The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization for Union veterans of the Civil War. In May 1868, the GAR issued General Order No. 11, designating May 30th of each year as Decoration Day. Members of the GAR were ordered to visit the graves of their fallen comrades and decorate them with “the choicest flowers of spring-time” and “the dear old flag they saved.”

It wasn’t until after World War II that Decoration Day became known more commonly as Memorial Day. And it wasn’t until Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968 that the observance of Memorial Day was moved from May 30th to the last Monday in May as it is now. In fact, there is a movement underway by veterans’ groups to return Memorial Day to its traditional May 30th observance. That link will take you to an online petition calling for passage of a bill restoring Memorial Day to May 30th, which if you click it you’ll see lots of signatures from today. Proving, I guess, that politics never takes a rest.

Young Democrats and indeed Americans of all political stripe will I hope reflect on the history of this holiday, a holiday that started as a day for decorating the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War, to help us all remember that today is not about cookouts or hanging out at the beach or even just a holiday to mark the beginning of summer. It is a holiday that has a very noble purpose: remembering those servicemembers who gave their lives so we could enjoy all of those other things, every day of  the year. On behalf of Young Democrats everywhere, thank you to all veterans for your service to our country.

Nick DeCenzo

Communications Director

Young Democrats of America.

Article 1 of the Convention states its’ purpose is to “promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity”.

Among others, the rights of people with disabilities described in the Convention include:
• Education
• Health
• Personal mobility
• Living independently
• Equality and non-discrimination
• The right to accessible public transportation
• Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sports
• Access to Law, Liberty, Security of Persons
• Freedom from Torture or Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

In 2009, President Obama signed the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In order for the United States’ participation in the Convention to become official, it must be approved by the U.S. Senate. On Thursday, May 17, the Convention was finally sent to the Senate for its approval. By approving the Convention, the United States would join more than 140 countries in committing themselves to protecting and defending the rights of people with disabilities by passing laws and regulations to improve their quality of life, and repealing any laws that might lead
to discrimination.

In 2011 the World Health Organization released a report identifying over 1 Billion people around the world that have a disability. With this knowledge,as Young Democrats, but more importantly as human beings, we must act to make sure our nation joins these 140 counties in protecting, defending, and promoting disability rights!

You can read the report at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789240685215_eng.pdf

If you believe in joining the worldwide fight for disability rights, please contact your U.S. senator and tell them to vote to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This was June 2011. In the eleven months since, Republican controlled state legislatures have stripped funding from Planned Parenthood and passed laws requiring invasive ultrasounds for women seeking abortions. In the Senate, they fought against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. The House is currently considering imposing a ban on abortion after 20 weeks on the District of Columbia—which doesn’t have a voting member of Congress. So we, as young women, should have our marching shoes ready.

But we don’t. The Washington Post recently reported that internal research at NARAL revealed that young women who support abortion rights aren’t as active or as passionate about the issue. This research prompted NARAL President Nancy Keenan , who is 60, to announce she will resign at the end of the year in favor of a new, younger leader, someone who can counter the “intensity gap” between baby boomer women and millennial women. There are probably several reasons why millennials aren’t as intense as their predecessors, but complacency is a good place to start. We’re a generation that grew up post Roe v. Wade, post Griswold v. Connecticut. We don’t remember what it was like when women  couldn’t control their own lives and destinies. Access to contraception and a full range of reproductive care is not a privilege to us, it’s a right we take for granted.

But we can’t. If the past two years  have taught us anything, it’s that young women need to step up and fight for our rights.  Joining YDA is a great first step. We need more young women in leadership roles to lead the charge.  So get your marching shoes out and get ready–this is our fight now.

Jillian Cardillo

YDA Women’s Caucus Chair

President Obama spoke Tuesday, April 24 to a packed auditorium on the University of Colorado
Boulder campus, his message clear: We cannot price the middle class out of a college education.

The unventilated auditorium was hot and muggy, but this did not deter students from their
opportunity to hear the President speak. Obama was over an hour late after making a pit stop at a
local favorite pizzeria, The Sink. He looked road-weary and drained as he took the stage, but the
moment Obama stepped up to the podium, the entire audience sprang to their feet in applause.

“Hello, Boulder! How’s it going, Buffaloes?”

This speech was no typical campaign-trail talk, but rather a policy speech on student loans and
higher education. President Obama reminded us that earning a college degree in an investment
not only in oneself, but also in the future of our country. Since long before the GI Bill, a college
education has remained the best-laid path to the middle class for millions of low-income
Americans. Yet the hurdles are growing higher and higher as students graduate with more debt
and now face a doubling of interest rates that could happen this July. This doubling of interest
rates would basically be a $1,000 tax hike for more than 7 million students across America.

Obama joked, “Now, I just want to see a show of hands because I want to make sure I’m not
misinformed here. How many of you can afford to pay an extra $1,000 right now? I didn’t think
so.”

President Obama trumpeted a call to action for Congress to end the political games and help
students across the country. Though he acknowledged this investment in America should
transcend partisan politics, Republicans have taken a different approach with members of
Congress such as Denny Rehberg from Montana calling Pell Grants “the welfare of the 21st
century.” While both Republicans and Democrats have publicly supported the one-year
extension on lower interest rates, they have divided over how to pay for it.

Sadly, Senators apparently do not subscribe to Twitter. Although President Obama called on
college students in the audience, and across America, to tweet in support of extending the lower
interest rate on federal Stafford loans using the hashtag #dontdoublemyrate, the measure failed
this week. Unless Congress acts quickly, millions of low- and middle-income students will be
disenfranchised and will face burdensome obstacles to achieving the American dream.

Students nationwide are extremely disappointed in Congress’ failure to put aside party lines and
work to achieve a bipartisan solution, and that’s why we stand with YDA’s Executive Director,
Emily Tisch Sussman, in calling on Congress to immediately help struggling students and develop a
solution in the best interest of our future: http://www.yda.org/yda-statement-on-failure-of-
student-loan-interest-rate-bill.

#dontdoublemyrate

Sincerely,

Dustin Hausner

YDA Disability Caucus Chair

“Young Democrats all over the country are elated to hear President Obama fully endorse marriage between two people who love each other regardless of their sexual orientation. As a generation, young people know that love is love, and the law should reflect that. Young people coalesced around President Obama because we knew that he saw us as individuals who all deserve the same rights. Today, he has solidified that notion.

The Young Democrats of America is proud of our role in championing full marriage equality for many years. YDA state affiliates have been leaders in many state amendment fights such as Prop 8 in California, and North Carolina, yesterday. As a national organization, YDA recently called on the Democratic party to include marriage equality in the platform. We have faith that the country is moving in the right direction toward inclusion and that President Obama will lead us.”

Press inquires can be made at office@yda.org

“The Young Democrats of America join the thousands of North Carolinians, led by the North
Carolina Young Democrats, and millions of Americans, in our profound sadness that once again
hate has found a place in a state constitution.

Since our founding, America has been strongest when it has led with the conviction that, for
whatever our personal prejudices, the rights of law abiding citizens should not be restricted
by the constitution, but rather protected by it. It seems that Republicans believe it is sound
conservative politics and policy to protect the rights they agree with while perverting state
constitutions to disenfranchise those they find disagreement with. This strategy is not only
divisive, but weakens America by weakening our strongest founding principles of liberty and
justice for all.

While saddened by this outcome, we are proud of the leadership of the North Carolina Young
Democrats by fighting for equality and for remaining on the right side of history. Their leadership
should give all hope that in the not too distant future, North Carolina will have a generation of
leaders who will correct this grave injustice and lead their state with integrity and fidelity to the
intent of the US Constitution.

The Young Democrats of America will continue to press within our own party for the inclusion
of equality in our party platform and look forward to working with leaders throughout the
Democratic party to move America forward by standing by the constitution not manipulating and
dismantling it for political and hateful purposes as has unfortunately become all too common in
this Republican-Tea Party era.”

“YDA is disappointed with the failure of the Student Loan bill in the Senate today. With the rate for Stafford Loans doubling on July 1, time is running out for Congress to do the right thing and keep loans affordable for young people. An increase to 6.8% on loans would create a huge burden on young people who are trying to create a better future for themselves, their families, and America. YDA is proud to stand with President Obama and Majority Leaders Harry Reid in a continued call for Congress to find a solution that is in the best interested of our future. “

“Tonight’s video conference via Adobe Chat was phenomenal in the sense that we were able to visually talk to President Obama’s top Hispanic campaign advisors; I think this kind of accessibility of young Hispanics with top DNC advisors says alot about this campaign and our President. Make no mistake, young Hispanics across the nation are ready to send a strong message on the campaign trail, and that is , Republicans have turned their backs on our community’s needs and now is our moment to fight back, ” said Phillip Arroyo, Chairman of the YDA Hispanic Caucus, and who is also President of the Puerto Rico Young Democrats.

“ I committed myself to campaigning for then-Senator Barack Obama in January of 2008 in a small meeting space in Inglewood, CA. I remember the energy in the room, the sense of duty that every single person in that room felt to our country, and the understanding that Barack Obama had to win that election. I felt that very same energy tonight and it was with young Latino leaders at Harvard University who were listening intently to the message of hope and change that President Barack Obama has championed in the White House, ” expressed Harvard Young Democrats President Adan Acevedo who is also Director of College and University Affairs in the YDA Hispanic Caucus.

Last March, the YDA Hispanic Caucus was officially constituted during the YDA winter meeting in Chicago to serve as a a mechanism to rally up, motivate and activate young Hispanics for the campaign and represent the Hispanic community within YDA. The caucus plans to execute a campaign plan which will focus on targeting and invading key battleground states such as Nevada, Florida, North Carolina and New Mexico to tip the balance in our party’s favor and secure President Obama’s reelection.

The Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel Philadelphia (220 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103) is the host venue for this meeting.  YDA has secured a group rate of $137/night plus tax. To reserve a room, please contact the hotel directly at  (215) 735-6000 and mention you are with Young Democrats of America to ensure you are given the proper group rate.

Registration is now open:

-       Super Early Bird registration ($25) will be open until 5 PM EST Friday, May 11th

-       Early Bird registration ($45) will be open until 5 PM EST Friday, May 18th

-       Regular registration ($55) will then be in available until 5 PM EST Friday, June 15th

-       After 5 PM EST on Friday, June 15th, only On-Site Registration ($75) will be accepted.

If you have any questions, please contact YDA Meetings Director Kelly Drake (meetings@yda.org) with any questions.  We look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia this summer!