Broader Youth Involvement Urged

Erica Williams, left, talks with Kaitlin Hasseler and Onleilove Alston at the Campus Progress National Conference in Washington. Too few youths without a college education are participating in political efforts, Williams says. (By Marvin Joseph -- The Washington Post)
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"It's a lie" that young people don't care about political issues in America, Edwards said to cheers. "The core set of values are very similar" to those of his generation, he said after the speech. "But this particular generation is much more interactive," working for change online and in new ways.

But a generation gap was clearly evident yesterday.

One man with a gray ponytail repeatedly tried to start chants throughout Edwards's speech.

"No more war! No more war!" he yelled. But the students would have none of it. Low-level giggling was the only response.

Instead, the crowd cheered for single-payer health care, for President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs and for cleaner energy.

"I think [young people] are comfortable" with grass-roots activism and higher-level policy debate, Edwards said.

Williams agreed. "I think we're pretty much split down the middle" between those approaches, she said.

Excitement about the election has helped. "There's a percentage who are believing more in the political process now," Williams said. "That helps our work."

But staying involved beyond the election is vital, she said.

"It's incumbent upon us to hold whoever we vote into the White House accountable," Williams said. "Policy is not going to change on November 4th, and we know that."