Partisans of the Militant around the world stepped up efforts in the last half of the campaign, turning around what began as a slow pace of collection of contributions. In local areas supporters of the Militant organized to send fund appeal letters to every reader of the socialist publication. That was followed up with phone calls and individual meetings.
That began to turn the drive around. While just over $16,000 was collected in the first half of the fund campaign. The pace averaged over $17,000 a week in the opening three weeks of the second half. In the final week Militant supporters made a special effort to organize to collect all funds and in many cases to express mail the final amounts to arrive on time. In addition to the United States contributions came from Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Militant supporters in France report that they got an unexpected boost when a retired worker kicked in a $500 contribution. As a result they were able exceed their quota of $300 by more than double the amount.
“We’re not slowing down,” wrote Militant supporters in Boston after reporting making their quota of $3,300.
“As of tonight we have collected $1,145 reported Kevin Dwire from Des Moines. We just got another $30 contribution from a UAW member…. She is working to get her union steward on board for the Militant Fighting Fund.” Another contributor in Colorado decided to split his $200 contribution between the two funds. The Militant Fighting Fund is organizing the defense campaign for the Militant and the Socialist Workers Party against a harassment lawsuit filed by the owners of the Co-Op mine in Huntington, Utah, in an effort to stifle support for miners there who are fighting for a union (see front page article).
The $90,000 spring fund will help cover the costs of producing the socialist newsweekly, which will soon come out in a bilingual format. These costs include rent, utilities, and printing and shipping costs. The fund will also help finance reporting teams, like an upcoming trip to Venezuela planned for this July, and coverage of the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students, being held in Caracas in August.
If you were unable to get your contribution in before the May 22 deadline, it’s still needed. Checks or money orders should be made out to The Militant, earmarked “Spring Fund Drive,” and sent to the Militant at 306 W. 37th St., 10th floor, New York, NY 10018.
Click here to see the fund chart