In This Issue  

 Young Democratic Socialists Update: March 6, 2008

Winter Conference A Success
 
 
 
 


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
"Be Realistic, Demand the Impossible" Conference a Huge Success 
A Positive Sign for Democratic Socialist Youth Activism
 
The Young Democratic Socialists' (YDS) conference, "Be Realistic, Demand the Impossible: Reviving Democratic, Socialist, and Youth Activism," was a tremendous success both in size and political content.  More than 125 young activists from across the country met for one of the largest collections of YDS activists ever assembled to hear and debate issues relevant to building a democratic left.  The gathering, which featured such wide-ranging speakers as radical academics Manning Marable, Frances Fox Piven, Nancy Fraser, and Stephen Eric Bronner, as well as labor union activists Bill Fletcher Jr. and Jose LaLuz.  An added feature of the conference was the appearance of Bolivian UN Ambassador Huge Siles Alvarado.  Participants also benefited from lively workshops and discussions that kept everyone positive and interested throughout the weekend.   
 
YDS organizer David Duhalde's more detailed account of the event is available here on the The Activist blog.  The Activist would love to publish your thoughts about the conference too, especially evaluations or comments about specific plenaries and workshops.  You can reach The Activist at admin@theactivist.org.
Students and Workers Unite This Spring!
YDS Joins Allies for National Labor Solidarity.
 
This coming spring semester looks to be a great time for student-labor activism and two important labor oriented weeks are rapidly approaching.  Save the dates and don't miss out!  First, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is organizing an alternative spring break from March 16th through March 20th in Kentucky.   Activists will spend their break as union organizers helping state workes in the "right-to-work" state fight for their basic human right to form a union.  For more information about this awesome opportunity, check out Alternative Union Spring Break 2008. 
 
YDS wants to thank AFSCME again for their support at "Be Realistic, Demand the Impossible: Reviving Democratic, Socialist, and Youth Activism." 
 
Next, the National Student-Labor Week of Action (NSLWoA) happens between March 28th and April 4th.  The week, bottom-lined by the Student Labor Action Project (SLAP), combines observances of Caser Chavez Day and the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  YDS participated in the previous week of action (check page two of Fall 2007 Red Letter), and we're proud to do so, again.
 
The 2008 NSLWoA is especially important because of the greater potential for visible immigrant rights activism this spring after the Department of Homeland Security's No-Match policy goes into effect on March 24th.  This policy willl force employers to prove their employees immigration status : a direct attack at undocumented workers and inconvenience for many others.  YDS is looking to tie our National Immigrant Rights Project (part of our Activist Agenda) in with the NSLWoA's good work.
 
Solidarity with the immigrant rights movement is just one of many ways to contribute to NSLWoA.  YDS is working closely with SLAP and other progressive groups for this event.  If you are interested in hosting an action, in finding one near you, or in just learning more about YDS's immigrant work, please email us at yds@dsausa.org.
 
Thoughts and Writing from Democratic Socialist 
Topical Essays from Members of the Democratic Socialists of America 
 
Michael Hirsch and Corey D.B. Walker, members of the National Political Committee of the Democratic Socialists of America's (YDS's parent organization), have written two excellent pieces we feel young activists should read. 
 
Among Democratic Socialists of America's current national projects is the "Economic Justice Agenda," which strives to put progressive politics back on the offense by providing a program that much of the liberal-left can work for.  Michael Hirsch explains the importance of this document in "Why the Left Needs an Economic Justice Agenda Now."
 
The issue of race and racism in America is inescapable for presidential hopeful Barack Obama as well as for those both supporting and opposing his candidacy.  Brown University's Corey D.B. Walker addresses this impact among white intellectuals whose "faith" in the system is restored, not challenged, by Obama.  Walker, while no supporter of Clinton, critiques what he perceives as the shallowness of symbolism of the Obama campaign in his essay "Barack Obama and the Crisis of the White Intellectual."
 
5 Years Too Many
Actions to Protest the Iraq War on it's Fifth Anniversary
 
YDS grassroots activists are going to be out in full force this month  voicing our opposition to the inexcusable five years of the Iraq War.  YDS suggests different ways to make your feelings known about the imperialist war.
 
Check out United Peace and Justice (of which YDS is a member of) and its local actions and suggestions here.
 
The next Iraq Moratorium will be on March 21st.  Check out events here and host your own if none is near you.  Email yds@dsausa.org for more ideas.
 
Check out National Priorities Project and their "Trade Off" calculator.  The calculator shows you how much money an area spent on the war and what could have been invested in communities instead.  This is great information to pass around in addition to the DSA statement against the war in Iraq.
 
We know many of you will be on Spring Break during the Iraq Moratorium and the war's 5th anniversary, so please consider doing these teach-ins when you return to campus.
 
 
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