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Dynamic Magazine
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The quarterly magazine of the YCL
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YCL 8th National Convention May 2006
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Our Future, Our Fight: Youth Beat Back the Ultra-Right!
Young Communist League, USA
Eighth National Convention
May 27-29, 2006 * New York City
Our Future, Our Fight: Youth Beat Back the Ultra-Right
On Memorial Day Weekend members of the Young Communist League, USA refused to sit back while ultra-right attempts to destroy our future by holding our 8th National Convention in Brooklyn, New York. During the weekend, over 250 delegates and guests from Oakland, Chicago, Maine, Providence, Florida, St. Louis, New York and many other communities came together to celebrate the successes of the YCL in the last 4 years and to plan how to move the YCL forward in the struggle for peace, jobs and education for young people.
Convention highlights include:
Convention-goers attended “War and Peace”, an art exhibit and hip-hop performance co-sponsored by Dynamic Magazine, World Up and Upper Playground
Convention-goers demonstrated outside of a Brooklyn military recruitment center demanding money for schools, jobs and not for war
Convention adopted a national Action Plan, a document that provides a foundation for our work over the next 4 years
Convention approved resolutions covering our approach to the struggle of immigrants, the struggle for peace, and aid to survivors of Hurricane Katrina
Convention elected of new National Council and National Coordinator, Erica Smiley
The convention opened with a rousing speech from out-going National Coordinator Jessica Marshall, setting the tone for the rest of the weekend by noting “This country needs a radical youth organization, a strong and vibrant multi-racial organization. The YCL knows that unity is not a secondary vision. We are not victims, we are fighters!” Also addressing the convention were Congressman Major Owens (D-NY) who welcomed us to Brooklyn “on behalf of all the progressive forces of the nation and world”, Jarvis Tyner, executive Vice Chair of the Communist Party USA who reminded us that “Tomorrow is Yours”, and international guests from the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY), YCL of Canada, YCL of Greece, YCL of Israel and the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) of El Salvador.
Throughout the weekend YCL members and guests participated in workshops on topics ranging from issues such as “Youth and the Poverty Draft”, skills-building sessions on how to get involved in the upcoming elections to ideological workshops highlighting the YCL’s approach to fighting racism, the struggle women’s equality and the fight for democracy.
As we all return home, pumped from the Convention and ready to hit the streets in the upcoming elections, we invite you to join us in the fight for the rights of young people and for a better future for all youth. You can do this in many ways, signing up for the upcoming YCL School where you can dive deeper into the many ideological questions raised at the convention, you can participate in our elections work, and be a part of implementing our Action Plan in so many ways.
But before you do anything, consider joining the YCLUSA.
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Upcoming Events
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2008 Elections
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Check back soon for more information!
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More Fall 2007, Issue 17
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Lorraine Vivian Hansberry, was one of the most relevant and famous playwrights of the 20th century. Her work was produced in the context of her struggle for equality and justice in her own life as an African-American woman in the United States, as well as her participation in the civil rights movement. What most people don’t know, and what U.S. history has attempted to erase, is that Lorraine Hansberry was also a leader of the communist youth movement.
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Naomi Wolf’s newest work, The End of America, is billed as a call to defend democracy. While her writing is impassioned, the book is marred by the very vague nature of what she tells us needs to be done—including some thoughts that are actually quite demoralizing—as well as some bizarre historical comparisons.
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More Fall 2007, Issue 17
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More Fall 2007, Issue 17
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As of press time, Congress is debating the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which was set to expire September 30, 2007. This political process has become very tangled between the Bush Administration, big business and congressional leadership. Education has started to slide even further out of the spotlight while the attention of our country shifts to the 2008 presidential election.
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As youth in America we are confronted with ever more need to struggle and fight for our basic human needs and rights. Everyday there is news of home foreclosures, jobs being outsourced and exported, health care premiums skyrocketing, and an education system that is failing. What can we do to guarantee our survival?
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Dynamic Fall Issue Out Now!
The New Fall Issue of Dynamic Magazine is out now! This issue tackles the struggles of young workers in the US, the fight against No Child Left Behind (NCLB), a review of the the new Kayne and 50 Cent albums in the "Duel of the Iron Mics" and much more! Check it out here.
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"What a Waste" by Robert Carter
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More Dynamic Magazine
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48,000 auto-workers at Chrysler went on strike on the morning of Oct. 10th. These auto-workers, just like the workers at GM, are fighting not just for better wages and benefits for themselves, but for all workers. Read the article for updates and ways to support workers at Chrysler.
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As expected, the upcoming 2008 Elections have already taken center stage, and nearly every issue we struggle for hinges on them in some way. Now we have the opportunity not only to strengthen the Democratic majority, but also to elect a Democrat as president—setting a real path to end the war, secure jobs, and improve access to quality schools.
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Download the new YCL Student Government Factsheet
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Listen to the radio piece by a Chicago YCLer on his recent trip to Cuba with the 38th Contingent of the Venceremos Brigade.
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The United Autoworkers (UAW) are on strike against General Motors. These workers are fighting for all of us, helping maintain a higher standard for overall worker wages and benefits. Read the article to find out what you can do and where there are picket lines that you can join to show your solidarity!
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Summer Issue of Dynamic Out Now!
The new issue of Dynamic is out now! Check out the examination of sexuality in professional sports, the Midwest Hip-Hop revival and a discussion on what globalization is all about Click here to find these articles and more!
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Youth and students took to the ballot box in 2006 to demand a change. Two of the top issues on the minds of young people were the war and funding for education. Yet Bush and his war supporters continue to ignore the voices of young people and the 70% of the US population that is against this war. They continue to spend billions of dollars on the war in Iraq that could be spent on funding education and rebuilding our cities from New Orleans to Minneapolis.
On October 27th, 2007 people will be gathering in 11 cities to raise our voices together and demand an end to the war.
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Cuba Solidarity Educational
Download and use the new Cuba Solidarity Educational to find out more about the travel ban, the US's economic embargo and the Cuba 5.
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The Tamiment Library has a photo exhibit of archival photos of CPUSA and YCLUSA activists and leaders.
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The Young Communist League, USA is looking for an intern to help in the New York City Office this winter/spring.
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On August 20-21, at the invitation of the Canadian government, the leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada are meeting behind closed doors at Chateau Montebello, Quebec, for the third Annual Security and Prosperity Partnership Leaders Summit. The Young Communist League of Canada - La ligue de la jeunesse communiste du Canada, the Young Communist League USA, and the Juventud Comunista de Mexico joins with the young peoples in Canada, the US and Mexico in resisting the SPP.
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