Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf
Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf
Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf
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DEMOCRACY<br />
statements like, "We speak for all youth when we say: Spain's fight is ours – it is the fight<br />
of humanity against tyranny – the fight of freedom against those who seek to destroy<br />
it." 232 A Challenge article stated that in order to prevent the betrayal of "Britain’s people<br />
and democracy" that everyone needed to be set "into action for peace, for democracy, for<br />
Spain and for the British people!" 233 Articles in the World <strong>Youth</strong> Review linked the<br />
future of Spain with the future of youth worldwide. One article commented that a<br />
growing "realisation among young people that fascism can bring only ruin and despair"<br />
led youth to recognize "that its destiny is intimately linked with that of young Spain." 234<br />
YCI rhetoric praised the resistance of the Spanish youth. The YCI posited to the Spanish<br />
youth that young people worldwide had "become conscious of their allegiance to democracy<br />
mainly because of the struggle which you have put up." 235 The Spanish JSU made<br />
similar associational pleas to world youth. Santiago Carrillo insisted, "Your future, like<br />
ours, is being decided on the battle fields of Spain; if you do your duty as Spanish young<br />
people are doing theirs… to save the peace and independence of all democratic nations…<br />
fascism will soon be crushed." 236 For communist youth, the anti-fascist struggles of Spain<br />
and its youth served as an international inspiration at the heart of their pro-democracy<br />
rhetoric.<br />
To aid Spanish democracy, the British and American YCLs participated in fundraising<br />
and material support campaigns. YCLGB activities in support of Spain were a central<br />
feature of its Popular Front program. Within days of Franco's revolt in 1936, the British<br />
left and anti-fascist youth swung into action in support of Spanish democracy, organizing<br />
not just political demonstrations, but practical aid and assistance. In areas like London,<br />
national committees were immediately formed to send medical aid to "relieve the suffering<br />
in Spain" and to "assist the Spanish Democrats against fascist aggression." 237 Challenge<br />
headlines urged youth to pressure the National Government into lifting the arms<br />
embargo against Spain. Challenge headlines like "Every Gun in Spain Defends Us in<br />
Britain" made the point that Spanish anti-fascists were helping to protect both British and<br />
Spanish democracy and were essential to defeating dictatorship. (See Appendix) 238<br />
In the beginning of 1937 the British YCL, in association with other youth, sent three<br />
food-ships to Spain in opposition to National Government policy and a naval blockade of<br />
Spain. The YCL characterized this work as "the greatest work the British YCL has ever<br />
done in its history," work that reflected the true democratic "feeling and spirit of the<br />
people." 239 The YCLGB also coordinated their efforts with French youth, giving up<br />
"cinemas, chocolates and other luxuries, and sending the equivalent to the fund" to aid<br />
Spanish democracy. 240 One article in the beginning of 1939 stated that in a period of less<br />
than 2 months that British youth had independently collected and sent almost £5000 in<br />
aid to Spain. 241 Outside of food, medical and financial aid, the YCL also sponsored<br />
knitting competitions and encouraged young women to adopt Spanish children who had<br />
become refugees in the war through the activities of the Save the Children Clubs. 242<br />
125