Vol. 71/No. 29      August 6, 2007

BY EDDIE BECK
AND MAURA DE LUCA  
OBERLIN, Ohio—The Young Socialists held a national meeting here July 8 to map out perspectives for the coming months. The meeting, which was also attended by guests from fraternal Young Socialists organizations in four countries, was held the day after the conclusion of the Socialist Workers Party 45th constitutional convention.

“What we saw at the U.S. Social Forum was the consolidation of the Young Socialists as a national organization,” said Ben O’Shaughnessy, the organizer of the YS National Steering Committee. More than a dozen young people joined the communist movement’s efforts at the U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta, June 27-July 1. “We can now look toward taking full advantage of the opportunities in front of us to build a communist youth organization today.”

More than 35 young people from 7 countries participated in the SWP convention and conference here. The figure includes YS members from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, and Australia. Students came from a range of campuses—from Albany, New York, and Moscow, Idaho, to Brussels, Belgium, and Christchurch, New Zealand. Others were young workers from Los Angeles; Atlanta; Stockholm, Sweden; and elsewhere.

The YS had its own fraternal delegation to the convention. Young people who were not delegates observed convention sessions involving political reports and discussions. They also participated in organized discussions on convention deliberations and conference topics.

“I think it is important to be a part of the struggles today such as the May Day mobilizations for immigrant rights with the strengthening of a whole layer of the working class,” said Lindsey Mangeri, 20, a student at the State University of New York at Albany, reflecting on the convention discussions. “You can analyze what has already happened and apply those lessons to today.”

“I learned a lot,” said Loretta Van Pelt, 27, a YS member from the Twin Cities. “I understand class polarization more. I’m better armed to say something in defense of legalization.”

Youth at the conference also attended classes on subjects like Washington’s “war on terror” to the example of revolutionary leaders Thomas Sankara and Ernesto Che Guevara.

“I went to the class on Che, and it really hit home,” said Ingrid Franco, a student at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, who joined the YS at the convention. “I decided to become a member of the YS because I think it’s really important to not only study these things, but to put them into practice through political activity.”

Two other young people also joined the YS here.

Coming out of its international meeting, the YS is heading into the rest of the summer and fall with a wide range of activity, looking to build strong chapters across the U.S. Immediately following the activities in Oberlin, young socialists joined petitioning teams to help get Socialist Workers candidates on the ballot. At the same time, they are continuing with summer educational programs.

“We will not build the organization on ideas alone,” said O’Shaughnessy. “It will be by combining revolutionary ideas with action as part of a regular political rhythm.”
 
 
Related articles:
Socialist Workers Party holds national convention
Delegates discuss party’s role in emerging working-class vanguard
Socialist Workers Party National Committee Elected at 45th Constitutional Convention  
 
 
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