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The 2008 Socialist Summer Retreat held between August 8th and 10th in Wurtsboro, New York exemplified the resounding success of the work YDS and its activists have done over the past two years. Forty-five youth and students participated from places as far away as Colorado, Nevada, and Texas, including delegations of five or more from William Paterson University (NJ), College of Wooster (Ohio), and Brown University (Rhode Island). National chapter growth has resulted in an increasingly diverse YDS; this was reflected in the higher-than-usual number of people of color and working-class young people in attendance. The new seriousness of YDS members was indicated by the fact that despite the retreat site being far from any major city (with subsequent higher registration fees), this was the largest attendance at a summer conference in nearly six years!
The gathering began Friday night in the main hall with a roll call of the eight chapters in attendance. The conference then watched the documentary film Made in L.A., about the struggle of three immigrant women to win basic labor protections from a mega-trendy clothing retailer in Los Angeles. The moving story about self-empowerment and labor activism set a strong tone for YDS to continue our work on immigrant rights. Afterwards, YDS friends – both new and old – gathered around the camp fire to roast marshmallows, play the guitar and drums, and sing songs.
Saturday was a full day of political and ideological workshops in addition to fun interactive plenaries (and tons of nonpolitical activities, too). We opened with an overview of the tenets of democratic socialism by Joseph Schwartz and Michele Rossi, followed by small group discussions which focused on questions that the YDS members had to answer for themselves. This is the beginning process of creating a new YDS cadre who can be tribunes of socialism for themselves and the organization.
The day saw a good number of workshops on topics ranging from the environment and the current rise of socialist activity in Latin America to our Activist Agenda (national priorities) of student and immigrant rights. Between excellent panels and internal education one would find YDSers playing sports like soccer and waffle ball, swimming, and just relaxing with one another. The chance to be friends as well as comrades made the weekend exceptional. The only way for our organization to move forward is if we have both political agreement and loyalty to one another. Both were fostered during the retreat.
The night ended with the plenary “‘YDS and Realities of the Hope’: The Obama v. McCain presidential campaign and building towards and after Election Day.” Sarah Lawrence professor, former DSA NPC member, and veteran activist Komozi Woodard reflected on previous work by radicals in elections. He stressed how young radicals could use elections as a vehicle for building ties with local communities to create change. Joseph Schwartz touched upon the need to not focus on candidates as individuals but as policy-makers. He reminded young students that absent an Obama presidency alongside a near filibuster-proof Democratic-controlled senate, serious labor law reform such as the Employee Free Choice Act, which could bring millions of new members into trade unions within a few years, is doubtful. Both Woodard and Schwartz stressed that political change is only as potent as the strength of the movements that hold elected officials accountable.
Sunday was filled with a mixture of workshops and annual voting on documents, positions, and volunteer leadership. Elections to the Coordinating Committee posts, which have been uncontested in the past five years, saw challenges for both the Feminist Issues Coordinator and At-Large seats. Today, the committee is one spot away from being half people of color and women, a welcome change from previous overwhelming male and white leaderships.
A healthy Activist Agenda debate narrowed YDS’s national priorities to only two. It added to our existing National Immigrant Rights Project two proposals: for chapter activism around DSA’s “Renegotiate NAFTA” petition, and amplifying our socialist solidarity with the Florida based Coalition of Immokalee Workers (representing migrant tomato pickers). We also voted to continue our education and anti-student debt activism, and added a new emphasis on K-12 in addition to our existing higher education work.
Debate on the constitutional amendment to change the name from Young Democratic Socialists, USA to Campus Democratic Socialists of America concluded with the group sentiment being towards building greater ties between DSA community locals and YDS, and possibly incorporating “Democratic Socialists of America” into our name in the near future. Nearly all members, however, felt that changing to “Campus DSA” risked alienating non-students.
A new element of the conference was the emphasis on inclusive discourse about privilege and oppression. No group, no matter how progressive, is free from societal flaws. YDS made space for queer, people of color, women, working-class, and student caucuses. Each caucus addressed personal issues and how they feel YDS as a collective could address their concerns. In addition, artist Javier Cardona led conference participants to address their own privilege and oppression through honest artistic questions and theatrical dialogue. Students enjoyed the safe spaces provided by the caucuses, which allowed them to express their feelings in private, and everyone came away having learned more about themselves and their comrades from Cardona’s theatre.
YDS members know we have come a great way from when we barely had chapters, much less could put on national coordinated actions. YDS still has a good amount of work to do, but it’s readier than ever to do serious work with DSA and the student left. This fall, YDS will hit the ground both with our own Activist Agenda and with a readiness to bring a democratic socialist viewpoint about the Presidential election to the campuses. After November 4th we’ll be working with other progressives to challenge reactionary policies coming from corporate politicians and their right-wing base. Re-elected at-large Coordinating Committee member Andrew Porter has said “my goal is to see YDS in a major newspaper before the year is out.” The sky is the limit: let’s make it happen!
Left to Right: Wichita State YDS winning “Best Action of the Year” for their “Tomato Challenge” in solidarity with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, William Paterson YDS being recognized as the largest chapter delegation, and YDSer Trace Cabot being recognized for traveling the farthest distance (Las Vegas, NV) to be at the retreat .
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5 PM to 7 PM
Check-in and Dinner
7 to 8:30 PM
Made in L.A. (documentary film showing and discussion)
8:30 PM to bedtime
Organized Fun (board Games, movies, cards, guitar, etc.)/Working-class Caucus
9 to 10 AM
Breakfast - People of Color Caucus
10 to 11:30 AM
Plenary: What is Democratic Socialism? (with break-out small group discussions)
11:30 AM to 11:45 AM
Break
11:45 AM to 1 PM
Workshops
a) Our Neighbor’s Socialism: What the Democratic Anti-Capitalist Movements in Latin American Means for the US Left
b) YDS & the Labor Movement Today
c) Green Socialism
1 to 2:30 PM
Lunch and Soccer Game/Women’s caucus
2:30 to 3:45 PM
Workshops
a) Immigration and Capitalism
b) Kabul, Baghdad, and now Tehran? US Military Actions and the Left Response
c) Education is a Right
3:45 to 4:00 PM
Break
4 to 6:15 PM
Understanding Oppression and Privilege Bloc
An interactive workshop with Javier Cardona.
6:15 to 6:30 PM
Break
6:15 to 7:15 PM
Dinner/Student’s Caucus
7:15 to 8:45 PM
Plenary: “YDS and Realities of the Hope”: The Obama v. McCain presidential campaign and building towards and after Election Day
8:45 PM PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9 to 10 AM
Breakfast - Queer Caucus
10 to 11:30 AM
Workshops
a) Building a YDS chapter
b) The Housing Crisis
c) Understanding the Capitalist System
11:30 to 11:45 AM
Break
11:45 AM to 1 PM
Constitutional Amendments, Activist Agenda, and Election of Coordinating Committee
1 PM to 2 PM
Working lunch if prior discussion not finished
2 PM onward
Continue discussion if necessary, if not free time
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Wichita State University (Kansas): WSU YDS members helped registered nearly 500 new voters at the largest Wichita Democratic caucus. The chapter also co-hosted a talk with Wichita’s mayor. They’ll end the semester with a movie showing and a panel with national speakers on the issue of student debt as part of YDS’s “Education is a Right - Not a Privilege: Campaign Against Student Debt.
William Paterson YDS (NJ): This new YDS chapter’s rally for education was one of it’s the most successful activities. The event featured students, professors, and YDS organizer David Duhalde speaking about the need to prioritize education and end the crisis in student debt. The gathering was featured on the local news. Check the YouTube here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=16qr3WMWFjQ
New York City YDS: NYC YDS is working with Socialist Alternative to bring socialist education and activism to New York University. A joint club, Socialists at NYU, has done several events. One featured a debate, entitled “What Kind of Change Do We Really Need?” between Socialist Alternative, YDS, and the College Democrats on the 2008 Presidential election.
Stuyvesant High School (NYC): As part of the Student Labor Week of Action (SLWoA) the Stuyvesant H.S. YDS Chapter held a viewing of a PBS Point Of View episode titled “Waging A Living.” The mini-documentary highlighted the struggles of America’s working poor, chronicling the stories of five real men and women who live paycheck to paycheck. After the viewing, they held a small discussion about the lessons to be learned from “Waging A Living,” each rhetorically wondering why such conditions exist in the richest nation on Earth.
University of Central Arkansas: UCA YDS held its third annual Tent State. Tent State is a whole week of workshops and cultural activities ranging from feminist theory to do-it-yourself living to student union building. Tent State was created by Rutgers students as a response to administrative cuts and attacks on education. They organized a counter-week to celebrate education that is about empowerment, not just job training.
Emporia State University (Kansas): The ESU YDS chapter cosponsored Women’s Day, The Vagina Monologues, and a panel on feminism. They are preparing for Earth Week and a debate on the merits of Wal-Mart.
College of Wooster (Ohio): Wooster Democratic Socialists have kept busy with socialist education and traditions. This semester they held socialist game nights and will end with May Day celebrations. They’ll carol with an IWW song book and have a panel on the history of May Day with union organizers and professors. In addition to the SLWoA, they are co-hosting a talk with a Colombian flower picker about the poor working conditions in the industry. Lastly, they are also placing attention on the American Health Care industry in their Relay for Life fundraising.
CU-Boulder (Colorado): Boulder YDS is working on a campus newsletter featuring student-workers, workers, and student-labor activism, and highlight different union formations in the local areas. The bulletin will also focus on YDS’s local work with the Coalition of the Immokalee Workers concerning Chipotle’s policy towards its tomato pickers.
Butler YDS (Indiana): This new YDS chapter held its first event, “Universal Health Care: How to Do it Right,” featuring professor emeritus of philosophy at Indiana University-Bloomington Milton Fisk. Fisk is author of Toward a Healthy Society: The Morality and Politics of American Health Care Reform. The event was cosponsored by the Philosophy Club and Department.
Hampshire College (Massachusetts): Hampshire College YDS hosted an event with Democratic Socialists of America National Political Committee member David Knuttunen on our Economic Justice Agenda and did voter registration for the upcoming elections.
Redlands High School (California): Despite residing in one of the most conservative counties in America and facing stiff opposition from the administration, the new Redlands YDS received unanimous approval from the student governing body for recognition as a student group.
UVA-Wise (Virginia): UVA-Wise YDS, as part of their ongoing campaign against the war in Iraq, laid out trash bags to read “Five Years Too Many” on the hill of their campus.
Michigan State University: MSU YDS hosted two important topical forums. One panel discussed the housing crisis with speakers from Michigan Emergency Network Against War and Injustice. The latter, as part of the national “Education is a Right - Not a Privilege” campaign, featured DSA member David Heck, president of American Federation of Teachers-Michigan, liberal lobbyist Darrel Tennis, and YDS organizer David Duhalde.
The grim milestones of both the fifth anniversary of the US -led invasion of Iraq and the death of the 4000th American soldier coincided in March. Increasingly, our country appears stuck in a military quagmire, yet new hope comes from the anti-war movement. A great sense of urgency springs new unity. The Young Democratic Socialists continue to oppose the war both in the form of events remembering the war’s fifth anniversary and the monthly actions for the Iraq Moratorium Project.
Wichita State YDS (WSU YDS) remains one of the most active chapters working against the Iraq War. WSU YDSer and veteran Marco Fernandez spoke at a 5th anniversary protest in Wichita with his chapter mates in the crowd. He addressed how defense industry privatization is making a few people wealthy while the vast majority suffer. The group spent a week getting hundreds of signatures on a banner titled “Shockers for Peace.” On March 25th, they held a flash protest with the names and showed the documentary “Baghdad ER.” WSU YDS’s anti-war activism in both the local and campus communities keeps alive the need to address causes of the war and demand its end.
Michigan State YDS’s (MSU YDS) fifth anniversary actions exemplified our belief in building broad-based coalitions. MSU YDS worked with progressive campus clubs such as Students for Economic Justice, Chicanos y Latinos Unidos, W.E.B. DuBois Society, and the Muslim Student Association alongside local community groups to mobilize a large protest. Four-hundred and fifty people (to the eight reactionary counter protesters) marched from the administration building to city hall. YDS Co-Chair Nicole Iaquinto told the local television news about the importance of not just ending the Iraqi suffering, but that the occupation is used as an excuse to cut domestic social programs. YDS actions against the war were also national. YDSers joined together in Washington
Please check out The Activist, our online magazine, for more detailed stories about our anti-war activism. Our work is based upon the socialist principle that imperialism is a destructive force here and abroad. We must work to defeat the forces that keep us at war and limit our freedoms and quality of life at home. Only by curtailing the right-wing’s power can we begin to push for a progressive, better future.
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By David Duhalde, YDS organizer
On the heels of an excellent Young Democratic Socialists (YDS) turn out at the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) 2007 convention in Atlanta, YDS’s winter outreach conference’s success seems to be another stepping stone for a fantastic new YDS. In Georgia, YDS sent a diverse delegation of fifteen young activists from across the country (Texas and Kansas to Miami and southwestern Virginia) to the gathering. At the meeting, a point was made for young cadre to caucus in order to prepare for the coming annual national outreach conference. Collectively, it was decided to name the event “Be Realistic, Demand the Impossible: Reviving Democratic, Socialist, and Youth Activism.” The title was chosen to pay homage to the spirit of young radicals in 1968 - as a reflection of the hopes and dreams of the past 40 years and the tasks that still remain for left-wing youth and student activists. We all left Atlanta set on bringing not only ourselves to New York City on President’s Weekend but many more comrades and friends as well.
On Friday February 15th, we opened the event with a panel discussion called “2013 Isn’t Soon Enough: The Anti-War Movement Post-Bush.” The plenary served both as a conference opener and an Iraq Moratorium event. YDS has participated in Iraq Moratorium events (monthly actions to raise awareness against the war in Iraq) since September. The panel served as an excellent way to showcase our grassroots work on a national stage. DSA members Bill Fletcher Jr., Stephen Eric Bronner, and Frances Fox Piven answered individual and group questions. Each had a chance to personally reflect on other panelist’s thoughts and opinions. The excellent discourse covered a range of pertinent topics such as U.S. policy towards Iran, changing political conditions for the anti-war movement due to the presidential race, the role of young socialists in ending the war, and much more. The plenary set a positive and proactive tone that held throughout the conference.
The following Saturday morning YDS members, chapter activists, progressive young people, and friends from across the country began to trickle in. Even before the program began, it was clear that a new YDS had arrived both physically and organizationally. One visible element to the new YDS was diversity. This was one of the widest ranges of people, places, and ideas ever to appear at a YDS conference. The representation came not only from those who came to learn about YDS but also from the chapter activists. The conference saw delegations of eight people (respectively) from campuses ranging from the elite Brown University, small liberal arts Wooster College of Ohio, to the working-class and commuter campuses of University of Central Arkansas and Wichita State University. In all, over 125 students and youth came to the event. The variety of activists symbolized what a strong social justice movement could look like; the positive mixture of different people showed the growing potential for YDS as a force on the student left.
Weekend plenaries featured an excellent range of speakers, ideas, and topics on issues ranging from racial justice, immigrant rights, the relevance of democratic socialism, and the future of the youth and student movement. Saturday’s opening plenary, “The Struggle for Racial Justice Under Capitalism,” was moderated by YDS Anti-Racism coordinator Emahunn Campbell and featured Manning Marable, Monami Maulik, and DSA National Political Committee member Corey D.B. Walker. The speakers touched upon the need to connect the struggle for socialism to the fight against racism. The closing plenary on Saturday saw DSA veterans Joseph Schwartz, Nancy Fraser, and Jose LaLuz discuss the continued importance and relevance of democratic socialist values. LaLuz concluded the panel with a standing chant of “Si, Se Puede.” The energy revived the crowd which we carried with us afterwards into a fun and bonding get together in Brooklyn.
The conference workshops touched upon a range of subjects of great importance to the democratic left. The discussion on Latin America featured a well-received presentation by the Bolivian United Nations ambassador Hugo Siles Alvarado. DSA Honorary Chairs Maxine Philips and Steve Max each held discussions, the prior on faith and the left and the later on healthcare. All workshops presented a democratic socialist viewpoint on the issue and explained how students can incorporate socialist politics into their activism.
A late night did not stop these new young Jimmy and Jannie Higgins from starting the conference on time Sunday. The Sunday crowd took full advantage of the day, asking great questions and bonding over lunch sponsored by AFSCME. The afternoon plenary featured voices from the immigrant rights movement, including DSA member Rabbi Michael Feinberg. Rabbi Feinberg made the critical connection for students that they should understand how capitalist globalization has created such conditions that desperate people are forced to make risky migrations without documentation. The role of socialists is therefore to fight for the rights of all to insure economic security for both domestic and immigrant labor.
Sunday concluded with a group dialogue called “Have We Reached a Revival in Democratic and Anti-Capitalist Youth Activism?” The resounding conclusion was “yes, but we have a great deal of work ahead of us.” Professor Christine Kelly of William Paterson University, who led the discussion with myself, expressed the importance of learning from past youth movements and making your own identity. I emphasized the importance of YDS relating to other left-wing young people, especially those dedicated to working on the upcoming presidential election. Our relevance depends greatly on how well we connect to such movements on the ground.
I have high hopes and aspirations for the new YDS. This conference was the best in terms of quality of the participants, organizers, panels, and speakers in many years - certainly since I first joined in 2003. Paul Collins, who has served with me on the YDS elected leadership and is currently an 1199 SEIU organizer, reflected on how impressed he was with the ownership young cadre had in YDS. No longer, he contended, was YDS merely the youth organizer’s show. On Monday, Beth Garton of Wichita State YDS expressed to my family the feeling that encapsulated some of the most important successes of the conference. She told me and my parents how nice YDSers were, how the workshops had helped her understand anti-capitalism better against the conservative arguments she heard growing up, and that she looked forward to the summer conference. The first comment was especially touching for me as it was the reason I stayed with YDS and DSA. I felt that this was an organization that focused on fighting for social justice, not upon holding moral “superiority” over others; a home where comrades wanted to share in the struggle with you, not judge the quality of your participation in it.
I remain as optimistic as ever about the future of the progressive movement, here and abroad, and YDS’s contributions to making the world a more democratic and humane place. New YDS leaders will continue to reshape and build this socialist youth group as a positive force. I feel comfortable knowing that while I would trade almost anything to be a young chapter activist again, I and other graduating YDS veterans can happily look forward to dedicating our energy to DSA. We have a solid group of younger YDS cadre who will carry on the tradition of building the left-wing of the possible through out the United States.
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