Young People's Socialist League
Encyclopedia
The Young People's Socialist League (YPSL), founded in 1989, is the official youth arm of the Socialist Party USA
. The group's membership consists of those democratic socialists
under the age of 30, and its political activities tend to concentrate on increasing the voter turnout of young democratic socialists and affecting the issues impacting that demographic group.
and Charles S. Zimmerman (of the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union, ILGWU), and by the First National Vice Chairman, James S. Glaser; these three were re-elected by acclamation
.
Renaming the Party as SDUSA was meant to be "realistic". The New York Times
observed that the Socialist Party had last sponsored a candidate for President
in 1956, who received only 2,121 votes, which were cast in only 6 states. Because the Party no longer sponsored candidates in Presidential Elections, the name "Party" had been "misleading"; "Party" had hindered the recruiting of activists who participated in the Democratic Party, according the majority report. The name "Socialist" was replaced by "Social Democrats
" because many American associated the word "socialism
" with Soviet communism. Also, the Party wished to distinguish itself from two small Marxist parties.
The convention voted on and adopted proposals for its program by a two-one vote, with the majority caucus winning every vote. A Vice Chairman of the Young People's Socialist League (YPSL), Carl Gershman
introduced the international program that was approved. It called for "firmness toward Communist aggression". However, on the Vietnam War, the program opposed "any efforts to bomb Hanoi into submission" and to work for a peace agreement that would protect Communist political cadres in South Vietnam from further military or police reprisals. Harrington's proposal for an immediate cease fire and an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces was defeated. Harrington complained that, after its previous convention, the Socialist Party had endorsed George McGovern
with a statement of "constructive criticism" and had not mobilized enough support for McGovern.
After their defeat at the Convention, some members of the minority caucuses left: at most 200 members of the Coalition Caucus led by Michael Harrington
went on to form the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee
(later becoming the Democratic Socialists of America
), some former members of the Debs Caucus led the formation of the "Socialist Party of the United States of America".
, Tom Kahn
, SDUSA Executive Director Carl Gershman
, professors Seymour Martin Lipset
and Robert Scalapino, and representatives of the A. Philip Randolph Institute
and the American Federation of Teachers
.
At the 2011 National Convention, the motion to revive the YPSL was passed. As stated in the National Convention Pre-Convention Discussion Bulletin, "Having a youth affiliation will help the SPUSA tap into the radicalization of youth around the country. Locals around the country are already involved in several campus issues from rising tuition, loan debt, jobs, and many other issues.The SPUSA and YPSL combination will help revitalize the party, and tap into an abundant source of Socialist energy and spirit."
However, "It is understood that the SPUSA cannot, and will not form YPSL on it's own. It will be up those YPSL members themselves to do so. The SPUSA will only help support the re-founding with funds, organizing, and other skills as are available."
American use of the "Three Arrows" logo originated in the fall of 1933 with the organization of a uniformed "Socialist Vanguard" in New York City, in which about 40 squads of eight members, each squad headed by a "captain" were formed. The Vanguard wore distinctive royal blue shirts and bore a new organizational logo, which was described in the official monthly newspaper of the YPSL:
In the German context, the "Three Arrows" logo was a socialist symbol designed by Sergei Tschachotin, former assistant to the physiologist Ivan Pavlov
in 1931. The circular logo was designed so as to be able to easily cover Nazi swastikas.
The three arrows originally stood for the German socialist movement's opposition to three enemies of democracy: communism
, monarchism
, and fascism
(in Germany: Nazism).
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
. The group's membership consists of those democratic socialists
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
under the age of 30, and its political activities tend to concentrate on increasing the voter turnout of young democratic socialists and affecting the issues impacting that demographic group.
Socialist Party of America renamed as Social Democrats, USA
In its 1972 Convention, the Socialist Party changed its name to "Social Democrats, USA" by a vote of 73 to 34. The change of name was supported by the two Co-Chairmen, Bayard RustinBayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin was an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, pacifism and non-violence, and gay rights.In the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation , Rustin practiced nonviolence...
and Charles S. Zimmerman (of the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union, ILGWU), and by the First National Vice Chairman, James S. Glaser; these three were re-elected by acclamation
Acclamation
An acclamation, in its most common sense, is a form of election that does not use a ballot. "Acclamation" or "acclamatio" can also signify a kind of ritual greeting and expression of approval in certain social contexts in ancient Rome.-Voting:...
.
Renaming the Party as SDUSA was meant to be "realistic". The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
observed that the Socialist Party had last sponsored a candidate for President
Darlington Hoopes
Darlington Hoopes was the candidate of the Socialist Party of America for President of the United States in the 1952 and 1956 presidential elections.-Early years:...
in 1956, who received only 2,121 votes, which were cast in only 6 states. Because the Party no longer sponsored candidates in Presidential Elections, the name "Party" had been "misleading"; "Party" had hindered the recruiting of activists who participated in the Democratic Party, according the majority report. The name "Socialist" was replaced by "Social Democrats
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
" because many American associated the word "socialism
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
" with Soviet communism. Also, the Party wished to distinguish itself from two small Marxist parties.
National convention of 1972
The Convention elected a national committee of 33 members, with 22 seats for the majority caucus, 8 seats for Harrington's coalition caucus, 2 for the Debs caucus, and one for the "independent" Samuel H. Friedman, who also had opposed the name change.The convention voted on and adopted proposals for its program by a two-one vote, with the majority caucus winning every vote. A Vice Chairman of the Young People's Socialist League (YPSL), Carl Gershman
Carl Gershman
Carl Gershman has been the President of the National Endowment for Democracy since its 1984 founding. He had served as the U.S...
introduced the international program that was approved. It called for "firmness toward Communist aggression". However, on the Vietnam War, the program opposed "any efforts to bomb Hanoi into submission" and to work for a peace agreement that would protect Communist political cadres in South Vietnam from further military or police reprisals. Harrington's proposal for an immediate cease fire and an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces was defeated. Harrington complained that, after its previous convention, the Socialist Party had endorsed George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
with a statement of "constructive criticism" and had not mobilized enough support for McGovern.
After their defeat at the Convention, some members of the minority caucuses left: at most 200 members of the Coalition Caucus led by Michael Harrington
Michael Harrington
Edward Michael "Mike" Harrington was an American democratic socialist, writer, political activist, professor of political science, radio commentator and founder of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Personal life:...
went on to form the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee
Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee
The Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee was founded in 1973 by Michael Harrington, who led a minority caucus in the Socialist Party. Harrington's caucus supported George McGovern's his call for a cease-fire and immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam...
(later becoming the Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America
Democratic Socialists of America is a social-democratic organization in the United States and the U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International, an international federation of social-democratic,democratic socialist and labor political parties and organizations.DSA was formed in 1982 by a merger of...
), some former members of the Debs Caucus led the formation of the "Socialist Party of the United States of America".
National convention of 1974
The official YPSL continued its existence as the youth section of Social Democrats, USA. The group held a six day long "National School" in conjunction with its 1974 Convention, held from December 26 to 31 at Malibu, California. A bevy of prominent speakers addressed the gathering, which was coordinated by National Secretary Paul Landsbergis, with lecturers including Sidney HookSidney Hook
Sidney Hook was an American pragmatic philosopher known for his contributions to public debates.A student of John Dewey, Hook continued to examine the philosophy of history, of education, politics, and of ethics. After embracing Marxism in his youth, Hook was known for his criticisms of...
, Tom Kahn
Tom Kahn
Tom David Kahn was an American social democrat known for his leadership in other organizations. He was an activist and influential strategist in the African-American civil-rights movement. He was a senior adviser and leader in the U.S. labor movement.Kahn was raised in New York City. At...
, SDUSA Executive Director Carl Gershman
Carl Gershman
Carl Gershman has been the President of the National Endowment for Democracy since its 1984 founding. He had served as the U.S...
, professors Seymour Martin Lipset
Seymour Martin Lipset
Seymour Martin Lipset was an American political sociologist, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, and the Hazel Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University. His major work was in the fields of political sociology, trade union organization, social stratification, public opinion, and...
and Robert Scalapino, and representatives of the A. Philip Randolph Institute
A. Philip Randolph Institute
The A. Philip Randolph Institute is an organization for African American trade unionists.-History:Following passage of the Voting Rights Act, APRI was co-founded in 1965 by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin...
and the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
.
Socialist Party USA reformation, dissolution, and reorganization
In 1989, the Socialist Party USA relaunched the YPSL as the official youth arm of the Party. In 2010, the YPSL was dissolved and its members were absorbed into the SPUSA.At the 2011 National Convention, the motion to revive the YPSL was passed. As stated in the National Convention Pre-Convention Discussion Bulletin, "Having a youth affiliation will help the SPUSA tap into the radicalization of youth around the country. Locals around the country are already involved in several campus issues from rising tuition, loan debt, jobs, and many other issues.The SPUSA and YPSL combination will help revitalize the party, and tap into an abundant source of Socialist energy and spirit."
However, "It is understood that the SPUSA cannot, and will not form YPSL on it's own. It will be up those YPSL members themselves to do so. The SPUSA will only help support the re-founding with funds, organizing, and other skills as are available."
Organizational logo
YPSL's traditional symbol is the "Three Arrows," which has been interpreted differently over the course of the emblem's existence. The arrows are today meant to symbolize the three ways in which humanity works for a better society. They are:- Education - YPSL publishes pamphlets and magazines and holds educational forum meetings
- Direct Action - YPSL engages in protests, non-violent demonstrations and engages in strike support
- Elections - Through its parent organization, the Socialist Party USA, YPSL supports candidates for public office
American use of the "Three Arrows" logo originated in the fall of 1933 with the organization of a uniformed "Socialist Vanguard" in New York City, in which about 40 squads of eight members, each squad headed by a "captain" were formed. The Vanguard wore distinctive royal blue shirts and bore a new organizational logo, which was described in the official monthly newspaper of the YPSL:
"Three arrows enclosed in a circle is the emblem of the Vanguard, borrowed from the now-destroyed Iron FrontIron FrontThe Iron Front was an anti-Nazi, anti-monarchist, and anti-Stalinist paramilitary organization formed in Germany on 16 December 1931 by the Social Democratic Party with the Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, the Reichsbanner and workers' sport clubs originally to counter the right-wing...
in Germany. The arrows stand for the slogan of the Young People's Socialist League: 'Organization, education, solidarity.'"
In the German context, the "Three Arrows" logo was a socialist symbol designed by Sergei Tschachotin, former assistant to the physiologist Ivan Pavlov
Ivan Pavlov
Ivan Petrovich Pavlov was a famous Russian physiologist. Although he made significant contributions to psychology, he was not in fact a psychologist himself but was a mathematician and actually had strong distaste for the field....
in 1931. The circular logo was designed so as to be able to easily cover Nazi swastikas.
The three arrows originally stood for the German socialist movement's opposition to three enemies of democracy: communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, monarchism
Monarchism
Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy as a form of government in a nation. A monarchist is an individual who supports this form of government out of principle, independent from the person, the Monarch.In this system, the Monarch may be the...
, and fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
(in Germany: Nazism).