Twin Cities, MN – Across the country, branches of Socialist Alternative are initiating high school campaigns against military recruitment. We began last fall in the Twin Cities, when several high school Socialist Alternative members launched Youth Against War and Racism (YAWR) at Kennedy High, setting up counter-recruitment tables whenever recruiters stepped foot in their school.

After winning an important free speech victory against their administration’s attempt to shut down their tabling activity, YAWR at Kennedy has grown to around 30 active members. Already, recruiters barely show up at Kennedy anymore. Since February, YAWR has established a presence in over ten area schools, and next fall will launch a campaign to “demilitarize” all Twin Cities high schools.

Tacoma, WA – In Tacoma, members of Socialist Alternative launched a counter-recruitment campaign in January 2005. Working with individuals from other peace groups, we helped launch a city-wide counter-recruitment coalition. We also launched Students Against the Draft and War to build counter-recruitment campaigns in high schools.

Tacoma, a major military town, is particularly impacted by the war, with Junior ROTCs in every high school. There is strong support for the campaign among students at Foss High, who have begun to organize a group in the school. We are looking to expand the campaign to other schools as opportunities arise.

Seattle, WA – In Seattle, Socialist Alternative initiated chapters of Youth Against War and Racism at Franklin High and at the University of Washington. Franklin High is in a working-class neighborhood in south Seattle, and most students are black, Latino, or Asian.

Up to now, the anti-war movement has been dominated by more middle-class layers of U.S. society. But as anti-war activism expands into high schools, working-class youth could emerge at the forefront, shifting the political balance within the broader movement toward more radical and far-reaching demands.