The YS participated in rallies and marches in both Kokomo and Columbia, Mississippi, demanding justice for Johnson, a Black youth whose body was found hanging from a tree in his front yard. At these actions we had the chance to link up with other young fighters and workers from all across the South.

Both rallies were largely attended by working people, many of them youth. John White, a 17-year-old high school student, said, "It could happen to me. I am here today to take a stand, and I want to make sure this never happens again."

Similarly, Shannon Rochsa, a 17-year-old high school student, said, "Ending racism is of necessity. Justice must be served," emphasizing that protest rallies were important.

Local police have declared the Black youth's hanging death a suicide, but many working people in Mississippi reject this idea. Given the fact that Johnson had been harassed by racists in his school and community who disapproved of his relationship with a young white woman, numerous residents believe his death was a racist murder.

A friend of Johnson, Willis Hausband, 17, a high school student, said, "I know he did not commit suicide. He was too happy and had too many things going for him. This was an outright murder."  
 
Rallies and marches necessary
Many of those interviewed from the Black community here said that rallies and marches are necessary to make sure justice will be served, and to preserve the gains made during the civil rights movement, which smashed the Jim Crow system of racist segregation.

Young Socialists not only participated in the actions to show solidarity, but used the opportunity to present the Socialist Workers national campaign for president and vice president, which gives an explanation of the political polarization and racism we see in this country today and offers a class-struggle alternative to the capitalist parties. Many of those we talked to about the socialist campaign had not yet been exposed to a revolutionary working-class perspective. John White, who was attending his first protest march, said he initially associated communism with Hitler and fascism. But after some extensive discussion about socialism, some history on the Russian Revolution, and related questions, he replied, "Wow! I never knew there was a party like this. I want to be a part of something like this," and signed up to find out more about the Young Socialists and its upcoming activities.

The Pathfinder book table we set up in Columbia was the hot spot at the rally. Numerous people who approached the table signed our petitions to get the socialists on the ballot. One bought Fascism: What It is and How to Fight It by Leon Trotsky. Socialist campaigners surpassed our goal of signatures collected for the day. Overall, the Young Socialists from Birmingham and Tuscaloosa were able to link up with young fighters and workers and gain rich class-struggle experience under the sweltering Mississippi sun.  
 
Campaigning for socialist candidate
One week later, Young Socialists took the opportunity to meet and campaign in Natchez, Mississippi, with Margaret Trowe, the Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. vice president. There, YS members petitioned at various locations and visited the picket line at Titan Tire with Trowe, and we went over our goal of signatures for the day.

At the tire plant, where workers have been locked out of their jobs for almost two years, Trowe and members of the Young Socialists exchanged views with workers there on their struggle and other political topics. Willie Evans, one of the strikers, greeted Trowe and campaign supporters on the picket line and explained how much he appreciated the solidarity the socialists have given during the course of the strike.

Spending time on the picket line and discussing with the tested unionists of Titan Tire proved valuable for the Young Socialists. We learned a great deal from the strikers, and many of these lessons can be used in the struggles that lie ahead.

On July 22, the YS headed back to Mississippi with teams of campaign supporters from Atlanta and Birmingham to make a strong push to get all of the signatures needed to get on the ballot in November.

Justin Hovey is a member of the Young Socialists and a student at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.