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“What now?” is the question facing many young activists who have just dedicated a good portion of their political time and energy to electing Barack Obama. Even for those on the left who did not support him, the Democrats’ new electoral dominance changes the conditions in which we all fight. As radicals, we understand that power concedes nothing without a demand. Please come and take part in this dialogue about how we can capitalize on these new opportunities.
Among the speakers featured at the conference will be journalist Greg Palast, New York Times bestselling author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy and Armed Madhouse; and John Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman.
Conference topics include: left-wing analysis of the election, immigration, education, militarism and foreign policy, democratic socialism, racial justice, feminist rights, LGBT issues, environmental sustainability, and more. Click here for a flier with the conference program.
The event is sponsored by YDS, Brothers for Awareness, Organization of Latin American Students, and Feminist Collective of William Paterson University. For more information please e-mail wpu-yds@hotmail.com.
William Paterson University
Registration w/ light breakfast starts at 8:30am
Student Center
Conference: 9:30am - 6:00pm
300 Pompton Road, Wayne NJ 07040
10:00am - Panel I- Leftist Critique of the Republican and Democratic parties - Shea Auditorium
Chair, Department of Political Science, Temple University and Chair, author of The Permanence of the Political, and The Future of Democratic Equality, also a member of the National Political Committee of the Democratic Socialists of America;
Dr. Joseph Schwartz, professor political science at Temple University, author The Permanence of the Political and The Future of Democratic Equality. Member of National Political Committee of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA; YDS’s parent organization)
Dr. Michael Thompson, professor of political science at William Paterson University, author of Confronting the New Conservatism: The Rise of the Right in America and The Politics of Inequality: A Political History of the Idea of Economic Inequality in America, and Founder and Editor of Logos: A Journal of Modern Society & Culture. Member of DSA.
11:45am – Workshops
Racial Issues, Feminist Rights, LGBT Issues, Environmental Sustainability
Lunch
2:30pm – Panel II - US foreign military and economic policy – Shea Auditorium
Greg Palast, investigative journalist who broke the story of how Gov. Jeb Bush purged thousands of Black Florida citizens from voter roles before the 2000 election and New York Times bestselling author of Armed Madhouse and The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
John Perkins, author of the New York Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, which has been published in 25 languages. His new New York Times bestseller, The Secret History of the American Empire, details the clandestine operations that created the world’s first truly global empire and provides a compassionate plan for crafting a world that future generations will be proud to inherit.
4:15pm – Workshops
Immigration, Education, Militarism and Foreign Policy, Democratic Socialism
5:00pm – Closing – Multipurpose Room
Dr. Christine Kelly, professor of Political Science at WilliamPaterson University and serves on the Editorial Boards of two
peer-reviewed journals — New Political Science: A Journal of Politics and Culture and Labor and Social Policy. She is an Editorial Board member of the book series Contemporary Issues and American Political Theory with the University Press of Kentucky.
*Moderators for the workshops include:
Madeline Hoffman, Executive Director of New Jersey Peace Action; DaveWatson-Hallowell, President of Sustainable West Milford; PresidentStafford X
To RSVP or for any questions including directions please email
wpu-yds@hotmail.com
*NJ Transit Available to Campus
Sponsored by:
*Young Democratic Socialists (YDS)
*Brothers For Awareness (BFA)
*Feminist Collective
*Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS)
Funded by the William Paterson University Student Government Association
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The NYC Young Democratic Socialists chapter co-sponsored with NYC Democratic Socialists of America (DSA; YDS’s parent organization) a panel discussion entitled “Crisis in Capitalism: Money, Power, and the Economy.” The event was held at the Local 1199 Service Employees International Union in mid-town
Click here to listen to the coverage by WBAI radio of coverage of recent Young Democratic Socialists (YDS) event: “Crisis in Capitalism: Money, Power, and the Economy.”
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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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