-0551. Compuserve: 105162,605

CHICAGO - On May 16 the Des Moines, Iowa, chapter of the Young Socialists hosted a forum on "Growing international working-class resistance." Tom Alter, who is the Socialist Workers candidate for governor of Iowa, a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers union, and a leader of the Young Socialists, gave the main presentation.

Those attending the forum had traveled from St. Paul, Minnesota, Chicago, and Boston, and had earlier in the day participated in a rally of hundreds in support of workers on strike against Titan Tire Corp. in Des Moines.

Participants at the forum pledged more than $100 toward the Des Moines YS chapter's goal of $200 in the YS national fund drive. In addition, $115 was collected toward the goal for St. Paul. Contributions were also made toward the local goals in Chicago and Boston.

"Although we're behind, in every city we are in a position to step up our work and make our goals," explained Verónica Poses, the fund drive's national director. Over the next two weeks, Poses stressed, chapters will "need to place making their goals at the center of all activity."

The drive ends on May 31. The money raised will be used to pay for the basic operating expenses of the Young Socialists National Office.

"A large effort will be necessary to make our goal of $800 in the remaining two weeks of the fund drive, but we are confident that it is within our grasp," reported Ryan Lewis, the local fund director for the YS chapter in New York.

The chapter in New York has recently discussed the need to broaden its efforts in seeking contributions for the fund. "We plan to ask for contributions from new contacts of the YS, as well as from other fighters with whom we have worked," Lewis explained.

The New York YS will be hosting a forum on May 22 titled: "Ours is the Epoch of World Revolution: linking labor battles, national liberation struggles, and fights for social justice to build an international anti-imperialist youth movement."

Speakers will include Andy Terranova, an activist in the Irish freedom struggle and a recent participant in a Sinn Fein Youth delegation to Basque Country; Stacey Toro, a member of Latinos Unidos who recently participated in the International Women's conference held in Havana, Cuba, and is active in the fight for Puerto Rican independence; and Joshua Carroll, a national leader of the YS. Other speakers have been invited. The New York chapter will be holding a raffle at the forum, for which tickets are already being sold.  
 
 
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