Vol. 73/No. 15      April 20, 2009

To help spur collection of pledges, supporters of the Militant are organizing public meetings where workers and youth involved in a wide range of struggles can raise funds and discuss getting the paper out widely.

Dean Hazlewood, organizer of the fund campaign in Los Angeles, reported that 35 people attended a special fund event April 4. The featured speaker was Socialist Workers Party leader Norton Sandler, who discussed the challenges facing working people in the deepening economic crisis and the role of the Militant in telling the truth—that the heart of the problem is the capitalist system itself.

Sky Owens, a student at the University of Southern California, also spoke. Owens said he has been reading the paper for several months and it has helped him get deeper into political discussions with other students. He said his favorite feature in the paper is the “Books of the month” column.

Two day laborers from San Diego attended and brought with them copies of their newsletter El Mosquito Zumbador (The Buzzing Mosquito), so named, they said, because “it bites the bosses.” Also attending was a young man who picked up a Militant subscription earlier in the day at an action in support of legalization of undocumented workers.

“The event was also successful financially,” writes Hazlewood, “collecting $2,840 that evening.” Several of those attending made new pledges or raised previous pledges, totaling $1,560.

Supporters of the Militant in Vancouver, British Columbia, held a very successful fund-raising dinner and program April 5, reports John Steele. Communist League leader Michel Prairie spoke about the recent Havana International Book Fair, which he participated in as a volunteer at the Pathfinder booth along with communist workers from other countries. Prairie is the Communist League candidate for mayor of Montreal in elections this November.

The event raised $1,665 in contributions and pledges, exceeding the organizers’ goal of $1,500. They are now confident they can reach the $2,000 mark.

Funds raised in the eight-week campaign help cover basic operating expenses like printing, mailing, rent, and equipment, as well as travel. The chart on this page shows the current pledges and amounts collected so far. To make a contribution or to find out about a fund meeting in your area, contact a distributor listed on page 8 or write directly to the Militant at the address on page 2.

'Militant' Fund Drive: Week 1 of 8