Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf

THE POPULAR FRONT GENERATION
erful in the world, embracing five million members.... This movement has a big future
before it. In every locality the British Youth Organisations can get together on the
broadest front yet seen in England, for Peace. There must be no attempt to impose on
this genuine movement of the young generation in Britain, forms of demonstration not in
keeping with their ideas and habits.... The National Peace Day and the work leading to it
can be a combination of the most varied youth activity appealing to all sections of the
youth... the sum total being the greatest demonstration of Britain's youth for Peace ever
yet seen. 87
Gollan insisted future political activities needed to be broad and inclusive in tactics and
objectives so all youth would feel encouraged to take part in the movement. The YCL
National Council argued the YCL needed to be transformed into a broad "mobilising
centre for youth" where recruits were told it was "sufficient for them to be anti-Hitler" to
gain YCL membership. 88
The YCL perceived Hitler as the greatest threat to the future and security of British
youth. The extolled that British youth needed to target the pro-fascist policies of the
National Government to combat fascism domestically and internationally. Such logic
insisted "that the Blackshirts are allied with the National Government, and that the fight
against Fascism must be directed at both." 89 The Popular Front Generation sought to
mobilize all segments of youth against these common enemies.
The YCLUSA faced a very different national political climate. The American fascist
movement expressed itself in "patriotic" forms in opposition to the Roosevelt administration.
Due to this dynamic and the New Deal, the YCL forged a close bond with the
Roosevelt administration. 90 American communists had initially attacked Roosevelt's New
Deal as fascistic. 91 While the British National Government became a symbol of resentment
for not assertively tackling unemployment, over time the Roosevelt administration
increasingly became identified as a radical, progressive and popular force for tackling
economic recovery through the New Deal. 92
In 1934 the American left increasingly came to identify with the New Deal as it came
under attack by reactionary elements. 93 Roosevelt began to court alliances in progressive
circles while significantly expanding federal aid to New Deal programs. In July, 1935
Roosevelt garnished further support from the American left after the Wagner Act granted
labor unions federal recognition and legal protection to organize. Roosevelt also established
other agencies like the National Youth Administration that offered federal aid to
students and economic relief to unemployed youth. Eleanor Roosevelt expressed particular
concern for improving the conditions of youth and sought active alliances with young
American radicals. 94 The YCLUSA increasingly perceived Roosevelt's New Deal
administration as a vital ally of youth in improving domestic conditions and opposing
international fascism.
Prior to the Popular Front, anti-fascism was not a distinct part of the YCL's political
program, but was simply one aspect of their militant political culture. The Young Worker
dealt primarily with homelessness, unemployment, the Scottsboro Boys, forced labor
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