Revolutionary Communist Youth NE SLETTER 10¢ Number 17 ~~,~~~, X-523 May-June 1973 Budget Cuts Hit Campuses- Only Workers Can Smash Phase III! It should be apparent to radical tically drive down the living standards deficit which was further aggravated The educational system is part of a students that the current education of workers in order to bolster its by the inflation generated by finanCing capitalist system which, just as it budget cuts and tuition increases, as competitive position internationally. the Vietnam war through massive de­ seeks to monopolize social wealth for well as cuts in other social services, We have pointed out the inherent im­ ficit spending. U,S, capitalism simply a tiny ruling class, also seeks to mono­ are manifestations of a more general potence of "student-power" struggles began to price itself out of the world pOlize the fruits of social wealth: capitalist crisis. But a pervasive and the need to fight the budget cuts market, losing its economic hegemony learning and culture. The ruling class New-Left mentality continues to see in the context of the class struggle. and declining to a position of first tailors the educational system to serve the struggle against budget cuts as A "program to fight the budget cuts" among equals within the context of bourgeois ends: the training of its gov­ limited to the campus and students, must be part of a working-class pro­ the re-assertion of inter-imperial­ ernment administrators and industrial in isolation from more general social gram to fight and overthrow capitalism. ist rivalries. It responded by cutting its managers and the general propagation struggles. The RCY has played an The irony of capitalism is that the losses in Vietnam, devaluing the dollar, of bourgeois ideology, The working active role in the anti-budget cuts spoils of its seemingly triumphant attempting to control the budget deficit class is to get just enough "education" and anti-tuition struggles recently at successes turn into catastrophe. The through massive slashes in social ser­ so that the capitalists can extract profit the City University of New York U.S. emerged from World War II both vices (but, of course, not in the military from its labor power. As for the (CUNY) and in the past at Laney militarily victorious and economically sector) and reduction in wages through specially-oppressed black and Latin College in Oakland, City College of hegemonic among its former imperial­ inflation, union-busting and wage con­ youth, for whom there are no jobs, San Francisco and other campuses. ist rivals. Thus the U.S, military trols. public schools are simply daytime or­ We have tried to present to student became the policeman for the imperial­ phanages, In fact, some a cad em i c militants the more general political ist system just as the dollar became its Campuses Part of pimps for the government-with their lessons of these struggles-the rela­ world reserve currency. However, the Capitalist System Ph.D's in SOCiology and 20 years of tionship between budget cuts, rising former forced the U,S. to maintain a formal education-have decided that the tuition costs and the capitalist crisis, huge world-wide military establish­ Tuition hikes and budget cuts can­ reason workers are "discontented" with i.e., that the cutbacks in education ment while the latter encouraged the not be defeated by struggles restricted their drudgery is that they are "over­ and social services are part of the export of U.S. capitaL Combined, they to the campuses because the cause of educated": attempt of U.S, capitalism to systema- created a chronic balance-of-payments cutbacks in education is off-campus. Students do not have the social power to make even the limited reforms ~.< '. >~~' ~'- ~ ~, relating to the campus stick. The Ji' • .- ~ strength of the working class to fight capitalist attacks lies in its access to the means of producing wealth-its ability to withhold its labor power-and NAn:~ll '[ in the material basis for its class UN'Vl \~, consciousness in its social organization UN", I , of work. In the epoch of illlperi?,lism, [ '~ \"''''~..:.a.~ .... Vq~ """~ thoroughgoing and long-lasting reforms STUDEI" are impossible: Only the working class has the power to squeeze even limited TEACH£\~c. and temporary reforms from the capi­ CONTROL "\Il\ talists, and the power to smash capital­ Itey .~ ism, to end raCial, sexual and all other forms of social oppression, An important step in the struggle to prepare and organize the working class for the proletarian revolution and for running a SOCiety free of social oppression is the immediate struggle against all forms of discrimination, inclUding the elementary democratic Rev Photo demand to open up the limited but none­ theless valuable reservoirs oflearning, science and culture to the oppressed and exploited. The RCY actively supports the fight against the budget cuts; we support the What Defense Policy for demands for open admissions and no tuition, However, we point out that these demands by themselves do not go far enough. We seek to broaden the movement to include demands which Revolutionaries? pose the need to link up with the struggles of the working class in order The decline of U.S. economic hege­ of bourgeois democracy, a contempt unless it introduces complete democ­ to defeat capitalist attacks-demands mony and the resultant economic chaos that will be violently amplified in deal­ racy, so the proletariat will be unable which cut across the class bias in­ has meant intensified capitalist attacks ing with an actuaZleft threat. The strat­ to prepare for victory over the bour­ herent in bourgeois democratic rights. on the labor and radical movements. egy to defeat ruling-class attacks on the geOisie unless it wages a many-sided, consistent and revolutionary struggle The demand Simply for "Open Ad­ FaCing an increasing inability to pro­ labor and radical movements must be miSSions, No Tuition" is not only not vide the minimal democratic and eco­ based on an examination of the historic for democracy." -Collected Works, Vol. 22, p. 133 a revolutionary demand, it is not even nomic rights of working people and op­ experience of the working-class move­ a genuinely democratic demand, for it pressed minorities, the American capi­ ment. The International Red Aid was also an application of the united-front policy would exclude all those who could not talist class has pursued a dual offen­ afford the time away from their jobs sive: governmental legislation to curb The International Red Aid of the CI under Lenin and Trotsky, which proposed joint action of workers' or­ and their families to devote themselves the power of the trade-union movement t 0 systematic education even if that and tie it more closely to the state In the early 1920's, the Communist ganizations over specific and concrete tasks. The united front was designed to education were free. ThUS, it would machinery, combined with persecution International (CI) organized the Inter­ exclude most workers and the unem­ of the left to forestall any resurgence of nation Red Aid as a broad defense or­ unite the working class against capi­ talist attacks and in dOing so create an ployed with fa mil y responsibilities. even the ref 0 r m i s t social-protest ganization of working-class militants. The demand for "Open Admissions, movement of the 1960's. Central to the While the CI rej ected bourgeois-demo­ arena in which the Communist parties, retaining full freedom to criticize other No Tuition" must be linked with the ruling-class policy is to forestall the cratic illusions and idealizations, it continued on page 3 growth of any organized left opposi­ recognized the need to defend the demo­ partiCipants, could counterpose their tions in the labor movement. While the cratic gains of the bourgeois revolu­ program to the social-democratic mis­ radical students, women's liberation­ tions and proletarian struggle as an leadership in order to "set the base ists and black nationalists who typified integral part of the class struggle. against the top." The slogan of the Lessons from History 1960's radicalism lacked the social Lenin summarized the communist per­ united front was "March Separately, strength to seriously threaten capitalist spective toward democratic struggles: Strike Together." rule, the current growth of the left in The International Labor Defense WIt would be a fundamental mistake to (ILD), the American affiliate of the "Resolution the labor movement poses a much suppose that the struggle for democra­ greater potential threat. The gross vio­ International Red Aid, led the cam­ cy can divert the proletariat from the paign to defend Sacco and Vanzetti, Tom lation of democratic rights in the socialist revolution, or obscure or on the Youth" Mooney, C.E. Ruthenberg, imprisoned #atergate affair indicates the Nixon overshadow it, etc. On the contrary, regime's conteml1t for the formalities just as socialism cannot be victorious Wobblies and numerous strike efforts. page 4 continued on page 6 2 Rey Newsletter

interference in union affairs (no matter what "progressive" face it appears to take) opens the door for future state Rey Newsletter ~®OiI©lmOt!\~ [M©iI~£) control and destruction of the organiza­ Editorial Board: Paul Friar (managing tions of the working class. Instead of editor), Libby Schaefer, Reuben seeking a common struggle with Team­ Samuels. ster militants against the class treason Production manager: Pat Michaels. Circulation manager: Tony Br:mdler. any militants, its hand is strengthened of the Teamster bureaucracy, Chavez's YSA, Pl/SDS Revive against all organizations of the working reformism dooms the farmworkers to The RCY Newsletter is published by the class and left (see" What Defense Poli­ begging for favors from their exploit­ Revolutionary Communist Youth, youth Student Power cy for Revolutionaries?", this issue, ers' government. section of the Spartacist League. oNe seek to build a revolutionary socialist p. 1). The limitation of the struggle to a BOSTON-The annual Student Union consumer boycott has clothed Chavez in youth organization which can intervene The Ymmg Socialist states that in all social struggles armed with a elections at Boston University have re­ Rizik's defense "must be based on bourgeois respectability, but has not cently been the stage for the further re­ bettered the situation of the farm­ working-class program, based on the mobilizing the trade unions in support politics of Marx, Lenin and Trotsky. treat of ostensible socialists into the of his caseo" In failing to discuss the workers. Instead, Chavez has con­ swamp of liberal petty-bourgeois poli­ crucial need to win the broadestpossi­ sciously tied the movement to the Subscriptions, $.50 for 6 issues. oNrite tics. Two slates deserve special atten­ Democratic Party through the elimina­ RCY, Box 454, Cooper Station, New ble support for the defense-especially York, N.Y. 10003. tion-the "Action for a Change Collec­ support from other left-wing organiza­ tion of direct class action and culling tive" (where both Progressive Labor bourgeois support in exchange for elec­ tions~the YS indicates that it will carry and SDS are running as candidates) and on the Rizik defense campaign in the toral assistance. the "Young Socialist" ticket (a bloc same sectarian manner -that the WL which features candidates from the sought to defend Juan Farinaso During Chavez's Racism Young Socialist Alliance and the Stu­ the Farinas campaign the WL actually dent Mobilization Committee). Both excluded other left-wing tendencies (in­ At present, Chavez is calling for the slates work within a student-power cluding physical expulsions of the Spar­ elimination of, in his word, "wetbacks" NCLC FRENZY framework using slogans such as "Vote from the fields, through deportations tacist League) from public defense As we go to press, the National to Control Your Own University" (YSA) meetings, demonstrating its total fail­ and strict border regulations. The il­ and "Classroom Insurgency" (PL, SDS). legal aliens from Mexico who now work Caucus of Labor Committees has ini­ ure to understand elementary working­ tiated a policy of physical attacks "Action for a Change" is a classic class solidarityo in the U.S. Southwest' s farms-are easily illustration of left-center-coalition intimidated by the growers, who can de­ against the Communist Party. We Contributions for Rizik's defense condemn the NCLC's gangsterism methodology. In using this approach to should be mailed to: The Raoul Rizik port them at will; therefore, these unor­ broaden its base, PL/SDS waters down ganized Mexicans threaten the UFWbu­ against a working-class tendency, not­ Defense Committee, 2202 Maryland ing that the CP has a long history of its program to the bourgeo'is politics Avenue, Baltimore, Marylando reaucracyo Chavez's gross white and of the "center." As the demands in the nationalist chauvinism is merely an at­ gangsterism against other left groups. "Action for a Change" platform show, tempt to better the position of the union The CP has responded by calling the PL/ SDS' s political presence is virtual­ bureaucracy at the expense of Mexican cops on the NCLC, thereby crossing ly non-existent and the student power­ lettuce Boycott: SDS nationals. class lines in an action as imper­ ism of the "center" (the Boston Uni­ The UFW needs to organize Mexican missible for Marxists as gangsterism versity Liberation Front) dominates. Tail-Ends UFWOC Reformism as well as UoS. farmworkers into a real within the left. We condemn both An SDS leaflet publicizing the cam- international union and to call for an end groups' violations of workers demo­ cracy and the CP's use of the cops and paign states: LOS ANGELES-At UCLA, Progres­ to border restrictions and no deporta­ tionso It is this proletarian internation­ courts against the NCLCo For a full ",Ve w~nt to explore that nature lof the sive Labor's SDS has revived its long­ alism that must be counterposed to statement of our position on recent Umversityj and to h~\'e whatever effect dead Worker-Student Alliance to spear­ incidents between the CP and NCLC, Wf: can in altering it .... \\-e will use the Chavez's nationalism. head a coalition to boycott lettuce, It see the 27 April issue of Workers resources of the Unioll-financi~l ~id, The policies of the Chavez leader­ has also done work around the boycott Vanguard. _ facilities, publicity, org~nizers, ~ccess ship are class-collaborationist, nation­ at New York's City College, Staten to lI1formation, etc.-to lIliti~tf: ~nd or Island Community College and on cam­ al-chauvinist and racist. Against the support programs or actions that will Chavez betrayals, revolutionaries must puses in Boston and other cities. Over ~lleviate the problems created by the point to the need for a UF W strike and the last year, SDS has settled into a current policies of the university." secondary boycott. Against Chavez's campus-parochial, moralistic reform­ alliance with the Democrats, the ques­ The "Action for a Change" (which is ism, best exemplified in its anti­ tion of a workers party must be posedo CORRECTION no action and no change) "strategy" racist textbook campaigns (see RCYS seeks to (1) reform the Student Union While the consumer boycott of scab The April RCYS (p. 3) carried No. 12)0 SDS's work in the lettuce boy­ .~ 1 lettuce must be honored, it is crucial some inaccuracies concerning a with a "collective" leadership, (2) get cott has presented no departure from to point out that, by itself, it is a dead­ Progressive Labor demonstration cheaper textbooks and cheaper bus ser­ this framework, conSisting almost en­ end protest and a bureaucratic betrayal held on 19 Februaryo The article vice and (3) provide more services for tirely of running petition campaigns to of the farmworkers' real needs and reported that the PL demonstration students. pressure the university Adniinistration The YSA, of course, has more sen­ class interests. called only for defense of the Israeli to buy only United Farmworker (UFW) group, Revolutionary Communist iority in campus reformism. A classic lettuceo Along with its narrow campus statement of student powerism is its Alliance, and not for defense of the approach, SDS has offered no criticisms Red Front or other Israeli groups demand for "Student;Faculty Control of the boycott tactic or of the racist over All Aspects of the UniverSity." Sl/RCY Picket for Workers Signing a joint defense appeaL In and class-collaborationist policies of fact, the Red Front is a split~off As an example of YSA' s distance from the Chavez union leadership, but has working-class politics, it demands "No Democracy: Wl Charges from the Revolutionary Communist given the bureaucracy unqualified sup­ Alliance and the two factions are of­ Tuition Hikes," rather than raising the port-hoping to get a piece of the con­ demands "Free Higher Education with ten referred to as Revolutionary siderable liberal sympathy Chavez has "Anti-C ommunism" Communist Alliance (Struggle) and Stipend" and "Open Admissions"-de­ won the farmworkers. So much for mands which would most benefit minor­ Revolutionary Communist Alliance worker-student alliances and "smash­ Recent issues of the Workers (Red Front)o Therefore, PL's call­ ity, poor and working-class students, racism" campaigns: they're okay for League's Bulletin (2 and 9 April) stated The YSA's demand is in fact back­ ing only for the defense of the Revo­ the campus but not for the working­ that the Spartacist League/Revolution­ lutionary Com m u n i s t Alliance handed support to tuition. class, where it really counts! ary Communist youth picket line out­ Communists on the campuses should meant, for them, defense of the Red At the root of the lettuce boycott is side the Young Socialist meeting in Los Front (only), as PL, true to form, approach student elections with only the struggle of the farmworkers for Angeles was in essence "anti-commu­ one goal in mind-using the elections simply does not recognize the poli­ union recognition, decent working con­ nist" and an example of "middle-class tical existence of the other faction. as a platform to put forward the full ditions and better pay. The union lead­ frenzy" against the WL's youth group. program and strategy of revolutionary Furthermore, the RCY article im­ ership's choice of the consumer boy­ What the Bulletinfails to mention is that plied that the Red Front was parti­ Marxism, seeking to break politicized cott tactic is a betrayal. To win the the SL/RCY were protesting their ex­ students from their petty-bourgeois Cipating in united-front defense work battle the UF..v must organize a strike, clusion from what was advertised as a with other left-wing Is rae 1 i or­ milieu and winning them to the Leninist which in the fields could cost the grow­ public meeting and were demonstrating vanguard as declassed profeSSional ganizations. The 22 March 1973 ers a full year's crop, andisthus a real in support of the prinCiples of workers issue of PL's newspaper Challenge revolutionists. threaL Further, the strikers must call democracy, long since forgotten by the The approach of SDS and the YSA is (po 1), however, carried the opposite not for "popular" support through con­ WL. Unfortunately for the WL, the information, namely, that the Red a capitulation to illusory old New-Left sumer boycott action, but for working­ Bulletin editor does not have a good concepts of an independent social role Front has been carrying on defense class SOlidarity through a secondary organizational eye for photographs that work in Israel in the ultra-sectarian for students and has nothing in com­ boycott: the Teamsters and the rail can back up its lies. Thus, the 9 April mon with pro-working-class politics. tradition of PL, not in the Leninist unions must refuse to ship scab lettuceo Bulletin carried a pic t u l' e of the traditions of the united fronto Such a boycott by transport unions SL/RCY picket line with the following would put real muscle behind the UFW banners visible: "Smash Stalinist Ex­ Defend Raoul Rizik! strikeo But a secondary boycott, pro­ clusionism!" and "What Is the Workers hibited by the Taft-Hartley Act is, of League Afraid Of?" BALTIMORE-The UoSo State Depart­ course, anathema to the union bureauc­ The SL/RCY demonstration has not ment has begun deportation proceed­ racy. been without effect on the WL which, political confrontation, since the Sta­ ings against Raoul Rizik, a sympathizer It is a fact that many, perhaps most, reversing a two-year policy of exclud­ linist tactics of gangsterism and ex­ of the Workers League/Young Social­ of the Teamsters union ranks oppose the ing the SL/RCY from WL public meet­ clusionism have neither answered ques­ ists who has been active in the anti-war Teamster bureaucracy's policyof ings, issued an invitation by implication tions abouttheSL/RCY in the WL/YS's movement. According to the Young sweetheart contracting with the grow­ some weeks ago to the SL/RCY to ranks or had any ill effects upon the SL/ Socialist (April 1973, po 3), if Rizik is ers. A vigorous campaign by the UFW attend a New York City YS meeting RCY itself. We welcomed this opportu­ sent back to his native Dominican Re­ around the demand "Teamster Union on the budget cuts and a WL class on nity to counter the WL in political de­ public he "faces further political per­ Out of the Fields!" could trigger a pow­ the International Committee, The SL/ bate, expecting that the opportunity secution and possibly jail, as an out­ erful solidarity movement within the RCY was given considerable speaking would be transient. Indeed it was-just spoken opponent of the U.S.-backed Teamsters union its elL Predictably, time at these meetings, In addition, two weeks after posing the debate "chal­ military dictatorship of Joaquin however, the response of the Chavez reversing a seven-year policy, the WL lenge," and in the middle of negotiations Balaguero" bureaucracy to the Teamster strike­ "challenged" the SL to a public debate with the SL over time and place, the It is the elementary duty of all left breaking has been to sue the Teamsters (which the SL has been requesting for WL withdrew its offer (see WV No. 19, and working-class organizations to de­ in the bourgeois courts. This action is seven years!). The WL has been feeling 27 April, for details), It appears that fend Rizik, recognizing that if the bour­ an attack on the independence of the the pressure of SL/RCY growth and political confrontation with the SL/RCY geois state is successful in attacking unions from the state. Any government was perhaps thinking of attempting a is a bit too much for the WL to handle. May-June 1973 3

ist Workers Party). In such coalitions, against the budget cuts was the Young Continued from page 1 the program is limited to demands ac­ Socialists, youth group of the Workers cep'::;.hle to the bourgeois elements, League. The YS revealed its hopeless strengthening the reformist illusion disorientation by calling for a strike Budget Cuts Hit Campuses- that pervasive social problems like of stu den t s, teachers and staff the crisis in education, women's lib­ leading to a general strike demand for "Free Universal Higher aid cutbacks, against tuition at CUNY eration, etc. can be solved under capi­ and urging students to pressure the Education with Stipend" a:1d demands and for expanded open admissions, and talism. The ongoing organization to Professional Staff Congress to call that the universities supply free, quality they threatened violence against any fight the educational crisis or the op­ for the construction of a labor party child care. Likewise, the demands for organization which brough t banners pression of women is the Leninist to "fight for the rights of youth." To restoring services cut or eliminated with communist slogans to a demon­ vanguard party and its disciplined sec­ call upon students to take the lead in by Phase III-services which were in­ stration which they called (see "Stalin­ tions, which embody the Marxist revo­ initiating a general strike hopelessly sufficient to begin with-is an inade­ ists, Nationalists Seek to Exclude Com­ lutionary program. Coalitions like the· muddles the class line and spreads quate demand. Instead we must demand munists," this issue, p. 2). T WC 01: WONAAC push a reformist illusions about the social role of quality education, but quality education The warmed-over New Leftism of program which can only serve bour­ students and undifferentiated "youth." in this country is largely monopolized the Attica Brigade slides nicely into geois interests. In the fight against Moreover, the phony left posturing of by the private, elite and exorbitantly the framework of Mao Tse-tung budget cuts, the Maoists have been in calling on students to pressure teachers expensive schools administered by the Thought with its stages theory of revo­ the forefront of those pushing a liberal to build a labor party has a hollow ring large corporations. Thus the demand lution, methodology of the "mass line" line ("mass line") and aggressively when measured against the program for quality education must be linked and strategy of the "anti-imperialist opposing class-struggle politics. which the WL carries into the trade to the democratic demand to nationalize united front." Continuing the theories The political approach of the Young unions. In its program for the auto the private universities under worker­ of Stalinism and Menshevism, the Socialist Alliance, youth .group of the industry, which it projects as the teacher-student control and open them Maoists project an initial stage of the SWP, has been virtually indistinguish­ basis for caucuses in the UAW, the up to the working class and unemployed. revolution that unites all "anti-imper­ able from the Stalinists and liberals. WL does not raise a single political In our participation in the fight ialist forces" across class lines. Thus At a meeting which the SWP/YSA co­ demand -not even the call for a labor against the budget cuts, we have consis­ many Maoists supported bourgeois sponsored to discuss strategies for party (Bulletin, 12 February 1973, tently sought, through our literature and politician McGovern (either openly or fighting the budget cuts, they delib­ pp. 1 and 18)! When faCing the pres­ banners, to convince students of the backhandedly) in the elections because erately limited their demands to op­ sures of the class struggle, the WL central role of the working class in the he was part of the "progressive" bloc position to tuition at CUNY and for conveniently forgets the Transitional economic crisis, and to win students to Df forces opposing the U.S. intervention open admissions. They failed to Program and limits itself to shop­ aiding in the construction of a Leninist into the Vietnam war. breathe a word about socialism or floor issues, but in the student move­ vanguard party which can lead the The Maoists reject the Marxist raise any demands or slogans which ment, where left-posturing is cheap, successful proletarian overthrow of theory of permanent revolution-that might distinguish them from the lib­ the WL brings its slogans out of the capitalism. Other left organizations the working class is the only consistent­ erals, no doubt so that they would not closet. have either carried on simple reform­ ly revolutionary class in capitalist alienate the "masses"-like Congress­ It is wrong and criminal to pretend ist camrus campaigns or have engaged society, and that programmatic blocs man Herman Badillo, another co­ that the fight against budget cuts can in phony leftist agitation directed to­ with non-working-class forces only sponsor of the meeting. Instead of be won within the framework of that wards students or youth as a vanguard. subordinate workers' class interests pointing out the need for the working issue alone and involving only teachers What both of these "strategies" have to the interests of alien classes. While class to organize around a revolution­ and students. Revolutionaries must in common is the spreading of illusions Marxists do not call for the exclusion ary program to fight against capital­ point out that there is no "program for about the social power of students, or of petty-bourgeois or even bourgeois ist attacks, the SWP/YSA called for the budget cuts" as such, but that a youth as a whole, and the failure to elements from a demonstration or "a letter writing and petitioning cam­ fight against these cuts can only be draw a genuine class line. united-front a ction around a democratic paign to city, state and federal poli­ successful if linked to the struggles demand which these elements claim to tiCians, " thus relying on the good of the working class against capital­ New Leftism Revived support, we fight to demonstrate the ne­ graces of liberal politicians while ism-through a vanguard party. At cessity for the full Marxist program in building illusions about the bourgeois the same time, we do not sit back and Most of the left has responded to the course of the struggle, pointing out state. In this they were only making ignore these struggles-we support and the budget cuts with a revival of that the "progressives" are unstable explicit the bourgeois content implicit initiate demonstrations against the cuts New-Left and student-power politics allies who in the end will betray in the Attica Brigade's minimal de­ and for free higher education with sti­ in more fashionable dress. At CUNY, and that isolated reformist struggles mands. pend, seeking to use these times when the Maoist Attica Brigade, in alliance are a dead-end. students are aroused, and thus more with the CUNY Third #orld Coalition #e are categorically opposed to WL/YS Youth Vanguardism open to political ideas, to win individ­ (T#C), a group dominated by black entering ongoing coalitions with bour­ ual student militants to the working­ and Puerto Rican nationalist ideology, geois elements around democratic de­ The only other organization besides class struggle against capital, based fought to limit the struggle against mands (e.g., Women's National Abor­ the RCY which claimed to carry a on the full program of revolutionary budget cuts to slogans against financial tion Action Coalition, led by the Social- proletarian line into the campaign Marxism. _ Stalinists, Nationalists Seek to Exclude Communists The City College chapter of the Rev­ possible united action could only be UCCers off the line, declaring that she set up barricades to create two sepa­ olutionary Communist Youth has been secured on the basis of the Leninist would not have her "people marching rate picket lines. involved in the fight against tuitio:1 at criteria for the united front~all groups in a demonstration with signs that say the City University of New York (CUNY) agreeing with the common slogans must 'communist'" (as in "Revolutionary Maoists, YSA Join with Cops from the beginning, arguing for work­ have the right to participate and to Communist Youth"). The UCC then and Liberals ing-class politics and linking the ques­ raise their own programs and criti­ formed a second picket line several tion oIbudget cuts to the need for a so­ cisms and sell or distribute their own yards away. The Attica Brigade, the Rather than joining with the RCY to cialist revolution (see "Only the IVork­ literature. Young Socialist Alliance and the two demonstrate solidarity against police ing Class Can Smash Phase III," this The RCY pointed out that, despite or three SDSers present went off to intervention, the Attica Brigade demon­ issue, p. 1). It has run up against re­ phrases about "unity," the UCC's at­ separate caucuses to decide what to do. strated the true nature of its "mass peated anti-communism, gangsterism, tempt to prevent other groups from Recoiling from the liberals but unable line"-uniting with the "masses" of sectarianism and bureaucratism from raising additional slogans was sectar­ to unite with "Trotskyites," one Attica liberals and cops. The Brigade, in line other left groups at CUNY -in particu­ ian and bureaucratic. The UCC pretends Brigade woman argued that their group with its Stalinist methodology, justifies lar, the Communist Party - influenced, that this policy means that the demon­ should go home. Cooler Maoist heads its gross betrayal of a class line under liberal United Community Centers stration would not be putting forward prevailed, however, and, as an Attica the slogan of "anti-Trotskyism." The (UCC), the Maoist Attica Brigade and any full program, but in fact, a demon­ Brigade spokeswoman stated to the YSA (youth group of the ex-Trotskyist the CUNY Third World Coalition (T #C), stration limited to the two demands of RCY, the Brigade followed" Mao's mass Socialist Workers Party) joined the a group dominated by black and Puerto "Free Public Higher Education" and line" over to the liberal demonstration. Stalinists in tailing after the liberals, Rican nationalist ideology. The actio:1s "No Tuition at CUNY and SUNY" im­ T'1e YSA and the SDSers also capitu­ preferring to "raise the question of of these groups have limited the effec­ plies a program all right-a reformist lated to the UCC' s wrecking job and democracy" on the UCC line rather tiveness of the anti-tuition demonstra­ program. joined the breakaway line. than even sending a representative to tions and have contributed to a revival The RCYers, finding themselves in a march with the RCY in solidarity of anti-communist New-Left student Gangsterism and Use of Cops separate picket line with their support­ against the police, as the RCY re­ powerism. ers, refuspr\ to submit to this sideshow quested and which Norman Oliver, SWP Against the Left of sectarianism and marched over with New York City mayoral candidate, had At a meeting on 13 March at City their banners and entered the UCC­ reluctantly agreed to do. College called by the UCC to gain sup­ In addition to carrying the two main YSA-Attica Brigade-SDS line, thus re­ These Stalinist pOlitics were contin­ port for a 15 March anti-tuition demon­ slogans, the RCY came to the 15 March unifying the demonstration. Several ued at a citywide anti-tuition meeting stration, the UCC informed the RC Y that demonstration with the following ban­ UCCers attacked an RCYer, attempting on 25 March, held at Hunter College and although it could participate in the ners (all identified as RCY slogans): to rip down her picket sign, but with attended by about 400 students. After it demonstration under the slogans "Free "Open Admissions with Stipend," "Na­ the aid of comrades she held on to the became clear to the UCC that it had lost Public Higher Education" and "No Tui­ tionalization of the Universities under banner and continued marching. The control of the meeting, it simply walked tion at CUNY and SUNY," it would not #orker-Teacher-Student Con t r 0 1," UCC, its gangsterist attacks having out, demonstrating quite clearly that be allowed to raise other slogans re­ "Only the Working Class Can Defeat failed to prevent the RCY from sup­ the fight against budget cuts was dis­ lating to the attacks on education and Capitalist Attacks," "Fight for Social­ porting the demands of the demonstra­ tinctly subordinate to its petty organi­ social services. The RCY asserted its ism." Soon after the RCY joined the tion and participating in it, turned to the zational desires. At this meeting the right to put forward communist politics picket line, a woman later identified police. At the UCC's request, cops re­ and further pointed out that the largest as the leader... of the UCC ordered all moved the RCYers from the line and continued on page 6 4 Rev Newsletter Lessons from History Founding Conference of the 4th /nteJ Trotsky was always keenly aware of tionon the Youth," the World Youth Con­ the early CI and FI conceived it. Such dustrial countries. The SWP has sur­ what he called the problem of genera­ ference endorsed the Transitional Pro­ a reaffirmation is particularly impor­ passed Pabloism in adopting a non­ tions. He began the New Course (1923), gram and voted to affiliate as the offi­ tant today when so many pol itical ten­ proletarian ideology. It has lifted the his opening shot in the struggle against cial youth section of the Fl. dencies claiming to be Trotskyist dis­ "cultural autonomy" slogan from the the bureaucratic degeneration of the As Nathan Gould, the youth delegate play the most elementary confusion on Austro-Marxists and appl ied it to the Russian Revolution, with a discussion from the U.S., reported in the weekly this question. The early CI and Young present by having each oppressed "sec­ of the "question of the party genera­ organ of the then-revolutionary Social­ Communist International, and the tor" of the population independently tions, "and in the most important docu­ ist Workers Party, Socialist Appeal Founding Conference of the FI and cor­ "self-determine" itself, into that pure ment among the founding resolutions of (22 October 1938): -­ responding Youth Conference were ex­ realm of freedom which is, of course, the Fourth International (FI), The Death "The resolution on relations between plicit and insistent that the Leninist­ obtainable only on the gilded comfort Agony of Capital ism and the Tasks of the youth and adult Internationals ac­ Trotskyist youth group must be a sec­ of the college campus. Each "sector" the Fourth Internationaf: The Transt: ceptedtheclassical Leninist concept of tion of the vanguard party which em­ of society (students, blacks, Chicanos, ------tional Program, Trotsky stated the these relations. The Youth Internation­ bodies the continuity, tested political women and yes, even the working class) problem of generations in the following al, which accepts the proletarian revo­ leadership and developed programma­ is provided by the revisionists with way: lutionary international leadership of its tic clarity of the revolutionary move­ its very own "trans itional" program. "When a program or organization wears adult body is to be politically subordi­ ment. The program of the youth section Departing from Trot sky ism and out, the generation which carried it on nate to and organ izationa Ily autonomous must be developed within the frame­ proletarian revolution on another road, its shoulders wears out with it. The of the Fourth International." work of the party's program, as the a roadakinto "third-period" Stalinism, movement is revitalized by the youth Gould then stated that all decisions and who are free of responsibil ity for the resolutions of the Youth Conference, past, •. ,Only the fresh enthusiasm and including the "Resolution on the Youth" aggressive spiritofthe youth can guar­ flow "from and are subordinated to the Karl Liebknecht, revolu­ antee the preliminary successes in the demands of the theses on The Death tionary youth leader of the struggle; only these successes can re­ Agony of Capital ism." Indeed, the capi­ Second International, fought turn the best elements of the older talisf death agony developed with such the latter's opportunism. generation to the road of revolution," rapidity and acuteness that the "youth A founder of the Spartacus­ -p, 45, Pathfinder Press edition question" was soon superceded by the bund, he was assassinated Trotsky had not forgotten the lesson "military question." The principal con­ by forces under Social­ of the collapse of the Second Interna­ cerns of working-class youth in civilian Democratic leadership in tional and the building of the Third. life under capitalism-the lack of jobs, 1919. When the leading parties of tb:! Second education and social equal ity, problems International capitulated to the national with which the "Resolution on the Youth" chauvinismofWW I, itwasthe militants were mainly concerned-were soon to primarily concentrated in the Socialist be transcended as imperial ist war gave youth and women's groups (represent­ these youth the "jobs," "education" and ing a more oppressed stratum of the "social equal ity" of the barracks. With­ "Youth Resolution" states: "It is within is the Socialist Labour League, its gang working class than the privileged labor in the context of universal militarism, the framework of the transitional pro­ in the U.S., the Workers League, and aristocracy-the most influential com­ the Trotskyists conducted themselves gramme of the Fourth International their corresponding youth groups, both ponentofthe Western European Social­ with exemplary valor, e.g., bui Iding that the present programme should be called "Young Socialist." Starting from ist parties) who carried the banner of revolutionary cells within the German developed and applied. ""youth" isnot a a radical perspective-that capitalist internationalism against the tide of na­ Army, But the objective conditions class, there is no "youth program" as productive forces can no longer grow tional chauvinism, It was these mili­ forced the FI to temporarily abandon such. The program which addresses it­ and, therefore, cap ita I i sm can no longer tants who, under the impact of the Rus­ the tasks set out in the "Resolution on self to the objective needs and special grant long-lasting reforms-they draw a sian October, provided the precious the Youth" and the struggle for a oppression of youth is part and parcel ref 0 r m i s t concluSion, i.e., that the founding cadre for the new Communi st Trotskyist youth international. of the program for proletarian power. struggle for such reforms is inherently International (CIL With the destruction "The struggle for these demands can­ revolutionary .In fact, this is simply in­ of the CI as a wor Id revolutionary par­ Rise of Pabloism not be separated from the struggle for verted social democracy-that social­ ty under the heavy blows of the fai lure After WW II, the Trotskyist move­ the demands of workers as a whole, ism can be won through piecemeal re­ of the German Revolution, the bureau­ ment, decimated by fascism and Stal in­ both employed and unemployed" ["Youth form struggles. The Transitional Pro­ cratic degeneration of the Bolshevik ism, tried to regroup and reorient it­ Resolution "]. gram, on the other hand, raises demands Revolution, the rise of fascism and the self. However, the destruction of a that flow from tlie real objective needs of impending renewal of imperialist world whole generation of Trotskyist cadre, Youth Vanguardism From the proletariat, but also prepare and war, the tasks of creating a new inter­ including Trotsky himself, left the FI the SWP to the WL mobil ize the workers for the revolution­ national were placed on the agenda. theoretically unarmed and isolated ary struggle for proletarian power. The WL's treatment of the youth Trotsky, one of the creators of the CI from the working class. The untested The various pretenders tothe ban­ question is completely opportunist: who had authored its founding manifes­ and inexperienced cadre that rose to ner of Trotskyism all reject Trot­ Ignoring the heterogeneous social com­ to, turned to the generation of young the leadership of the FI, personified by sky's class approach to the youth ques­ workers, unscarred by the defeats and position of youth, the WL calls upon Michel Pablo, were overtaken by the tion-namely, that the question of spe­ youth (all youth) to pressure union bu­ betrayals of the past. Hence, the found­ post-war pre-revolutionary upheavals cial oppress ion and needs of youth must reaucrats to build a labor party, and ing manifestoof the FI ends with a clar­ whose course their weak forces could be subordinated to and integrated into presents transitional de man d s for ion ca II to "Open the Road to the Woman not significantly influence. These cadre the revolutionary program for the work­ youth, as an undifferentiated mass, to Worker: Open the Road to the Youth:" were further disoriented by the appar­ ing class, the Transitional Program. carry out. The WL's line embodies The seriousness with which Trotsky­ ent stabilization of capitalism on the Modern Pabloism, embodied in organi­ classless youth vanguardism. The irony ists undertook this necessary histori­ one hand, and the growth of Stal ini sm zations I ike the SWP, the International of the WL's constant exhortations to cal exhortation to find the road tothe and social democracy on the other (see Marxist Group in England, the Ligue the "youth" to build a labor party, next generation of revolutionaries was "Genesis of Pabloism," Spartacist Communiste in France, and personified create general strikes, etc., is that in displayed by the fact that-though the No. 21). Pabloism meant the abandon­ by "theoreticians" like Ernest Mandel the WL's propaganda to the working founding of the FI took place under the ment of the struggle to build independ­ and "activists" like Tariq Ali, after class (e.g., in their auto program for most difficult conditions requiring ent Trotskyist parties and the liquida­ years of self-internment in reformist 1973, Bulletin, 12 February, p. 18) it careful preparation and secrecy, at a tion of Trotskyist cadre into the exist­ organizations, have recoiled from en­ often "forgets" to ment ion the labor time when the Trotskyists had meager ing Stal inist and social-democratic for­ trism and have tried, in their various party as well as other key transitional resources and were being hounded mations which were seen as playing an ways, to jump on the bandwagon of the demands like nationalization of indus­ throughout the world by the pol ice and eventual revolutionary role under the "international youth radicalization," try under workers control. Its youth agents of all wings of the bourgeoisie impact of the "objective process." The Starting from the proposition that we group, furthermore, has no interna I from the fascists to the most "demo­ corollary for Trotskyist youth was the live not in the era of capitalist decay pol itical I ife but is a front group mani­ cratic" and, with special vehemence, command that they should bury them­ but in the era of "neo-capital ism," i ,e" pulated by the WL by Stalin's secret police-nonetheless selves in the Stal inist and social-demo­ capitalist crises stabilized by state in­ The Rev 0 I uti 0 n a r y Commun i st the Founding Conference was followed cratic youth groups and wait for the tervention into the economy (e.g., debt Youth, as the youth section of the Spar­ one week later by the "World Youth "objective process" to unfold. expansion), they come to the conclusion tacist League, continues the traditions Conference of the Fourth InternationaL" Thus the "Resolution on the Youth" that therefore the "epicenter" of world of the earlyCI and FI, the traditions of Both Conferences were held in Septem­ and the prospects for a TI'otskyist revolution has shifted from the indus­ Lenin and Trotsky, that the youth sec­ ber 1938; the former was attended by you t h international were abandoned trial to the colonial countries, or from tion must be programmatically I inked 21 delegates representing 11 countries, when the FI succumbed to Pabloism, the industrial working class to more and united to the vanguard party ("po~ while the Youth Conference was attended Although many of the specific demands peripheral "sectors" of the worK force litically subordinate and organization­ by 19 delegates from 7 countries (Pol­ and slogans of the "Resolution on the such as wh ite-colla r w 0 r k e r sand ally autonomous"), that the special de­ and, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Eng­ Youth" are clearly dated, the resolu­ white-collar "apprentices" (i .e., stu­ mands which address themselves to the land, the U.S. and France). There was a tion possesses more than just histori­ dents), They see the industrial working problems of the youth must flow from considerable overlap in delegations and, cal interest. The document, especially class as hopelessly bureaucratized and the Transitional Program and must I ink in addition, the International Bureau of section 14 entitled "The Revolutionary bourgeoisified, only approachable from the struggles of youth to the struggle the FI, elected at the party Conference, Program," is a valuable reaffirmation the "peripheries" of guerrilla warfare of the proletariat for power. sent three delegates to the Youth Con­ of the programmatic criteria govern­ in the colonial countries and youth and ference. Besides adopting the "Resolu- ing youth work as Lenin, Trotsky and petty-bourgeois vanguardism in the in- -RCYN Editorial Board May-June 1973 5 rnational: "Resolution on the Youth" by means of a struggle for the control control by workers' organizations over The right to voluntary maternity; and management of the economic technical education. A 6-months' leave-of-absence for The Capitalist Impasse system, Reductian af the periad af apPrf'!n­ maternity; ticeship to a maximum of twu years. We Demand the Right to Work: Maternity grants for girl-mothers. 1) Capitalism, whether it be authori­ Forbidding of all work not connected tarian or liberal, admits the inability 4) For the young workers engaged in with the actual apprenticeship, Open the Schools and Universities to bring the slightest relief to the production the Bolshevik-Leninists put The setting up, at the expense of the misery and suffering of working-class forward s log an s with the aim of bosses, in connection with every busi­ 10) One of the necessary conditions youth. The young wanta trade, and when a) measuring the work done by the young ness or group of businesses engaged in for the progress of humanity is that (rarely enough!) it consents to give them not according to the desire to drag as manufacturing, mining, or trade, of large sections of working-class youth one, it is only to chain them the better much profit as possible out of it, but apprentice schaals, with an attendance should have access to culture and to a machine which tomorrow will stop on the contrary according to their de­ of at least 3% of the personnel employed science, The Bolshevik-Leninists put and let them starve beside the very gree of physical development; b) assur­ in the business or group of businesses. forward the following slogans: riches they have produced. The yaung ing them of a standard of living equal ChOOSing of the instructors by the Open the schools and universities want to' wark, to produce with their to that of adults, by that very fact as­ labor unions. to all the young who are willing to study, hands, to use their strength, and capi­ suring them of economic independence; Control of these schools by a mixed Free education and support for talism offers them the perspective of c) raising their technical qualifications commission of workers' delegates and workers' and far mel's' sons and unemployment or of "the execution of as far as possible; d) against the equal delegates of the apprentices them­ daughters. work in conditions other than the normal opportunity for young and old to be ex­ selves, Bread, Books, and Civil Rights conditions of production," according to plOited by capitalism, setting up their the excellent hypocritical definition of equal rights, We Demand Our Right to Live! for Cool ies! labor-camps by the League of Nations, For the young under 20, they also 11) In colonial and semi-colonial or of armament production, which en­ formulate the following demands: 7) The task of saving the unemployed countries, laboring youth is the victim genders destruction rather than im­ Redllced working week, with sched­ youth from misery, despair, and fascist of a double exploitation-capitalist and provement. The yaung want to' learn, ules allowing young workers to engage demagogy, of working them back into patriarchal, In these and in imperialist and the way to culture is barred to in sports in the open air; production and thereby binding them countries the defense of the demands of them. The young want to' live, and the At least one manth's paid vacatian closely to the workmg class is a the young colonial workers and peasants only future offered them is that of dying per year; vital task for the future of the is the first duty in the fight against im­ of hunger or of rotting on the barbed The arganizing, by fa c tar i e s· ·ar pro let a ria t. Revolutionaries must perialism. This fight is carried on wire of a new imperialist war. The groups offactaries, of training courses, struggle to force capitalism (a) to un­ around the general slogan: The same yaung want to' create a new warld, and at the bosses' expense and under dertake to work the unemployed youth rights far calanial youth as far the youth they are permitted only to maintain or workers' control; back into production through the organi­ af the imperialist caPital-city. to consolidate a rotting world that is HcJ[trs af craft training taken out af zation of technical education and guid­ Organizatian af hygiene and similar falling to pi.eces. The yaung want to the warking week, and paid for at ance; (b) to put the unemployed youth care in all villages. knaw what tamarraw will be, and capi­ regular rates; back immediately into productive acti­ Organizatian af hames for young talism's only reply to them is: "Today Application of the principle "far vity; (c) to organize such work not ac­ workers, peasants, and coolies, under you've got to tighten your belt another equal wark, equal pay, "under workers' cording to semi-military methods but the control of labor and nationalist or­ notch; tomorrow, we'll see"" In any control; on the basis of regular wages: Dawn with ganizations, case, perhaps you're not going to have The fixing of a minimum living wage labar-camps, either voluntary or oblig­ Schools for native children; teaching any tomorrow," for young workers; fixing of the wages atory!; (d) to furnish youth, which it is in the native language. of young workers under the control of throwing into misery, the wherewithal Open the government administration Give Youth a Future­ all the workers taken as a whole; to live. Hence the Bolshevik-Leninists to native language, Give the World a Future Prahibitian of night-work, af aver­ put forward the following demands: Open the government administration labarious, unhealthy, or unwhalesame Unemplayment benefits an the adult to native intellectuals, 2) That is why youth will rally under tasks; workers' control over the use scale for all young unemployed, manual Take the necessary financial credits the flag of those who bring it a future, of young labor, or intellectual, immediately upon their from the war and pOlice budgets andim­ Only the Fourth Internatianal, because finishing school; perialist privileges, it represents the historical interests of Equality for Youth in Social ForCing the big bosses to open tech­ 12) The bourgeoisie r e cog n i z e s the only class which can reorganize the Legislation-All Together nical re-education centers under work­ working youth's right to be exploited; world upon new bas e s, anly the For the Struggle: ers' control; but refuses it the right to have anything Bolshe vik-L eninists can promise youth Technical ),'e-education organized to say about that exploitation, and de­ a future in which it can put its abilities 5) In order to take the defense of according to the needs of production, prives it of all pOlitical rights; in cer­ to full use. Only they can say to the their demands into their own hands, under the general control of the trade tain countries it even forbids youth un­ youth: "Tagether with yau, we want to' the young workers should have the right unions and the congresses of workers' der 18 to have any pOlitical activity make a new warld, where everyane to choose their awn delegates, whose delegates; whatever, The working class replies to warks a nd is prowl to' wark well, to' task is above all to draw the attention Reapening af the shu t-d a wn fac­ these measures by saying: Whoever has knaw his jab dawn to' the smallest de­ of the adult delegates and of the work­ taries; the right to be exploited has also the tails; a warld where everyane will eat ers in general to youth's specific de­ Cammencement af large-scale pub­ right to struggle against the system accarding to' his hunger, for praductian mands, to tie up the struggle for these lic warks (hospitals, schools, low-cost which exploits him, Full political rights will be regulatedaccardingta the needs particular demands with the struggle housing proj ects, sports fields, stadia, to young workers and peasants! of the warkers and nat tlzase of prafit; for the general demands of the working SWimming-pools, e I e c t ric power­ The right to vote beginning at 18, just a war 1d where ane m u s t canstantly class, In the same way, in all branches stations), paid at trade-union scales and as much in legislative and municipal learn, in arder the better to' subardinate of trade-union organizations, these under workers' control from top to elections as in the election of delegates, the farces af nature to' the will af man; must be created, and imposed upon the bottom, Abolition of special laws forbidding a warld where, by ceaselessly extending trade-union bureaucracy, union youth youth to engage in political activity, the damain afthe applicatian af science, commissians, whose task shall be to For Our Brothers On the Farms! humanity's theoretic knawledge will be study the demands of the youth, and to 8) The misery of the farm youth is We Demand Our Right to dailyincreased;anewwarld; anew man recruit and educate young workers. The. no less than that of the industrial youth, Happiness! whO' can make real all the hapes and task of the Bolshevik-Leninists is to For farm youth the Bolshevik-Leninists pawers he bears within him." It is under take the lead in the organization of formulate the following general de­ 13) Working-Class youth's need for the ensign of a new world and a new such commissions, mands: relaxation is utilized by the bourgeoisie humanity that the Fourth International In order to throw trade-union doors Strict applicatian af all the abave­ either to stupefy it or to make it submit and its youth organizations must go on wide open to exploited youth, the named laws and sacial measures in the to an even tighter diSCipline, The duty of the working class is to help create a to win the working-class youth; it is Bolshevik-Leninists demand the estab­ country just as in the city; under that ensign that they will win that lishment of reduced dues for young Suppressian af the damestic explai­ youth that is strong and capable of youth. workers. tatian of young children; throwing all its physical and mental strength into the fight against capital­ The Struggle for a Future­ Particularly strict application of the We Want a Trade: prinCiple: "For equal work, equal pay." ism; to aid it in using what leisure capitalism gives it to learn to under­ The Struggle for Bread District organization of technical 6) In the fight against unemployment stand the world better, in order to be 3) The promise of a better future the slogans, raise the schaal age, or­ education at the expense of the big finance-capital farm-owners; better able to change it, Hence the would be only de mag 0 g y if the ganize apprenticeship, make sense only Bolshevik-Leninists demand: Healthy food and lodging for young Bolshevik-Leninists were not fighting to the extent that the weight of this Free access to all sports fields, for an immediate improvement in the must be borne, not by the working­ farm workers living in their bosses' houses; stadia, museums, libraries, theatres, situation of working-class youth, if they class, but by the big capitalists, Hence and Cinemas, for all young workers and Cheap credit for sma.ll-scale farm­ were not formulating youth's immediate the Bolshevik-Leninists owe it to them­ unemployed; ers, and especially for small-scale demands, if they were not spreading selves to formulate the demands of The ordering of their leisure by the farmers with family responsibilities. word of the necessity for working-class working-class youth in this field as young unemployed themselves; youth to fight by class-struggle methods follows: For Our Countryside The using of young unemployed in­ for the satisfaction of these demands, Prolangatian of the schaal age to' 16, tellectuals for the organization of lec­ and if, through this struggle and on the with a grant far family suppart in 9) The industrial and farm youth tures and diSCUSSions, etc, on physics, basis of the experience gained therein, working-class and small far mer are the most exploited part of all chemistry, mechaniCS, mathematics, they were not demonstrating to ex­ families. working-class youth. The youth organi­ political economy, history of the labor ploited youth that its demands could be Rearganizatian afthe schaal in caop­ zations of the Fourth International must movement, art, literature, etc,; finally satisfied only by establishing the eratian with the factary; the school draw particular attention to the follow­ The establishment of homes open to dictatorship of the proletariat, that the should prepare children for life and ing demands: Strict application of prin­ the working and unemployed youth, str\lggle for these demands must be work; it should weld the youth to the Ciple: "For equal work, equal pay!"; where the young will not only have the transformed into a struggle for power older generations; hence the demand for An extra day off per month; cantinued an page 6 6 Rey Newsletter

ILD often ignored legal work, roman­ Continued from page 5 Continued from page 1 ticizing the use of non-professional workers' self-defense in the courts. This foolish ultra-leftism allowed many "Resolution courageous workers, unversed in court procedure and legal jargon, to be sent on the Youth " to jail, compliments of "Communist" What Defense ... ? advice. During the Scottsboro defense, the opportunity to be amused and in­ In a period of sharp class struggle, batting the repressive apparatus of the ILD refused the support of the NAACF, structed, but can also study out for the ILD utilized all legal rights, seek­ bourgeois state through the independent another "social-fascist" outfit. Instead, themselves the social problems with ing support from professional petty­ mobilization of the proletariat. the ILD posed the "united front from which they are faced; these homes to bourgeois forces, while always empha­ below"-unity of the CP, CP front be managed by working-class youth sizing the importance of mass working­ The Pol icy of Social Fascism groups and local unions somehow un­ itself under the supervision of the local class action. It welcomed support from tainted by their" social-fascist" lead­ trade-union organizations. all quarters, but refused to politically In conjunction with the consolidation erships [see, for example, Scottsboro compromise itself in order to gain sup­ of the Stalinist bureaucracy in the Soviet Boys National Bureau Letter, No.1, The Revolutionary Program port from non-proletarian elements. Union, the world-historic defeat of the 1932, p. 4J. James P. Cannon, National Secretary of Chinese proletariat in 1927 and the in­ 14) The struggle for these demands the ILD until his expulsion from the ternal Soviet need for rapid agricul­ The "Social-Fascists" cannot be separated from the struggle CP in 1928 for Trotskyism, sum­ tural collectivization, the CI's political for the demands of workers as a whole, Become the marized this policy in writing on the line switched in 1928 to the policy of Great Defenders of Democracy both employed and unemployed. The Sacco and Vanzetti case; the "third period." The Stalinist CI final disappearance of unemployment claimed the social-democratic parties Recoiling empirically from a policy among the youth is closely linked to "Our policy is the policy of the class were more of a threat to the prole­ which had resulted in the destruction of the disappearance of general unem­ struggle. It puts the center of gravity in the protest movement of the workers tariat than ascending faSCism, label­ the German labor movement, the CI Ployment. The struggle for raising the of America and the world. It puts all ing them "social fascists" and reject­ school age and for compulsory tec/mi­ dumped" social fascism" but, in typical faith in the power of the masses and no ing joint defense against the fascist Stalinist fashion, embraced a symmet­ cal re-education is closely linked with faith whatever in the justice of the threat. This policy, which amounted to rically disastrous line having nothing in the struggle for the sliding-scale courts. While favoring all possible le­ a refusal to challenge the social-demo­ common with the Leninist policy of the in wages and in working hm{rs. The gal proceedings, it calls for agitation, cratic arch-betrayers' hegemony over publicity, demonstrations-organized united front. At the 7th vVorld Congress, struggle to drag out of capitalism the German working class, allowed those reforms which aim at develop­ protest on a national and international Georgi Dimitrov formulated the policy Hitler to rise to power without a shot of the popular front-a strategic alli­ ing the class-conscimiSness of work­ scale. It calls for unity and solidarity of being fired. "Social fascism" became ance with the social democrats and the ing youth is closely linked with the all workers on this burning issue, re­ gardless of conflicting views on other the guiding theory of the ILD, which liberal wing of the bourgeoisie to de­ struggle for workers' control of in­ questions .... The other policy is the rejected the defense of democratic dustry and factory committees. The fend bourgeois democracy against the policy of 'respectability,' ... of ridicu­ rights and united fronts because this fascist onslaught. struggle for public works is closely lous illusions about 'justice' from the would "create illusions." Breaking with linked with the fight for the expropria­ Marxists recognize that bourgeois courts of the enemy. It relies mainly on the tradition of its earlier years, the democracy is simply one form of the tion of monopolies, for the nationaliza­ legal proceedings. It seeks to blur the dictatorShip of capital, which is, how­ tion of credit, banks, and key industries. issue of the class struggle. It shrinks ever, forced to preserve some limited The struggle to smash back all efforts from the 'vulgar and noisy' demonstra­ democratic rights which are vital to the to militarize is closely linked to the tions of the militant workers and throws Just Reprintedl struggle a ga ins t the development of the mud of slander on them. It tries to self-organization of the proletariat. represent the martyrdom of Sacco and The working class thus has an interest aut h 0 r ita ria n state tendencies and Vanzetti as an 'unfortunate' error which against fa sci s m, the struggle for the YOUTH, CLASS in the defense of bourgeois-democratic can be rectified by the 'right' people rights against fascism and bonapart­ organization of workers' militias. It is proceeding in the 'right' way. The ob­ ism, but not at the expense of tying within the framework of the transition­ jective of this policy is a whitewash of AND PARTY itself politically to the bourgeoisie and a 1programme of the Fourth Internation­ the courts of Massachusetts and 'clem­ subordinating its own organizations to al that the present programme should ency' for Sacco and Vanzetti, in the form BASIC DOCUMENTS OF THE bourgeois leadership. ThUS, Marxists be developed and applied. It is under the of a commutation to life imprisonment may call for limited blocs with the ensign of the proletariat fighting for for a crime of which the world knows REVOLUTIONARY they are innocent." COMMUNIST YOUTH representatives of bourgeois democ­ power that the Fourth International will racy (e.g., the suppression of the Kor­ win the demands of exploited youth. -"Who Can Save Sacco and Vanzetti?" Labor Defender, January 1927 I, RCY Program and Perspectives nilov assault on the bourgeois Kerensky II. RCY Organizational Rules regime) but at all times seek the inde­ THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE This was the consistent policy of the CI III. Youth-Party Relations pendent mobilization of the working OF THE YOUTH OF THE FOURTH throughout its early years. The ILD class through its own organizations and never blurred the nature of the capi­ Write: RCY, Box 454, Cooper Station, INTERNATIONAL under its own slogans. These tactical talist state or bourgeois justice; its New York, N.Y. 10003 $.50 Lausanne, 11 September 1938 policy was "class against class," com- continued next page

un de r Worker-Teacher-Student Con­ demonstration to reformist demands Continued from page 3 trol," "Only the Working Class Can acceptable to the liberal bourgeoisieo Defeat Capitalist Attacks," "Fight for The Maoists and nationalists attempt Socialism. " to cover this over by claiming that they The RCY led the struggle for aprin­ do not want to alienate "the people" by Stalinists, Nationalists ••• cipled Leninist united front and in oppo­ raiSing revolutionary demands before sition to the use of the cops against "the people" are ready for themo But RCY put forward the following proposal: and the T VVC argued that only the TWC the left. The vote on the question of slo­ who are "the people" that this poliCy (1) That united-front demonstrations be demands should be permitted: "No Tui­ gans on the picket line was split and a will attract?-right-wing liberals and built around the demands: "No Tuition tion at City University"; "End Attacks motion was made to divide the house. A bourgeois politicianso The Maoists call at CUNY and SUNY," "No Cutbacks in on Open Admissions"; "Expand Open spokeswoman from the T WC then de­ the Trotskyists "leeches on the move­ Social Services" and "Open Admissions Admissions, No Cutbacks, No Tuition." clared that the T VVC had called the up­ ment" for attempting to put forw3.rd with Stipend"; (2) that all political ten­ The RCY indicated its critical sup­ coming de m 0 n s t rat ion and would communist politics; the MaOists, how­ dencies which support these demands port for a united front around these de­ "move" on any group carrying its own ever, are very happy to have bourgeois be allowed to participate and to raise mands, pointing out that the demands slogans no matter how the vote turned "leeches on the struggle" and they for­ additional demands, carry their own did not go far enough. In particular, we out. At this point, the chairman re­ mulate their politics so as to encourage banners and distribute and sell their emphasized that a united front should Signed and the RCY, along with the YSA this. own literature; (3) that the meeting con­ include the demand for open admissions and the YS, walked out. By carrying out this methodology in demn the use of the cops against work­ with a stipend for all-a demand which The actions of the Maoists and na­ the working class, the Stalinists aban­ ing-class and left tendencies as hap­ most benefits minorities, poor and tionalists violate the Marxist-Leninist don the struggle to win workers away pened at the 15 March "No Tuition" working-class students and which cuts prinCiples of workers democracy and from reformist leadership and in fact demonstration. In the discussion per­ across the class bias of the capitalist the Leninist conception of the united bolster and strengthen this leadership iod, the RCY met with frequent red­ educational system. The RCY indicated front-which provides for unity in action by limiting struggle to reformist de­ baiting attacks by the nationalists, it would partiCipate in a demonstration and freedom of political criticism-as mands and excluding working-class and egged on by the Maoists. around the T VVC deman::ls, provided it formulated by the first four Congresses communist slogans. This treacherous could carry its other demands and slo­ of the Communist InternationaL Behind class-collaborationist methodology of Maoists Propose to Police gans: "Open Admissions with Stipend," the exclusionist pOlicies is the class­ the left~center coalition has resulted Communists Themselves "N ationalization of the Universities collaborationist desire to limit the historically in the betrayal and murder o{ millions of workers, when the bour­ An uproar arose over the third part geOis "allies" of struggles for reform of the motion and a supporter of the FREE------. turn on the working class in its growing Attica Brigade offered the following militancy and attempt to smash iL amendment: "We don't think the cops The actions of the Attica Brigade, should do it; the next time this stuff "Trotskyism: The Real Inside Story" the T VVC and the VCC block the struggle happens, we should move on them our­ The struggle Elf the Left Opposition against Stalinism: proletarian to build a strong fight against budget selves." The RCY asked for clarifica­ internationalism and workers democracy vs. "socialism in one coun­ cuts. The real power for the struggle tion about what "this stuff" was, de­ try" and bureaucratism. Revolutionary Trotskyism and the CP today: against capitalist attacks lies with the manding to know if the "stuff" was the the Transitional Program, the fight for communist leadership in the working class, not with liberal students carrying of communist and working­ unions and a strategy for the proletarian seizure of state power vs. and "progressive" bourgeois elements. class slogans on the line. This turned reformism, capitulation to the union bureaucracy and class collabora­ The RCY will continue to fight for its right to support the struggle against out to be exactly the Maoists' obj ection, tion. and a sharp debate developed over the budget cuts and its right to raise the specific issue of what banners could be RCY, Box 454, Cooper Sta., New York, N.Y. 10003 communist program and strategy that carried on the line. The Attica Brigade Write: can defeat the capitalist class. _ May-June 1973 7 blocs are not a defense of the bourgeois the CP have failed to pursue a prin­ Successful government repression of the unity of the class is maintained order, but are steps on the road of Cipled united-front policy. The Pan­ such groups represents a threat to all without compromising political clarityo replacing bourgeois democracy by the thers "United Front Against Fascism" left and working-class organizations­ In recent cases in San Francisco and proletarian dictatorship. Conference in 1969 saw an amalgam of defense is not a moral question, but a New Orleans (see RCY./I,', No.15 and16), Paving the way for Communist par­ the CP, the Maoist Revolutionary Union, class question. It is necessary to have where we have bee.n denied our legal ticipation in capitalist governments (as the Revolutionary youth Movement II a Marxist comprehension of the wordS, right to function on campus, our in France and Spain), the Dimitrov pop­ (later to dissolve into the RU and Octo­ "an injury to one is an injury to all." campaigns have had a dual char­ ular-front policy, based on the needs of ber League) and the W"orkers World Groups like PL, the SWP, CP, W"L and acter: We have fought for our dem:)­ the Soviet bureaucracy, has been a cen­ Party, all enthusiastically tailing after National Caucus of Labor Committees­ cratic rights, while exposing the anti­ tral point of Stalinist theory and prac­ the Panthers" community control" pop­ which claimed to defend the Panthers communist character of the attacks tice (Soviet and Chinese alike) for the ular-front program (complete with ap-. but, at the height of the FBI-led anti­ on our rights. We formed united fronts last 35 years. propriate quotes from Dimitrov). Their Weathermen hysteria, joined in the for defense around the demand, "Re­ The Trotskyist movement upheld the enthusiasm spilled over into the streets chorus of bourgeois "public opinion" scind the Ban on RCY," and worked with united-front policy of the Third and with forcible exclusion and beating of condemning the Weathermen as "proto­ all forces in agreement with the slogan, Fourth CI Congresses-" class against members of the Spartacist League, fascists," "criminals" and "crazies"­ while maintaining our independent class." The Fourth International under­ Progressive Labor, International So­ thereby demonstrated that they are propaganda andrevolutionary program. stood that the task of communists was to cialists and the W"orkers League. more concerned about their respecta­ The united front is an imp:)rtant promote class unity against fascism, as PL for a number of years pursued a bility in the eyes of radical petty­ component part of the tactic of revolu­ part of the struggle for socialist revo­ carbon-copy replica of "third-period" bourgeois "public opinion" than in the tionary regroupment. The superiority lution. While the Stalinists sought "na­ defense tactics, rejecting united fronts elementary obligation of working-class of the revolutionary program is demon- tional unity," the Trotskyists called for workers militias formed through a united front of all proletarian organiza­ tions, and raised demands such as na­ " .~ ~ .~ tionalization of industry \.U1der workers ~'. :..~ ':: control. In this way they attempted to p prepare the working class for a suc­ cessful fight against fascism, while raising demands that pointed to the need for the working class to organize pro­ duction in its own interest. Except for the brief period of the Hitler-Stalin Pact, the CPUSA loyally supported the "anti-fascist" democracy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. During W0I II, the CP became the staunchest adherent of "national unity" in the labor t) movement. Placing itself in the right wing of the trade-union movement, it denounced all strikes as "fascist­ inspired" and proposed speed-up to strengthen the "national war drive." As a result of the CP's patriotic frenzy, defense work became virtually non­ existent; the CP ignored the l'oU:1d-up of J apanese~Americans into de ten t ion camps and the continued repression of blackso In the most import""t frame-up 01 the war years, the Smith A:;t prosecu­ tion of the leadership ot the Socialist W"orkers Party, the CP rejected the principle of 18.bor solidarity and heart­ ily enuorsed the government's prose­ cution lsee Daily Worker, 16 August Fourteen SWP members convicted of "subversion" in 1940. CPUSA provided information to assist Justice Depart­ 1941]. (The CP's treachery in abetting ment in bringing conviction. Stalinists were "rewarded" later when Smith Act was in turn used againstthem. the government in setting a precedent by the imprisonment of the 18 SNP with "revisionists," spurning the strug­ solidarity, strated by the testing in action of com­ leaders for "conspiracy to violently gle for democratic rights and using At the same time, we distinguish be­ peting political programs. The best overthrow the government" paved the political differences as an excuse to tween the self-destructive substitution­ militants who gave their allegiances to way for the virtual destruction of the avoid unconditionally defending the ism of the Weathermen, who chose as other programs and banners yesterday, CP in the McCarthy witchhunt. The Panthers and W"eathermen against rul­ the targets for their bombs the sym­ rally to the banner and program of pro­ bitter truth that "an injury to one is an ing~class repression, The NL stub­ bols of the bourgeois order, and the letarian revolution in the course of the injury to all" became clear after the bornly refused support from other left indiscriminate terror of some elements struggleo For the unity of the class, for war, when CP members were con­ tendencies in the Juan Farinas defense in the Irish Republican Army, or the communist hegemony-these were the stantly prosecuted under similar in­ campaign, and the once-Trotskyist, Japanese supporters of the Democratic goals of the united-front and defense dictments.) Abandoning the elementary now-reformist SWP limits all its de­ Popular Front for the Liberation of work of Lenin and Trotsky and the early duties of class SOlidarity, the Interna­ fense activities to civil-libertarian Palestine. When the former blows up cr, and the defense work of the early tional Red Aid was disbanded in the politics. working~class pubs in Belfast or the SNP. It is to that heritage and to those mid-forties and the CP junked the ILDo The SL/RCY unconditionally defends latter machine-guns a crowd in an goals that the RCY is committedo • The CP's "lesser-evil" strategy has the left and working-class movement Israeli airline hangar, it has crossed been maintained to this day, with Nixon from bourgeois repression and right­ the class line. Such "exemplary" ac­ RCY Local Directory substituted for Hitler as "the main wing attack, in spite of our political tions exemplify genocide, and while they may be motivated by the frus~ ATLANTA: RCY, c/o Spartacist, P.O. enemy." The task of programmatically differences with any particular victim­ Box 7686, Atlanta, Ga. 30309. "uniting all progressive forces" re­ ized group or individual. Ne have re­ trated aspirations of the oppressed, Marxists cannot possibly solidarize BALTIMORE: RCY, Box 226, Silver mains the common thread of all vari­ fused to opportunistically restrict our Springs, Md. 20907. with activities which have as their tar­ ants of Stalinism. The Stalinists use defense work to those campaigns which BERKELEY: RCY, Box 852, Main P.O., defense efforts to cement the "anti­ garnish temporary popularity and lib­ gets not the bourgeois order but sim·· Berkeley, Ca. 94701, or call (415) ply people who happen to be at the monopoly" popular front, watering down eral support in the bourgeois-press 653-4668. the thrust and program of campaigns to cocktail circuit, such as the Panther wrong place at the wrong timeo Such BOSTON: RCY, P.O. Box 137, Somer­ snare a few liberals, The CP worked and Angela Davis defense campaigns; actions may be akin to racial or re­ ville, Mass. 02144, or call (617) tirelessly to promote a respectable ligious war, but not class war. 876-6382. we have explicitly made clear our soli­ BUFFALO: RCY, Box 6, Norton Union, image for Angela Davis-cooling down darity with those less popular groups As part of our struggle for both the S.U.N.Y., Buffalo, N.Y. 14214. the emphasis on the anti-communist like the Neathermen and Venceremos, unity and the political clarity of the left CHICAGO: RCY, c/o SL, Box 6471, character of her trial, refusing to tie which, no matter how misguided their and labor movement, we are uncondi­ Main P.O., Chicago, Ill. 60680, or her defense with the less popular Ru­ actions, nonetheless are part of the lefL tionally opposed to substitution of gang­ call (312) 643-4394. chell Magee case, at one point limiting sterism for political struggle. Thus, we CLEVELAND: Cleveland WV Commit­ her defense to a call for bail, unwilling defended a BO$ton Student Mobilization tee, Box 2492, Cleveland, Ohio 44112. to take the defense into the trade-union Committee meeting on 24 May 1970 DETROIT: RCY, c/o SL, Box 663A, movement-all in an attempt to pacify from an unprovoked attack by PLo A!1d General P.O., Detroit, Mich. 48232. or call (313) 862-4920. liberals, In a recent march in Buffalo we defended PL from the SWP goons at LOS ANGELES,: RCY, Box 66403, Mar protesting the murders at Attica, the ubSEri the July 1971 National Peace Action Vista Station, Los Angeles, Ca. 90066, CP-supported coalition went so far as Coalition Conference in New York when or call (213) 467-6855. to make the major operational thrust of RCY Newsletter the S NP physically excluded PL (fol­ MILWAUKEE: RCY, c/o SL, Box 5144, the demonstration the demand for the lowed by the phYSical exclusion of the Harbor Sta., Milwaukee, Wisc. 53204. state to construct a memorial statue to $.50/VEAR SL and Revolutionary Marxist Caucus) NEW ORLEANS: RCY, c/o SL, Box the slain Attica prisoners outside the for vocal opposition to the presence of 51634, Main P.O., New Orleans, La., prison alongside the already completed bourgeois politiCian Va.'1ce Hartke. 70151. Name ______------memorial for slain prison guards! The Only militant defense campaigns NEW YORK: RCY, Box454, CooperSta., Address______New York, N.Y. 10003, or call (212) CP constantly muddles the nature ofthe based on the Leninist conception of the 925-2426. state and the capitalist political par­ City ______united front can effectively defend left SAN DIEGO: RCY, P.O. Box 22052, ties, attacking the Republican Party and working-class tendencies from State Zip ___ University City Sta., San Diego, Ca. without condemning the Democratic bourgeois attacko The slogan of the 92122. Party in the Davis case. united front is "March Separately, SAN FRANCISCO: RCY, P.O. Box Make checks payable/mail to: Strike Together," i.eo, each participant 40574, San Francisco, Ca. 94140, or The "Anti-Revi sioni st" Left RCY, Box 454, Cooper Station, in the united front, while agreeing on call (415) 863-1459. New York, N.Y. 10003 common actions, keeps its organiza~ WASHINGTON, D.C.: RCY, Box 226, The ostensible left groupings outside tional and political independenceo Thus Silver Springs, Md. 20907. 8 Rey Newsletter

ISA RESIGNATION I Rey Events] Comrades: DRV -NLF and lend no political support On Sunday 3 February, I was ex­ to NPAC or any other reformist popular -Ann Arbor cluded from a business meeting of the front. It would call for class action YSA, although I was a YSA member for rather than classless pacifist move­ FROM MAOISM TO TROTSKYISM three years. The exclusion was done in ments. Revolutionary Marxists realize Forum a most undemocratic and bureaucratic that the majority of Americans are op­ Speaker: Joseph Drummond, RCY National Committee fashion. At this meeting I had intended posed to U.So imperialist aggression in member, formerly of the Buffalo Marxist Collective to read my letter of resignation, and Indochina, but realize also that only Executive Committee. University of Michigan, 3529 because of this, I was excluded. Here conscious political action of the working Student Activities Building. Nednesday, 16 May; 7:30 PM. are the facts of the exclusion and the class rather than popular frontism can events which directly preceded it: put an end to imperialist endeavors. On Thursday, 1 February, the YSA The ultimate consequences of such a -Bay Area organizer asked me if I wished to re­ popular front is seen in the NLF pro­ sign from the YSA and I said "yes. " She gram. The recently signed "peace" COMMUNIST WORK IN THE TRADE UNIONS asked what procedure I was going to treaty in Vietnam, which calls for a Forum take and I stated that I wished to read coalition government, at best opens the To be held in May. For more information: (415) 653-4668. my letter of resignation to the local. She door to renewed civil war, and at worst told me that I could not attend the meet­ will leave the NLF open to physical an­ ing since I was a sympathizer of the RCY nihilation as the Thieu regime regroups -Buffalo and that my exclusion W3.S based on the its forces. The SWP /YSA Similarly be­ YSA Constitution. However, the YSA trays Trotskyism and the working class FOR THE REBIRTH OF THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL Constitution states that formal charges by adopting the popular front. Closs must be brought against a member in My opposition to the SWP/YSA is Sta1-' University of New York, Nor~xl Union. Room 214. order for that comrade to be dropped based on other issues as well. The Thursday, 10 May, 7:30 PM. or excluded. When I stated the above, SWP/YSA's uncritical support for the she recanted and said that she would feminist and black nationalist move­ ask the local Executi ve Committee if ments shows that these so-called Trot­ -Chicago time would be allotted for my state­ skyists base their program on bour­ ment, since I insisted on my right to geois ideologies rather than a truly attend. working-class program as embodied in Closs Series TOWARD THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION On Sunday night I went to the meet­ Trotsky's Transitional Program. The Thursday, 26 April--Student Radicalism and the New Left ing. At the door to the hall, I was told SNP/YSA implies that women, organ­ Thursday, 10 May--The EmanCipation of Women that the Exec. in its report recom­ izing as women, can break down their Thursday, 24 May--Trade Unions and the Class Struggle mended my resignation be accepted and own oppression ("sisterhood is power­ Thursday, 31 May--The Struggle for a Workers Party that no time be allotted for me to read ful "), and that blacks, regardless of my statement. The local, so I was told, class, but as a nation, can fight their University of IllinoiS Circle Center. Room to be posted. voted to support the Exec. recommen­ oppression. The SWP calls for the All classes will be held both at 12 noon and at 7:30 PM dations, and so I was excluded from the building of a black political party rather on each date indicated. meeting as a political opponent. I was than a workers party based on the trade told that if I wished to discuss the mat­ unions and with a clear anti-capitalist ter, I could come back later in the week. program, and making a clear class Forums MYTHS OF MAOIST CHINA In a truly democratic-centralist organ­ break with the Democrats and Republi­ ization, a comrade who wished to re­ cans. In the women's movement, the University of Illinois Circle Center. Room to be posted. sign would have the right to read a SWP has notcalledforawomen'sparty, Thursday, 3 May, 7:30 PM. statement of resignation to the local, but plays up to liberal Democrats such whether he was resigning for personal as Bella Abzug. ORIGINS OF MARXISM or political reasons! Revolutionary Marxists raise the Speaker: Joseph Seymour, Spartacist League Central The action of the Exec. last Sunday position that only a class-conscious Committee. University of Chicago, Reynolds Club, South proves that the bureaucratic and re­ working class, led by its vanguard, is Lounge, 5706 S. University. Wednesday, 16 May, 7:30 PM. formist SWP!YSA will go to great the key to the liberation of the oppressed lengths to avoid being exposed. I am and the elimination of racism and sex­ therefore making available to the mem­ ual oppression-through a socialist -Detroit bership of the YSA my suppressed revolution. resignation statement. These present reformist policies PROLETARIAN INTERNATIONALISM AND THE l The resignation is printed below.] are a direct result of the Pabloite de­ Closs Series generation of the SWP/YSA. This de­ TASKS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY PARTY generation made itself more than ob­ Begins Wednesday, 25 April, and meets every other Dear Comrades, vious when the S NP/YSA majorities Wednesday throughout May, June and July, at 7:30 PM. I, Scott A., have been a member of gave uncritical support to the Cuban For information on location, call (313) 862-4920. the YSA for almost three years. I served and Algerian guerrilla wars and the as the Skokie YSA organizer and was a subsequent Cuban bureaucracy. The member of the local's Executive Com­ S NP/YSA also has in theory as well as FR0M MAOISM TO TROTSKYISM mittee throughout its existenceo On the in practice abandoned the working class Forum basis of the reasons that I am about to as the class of revolutionary change. Speaker: Joseph Drummond. Wayne State University. outline, I hereby submit my resignation This is evident in their support for Room to be posted. Thursday, 17 May, 1 PMo For more to the Executive Committee and rank petty-bourgeois-led guerrilla move­ information: (313) 862-4920. and fileo ments and the call for student vanguard­ As a result of summarizing my ex­ ism, as typified by the Red UniverSity perience in the YSA and intensely re­ theory. -los Angeles evaluating the SWP/YSA pOlitical line, On the basiS of these reasons, I here­ I have found that these organizations by resign and encourage other com­ have given up their claims to being the rades to do the same. I encourage com­ Closs Series WOMEN'S LIBERATION AND THE CLASS revolutionary vanguard in this country. rades to look to the Spartacist League STRUGGLE Their formal statements about being and Revolutionary Communist Youth, University of California at Los Angeles, Ackerman Union. the Marxist-Leninist (i.e., Trotskyist) for, since 1963, the SL has been the Room 3564. Every Wednesday throughout May, at 7 :00 PM. leadership in the U.S. are negated in most conSistent, prinCipled opposition their p r act ice. I will cite some to the SWP/YSA and other reformist examples. and rev is ion i s t tendencies in the Forum FROM MAOISM TO TROTSKYISM The S WP /YSA have claimed to be the working-class movement. I declare my Speaker: John Fisher, RCY, formerly ofthe Buffalo Marx­ most conscientious builders of the anti­ political solidarity with the SL/RCY and ist Collective. UniverSity of California at Los Angeles, war movement (NPAC). But in order to encourage com r ad e s who wish to Ackerman Union. Room 3564. Tuesday, 8 May, 8:00PM. become the major builder, they have remain sincere revolutionaries to do For more information: (213) 467 -6855. decided in theory and practice to build the same. a popular front. The SWP/YSA has con­ For a Workers Revolution! stantly raised only the reformist de­ Scott A. 3 February 1973 mands "Out Now" and "Bring the Troops -New Haven Home Now" since 1965. They have built up a "non-exclusionist" anti-war or­ Documents Forum BUILDING A REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH MOVEMENT ganization. But what exactly does "non­ --Lessons of the Past and Perspectives for the Future exclusionist" mean? The SWP/YSA 01 the front groups NPAC and SMC were built Speaker: Libby Schaefer, RCY National Secretary, Sparta­ as mass anti-war organizations which, Sullolo Morxist Collective cist League Central Committee. Yale UniverSity, 115 however, transcend all classes. This William L. Harkness Building. Tuesday, 1 May, 7:30 PM. gives them the opportunity to win over Includes: 501 liberal members of the bourgeoisie like BMC Programmatic Document - Vance Hartke and labor bureaucrats - New York like Victor Reuther. How can so-called ABrief Political History of the BMC Why We Didn't Join the WL/YS Trotskyists build a movement which Closs Series HISTORY OF THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL transcends all classes and rubs shoul­ Write: ders with enemies of the working class? To begin in mid-May. For more information: (212) This is out-and-out popular frontism! Rey, Box 454, 925-2426. A real Trotskyist organization would Cooper Sta., New York, N.Y.l0003 call for clear military support to the

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