BY JASON WELLING
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, P.O. Box 14392, St. Paul, MN 55114. Tel: (612) 644-0051. Compuserve: 105162,605

SEATTLE, Washington - Nineteen students from Shorecrest High School attended a lunchtime presentation on Cuba January 17, hosted by Students for Democracy. Young Socialists leader Jack Willey gave a short presentation on the history of the Cuban revolution and the gains won by the working people there. He also spoke about the example Cuba has to offer all young people fighting against injustices of capitalism - racism, sexism, the exploitation of workers, police brutality - and its role in the world today. The floor was then opened for questions.

Among the questions students asked were, "Does the United States hold a trade embargo against Cuba because Cuba used to ally with the Soviet Union and pointed nuclear warheads at the U.S.?" "Are people allowed to practice religion?" and "Are the economic difficulties there due to its socialist system or the U.S. embargo?"

The YS set up a literature table at the event and sold a book by Che Guevara. Others wanted to learn more about Cuba and the Young Socialists after the presentation. One student interested in the YS stayed for about an hour after the meeting to continue discussing the nature of capitalism and the fight for socialism. The entire program - lasting roughly a half hour - opened the door for the YS to speak at other events, and drew some fighters toward revolutionary socialism. BY WALTER LO'PEZ

LOS ANGELES - The Federal government and state government of California continue to attack immigrant rights. On January 18, 125 people rallied at the Los Angeles federal building to protest the new federal immigration bill. Among other things, the law will try to force the deportation of thousands of Salvadorans who received "late amnesty" in 1993. Washington also announced that it will substantially increase the number of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) agents it has on the California and Mexican border to try to keep immigrants from crossing into this country. News agencies reported that in the first half of January, five people had frozen to death attempting to cross the border into the United States.

One of the latest attacks by governor Peter Wilson's administration is to attempt to impose further welfare benefit reductions for legal immigrants. Immigrants with documents who arrive in California after Aug. 22, 1996, would not be able to get public assistance. This would affect at least 40,000 people according to Ken August, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Services. In addition about 243,000 elderly and disabled immigrants are expected to lose their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits by this summer. Some 230,000 food stamp recipients who are immigrants will loose their benefits as well.

A diverse coalition made up of the major immigrant rights organizations and several community groups have called a protest for March 9. This is an opportunity for young people and others to get involved in the movement for immigrant rights. An injury to one is an injury to all! For more information call (818) 789-1310.  
 
 
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