Pride and Politics:
Youth and Student Movement
Today’s global order is the rule of the almighty dollar. Powered by fierce inequality and blatant exploitation, the multinational corporations make billions of dollars in profits while reaping the earth’s resources and people on the alter of the "global market."
The youth of America, in every area, are systematically downgraded and excluded from decision making. Politicians use us as public relations tools – posing for pictures with young people, lamenting the state of our schools and communities and the "lost generation." While at the same time they promote anti-youth stereotypes and policies. We refuse to let our voices be silenced.
Therefore, the Young Communist League USA presents this Bill of Rights for discussion and action. We invite all people and organizations who agree to fight for these standards for youth rights, and unite a broad movement to demand a better future.
The right to a job at a liveable wage with dignity, union protections,
and affirmative action.
Equal pay for equal work. Pay-check to pay-check unemployment compensation, including for first-time job seekers. A six-hour workday with no cut in total pay and double the minimum wage. Put out of business companies that rely on child labor and sweatshop working conditions.
The right to free, quality education from nursery to university.
This includes multicultural, multilingual curricula. Non-racist and non-sexist education must be guaranteed. Free breakfast and lunch programs for all schools. Stipends for full-time college students.
The right to full equality regardless of race, nationality, sex,
religion or sexual orientation.
Special measures must be taken to overcome past and present discrimination against African Americans, Latinos, other racially and nationally oppressed peoples and women. Full funding to rebuild the neighborhoods in these communities. Federal laws with goals and timetables to desegragate housing and schools. Affirmative action with goals and timetables for jobs and education. Equal rights for immigrants.
The right to quality, affordable housing.
Every person and family must be guaranteed a home that fits their needs. Massive federal funding for building, renovating and maintaining public housing. Federal rent control laws for privately owned buildings.
The right to free, quality health-care.
Create a national health-care system for universal access to medical care from birth to old age. This includes HIV and AIDS care, birth control and abortion, prenatal care, prescriptions, eye and dental care, and all other medical necessities. Cut the insurance company profiteers out of the equation so no one can be turned away from any hospital because of lack of insurance. There must be equal levels of care and resources at all hospitals and clinics in all neighborhoods.
The right to publicly-controlled media and press.
Create real public media and press to promote a serious alternative to monopoly corporate media. Guaranteed media access for young people to get their voices heard and have positive educational and entertaining programs for young people without the influence of advertizers. Ban ads targeting children.
The right to recreation, arts, cultural and sports activities.
The city, state, and federal governments can build and rebuild community, state and national parks and forests. Youth centers and parks for every community and full access to pools, fields and other sports and recreational activities. Regular community and city-wide concerts, dances and theatre to put young musicians, writers, actors and other artists to work and provide affordable cultural enjoyment for our communities.
The right to live in environmentally safe communities.
Make corporations pay the billions of dollars needed to clean up the toxic and hazardous waste sites that they created. Reinstate full protections on our natural resources, our air, water, land. Stop corporate exploitation of our environment.
The right to live in crime-free and drug-free communities.
Civilian review boards with full disciplinary power should be set up in every community to protect against police brutality and law enforcement corruption; these boards must have the power to dismiss corrupt officials and abusive cops. Create a more just criminal justice system that promotes alternatives to incarceration, such as drug, alcohol, and psychological treatment. Dismantle the CIA as a corrupt and anti-democratic tool for corporate interests which has been heavily linked to drug-trafficking operations.
the right to live in peace with the people of the world.
Nuclear disarmament and an end to all weapons of mass destruction. Massive cutbacks in military spending and halt all arms exporting. Retool military production for civilian production; we want a peace dividend.
The right to full constitutional protection in the schools.
High school students’ Constitutional rights have been limited in the areas of privacy rights, search and seizure and disciplinary procedures, freedom of speech, and others. Suspensions and expulsions should be a last resort subject to review and veto by a community/parent/student/teacher review board. Alternate programs should be fully funded such as counselling, job training, and conflict resolution. Halt all unequal punishment in schools.
the right to youth representation in all public entities.
Government bodies should be made up of trade unionists, workers, community leaders, students, and young people. The racial composition of their bodies should reflect our multiracial, multinational population. Women and men should be represented equally in such structures. Youth should have the right to vote on issues that affect their lives.
To reach the goals set in our Youth and Student Bill of Rights, we
must unite and work together, learning from the past and working
towards making a great future for not just the privileged few, but for
all. In order for humanity to survive and progress, we need unity,
organization, and struggle.
The capitalist system of universal greed and the cold logic of the marketplace have failed the vast majority of people of our nation and the world. We must unite to fight against the worst symptoms of this system today and struggle to change the system at the root tomorrow.
on September 1, 1998
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