Young America's Foundation (YAF) is hosting its 48th Annual National Conservative Student Conference in D.C. starting August 6. The event kicks off at George Washington's Mount Vernon to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary.
The event is in a part a celebration of the nation’s birthday as it is connected to the YAF and The Daily Wire’s Historic “Freedom of 250” National Tour.
More than 1,000 participants, including students from around the country, are expected to attend.
Speakers include former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson; conservative commentators Ben Shapiro and Israel Brown; former Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson; and former Attorney General Jason Miyares (R-Virginia).
When asked why young people need this event, YAF President Scott Walker said it's simple.
"It's a clear choice between freedom or socialism," Walker told AFN. "As Reagan would have said years ago, we win, they lose. That's got to be the mindset."
Socialism has been gaining popularity in recent months, due in part to successful campaign efforts from Democratic Socialists that are making affordability an issue for young people.
The current Democratic Socialists of America platform demands a 32-hour work week, “Medicare for All” free health care, cancelling student debt, and blanket amnesty for illegal aliens, in addition to abolishing the U.S. Senate and allowing Congress to choose the U.S. president.
Statistics on NBC News show that 52% of Democrats hold a favorable view of socialism, pointing out that these socialist candidates have been winning Democratic primaries.
Still, critics argue that socialism does not work — anywhere — and people of all ages should embrace the limited government free market principles that make America great.
"It's incumbent upon us to tell the story, to remind them that things like democratic socialism didn't just fail in the past, or communism fail in the past. It's failing in places today, like Venezuela, right in our own hemisphere and other places, like North Korea, around the world," said Walker.
YAF's events this week will not be televised or streamed. However, Walker directs people to YAF's YouTube channel for related content that will be available for viewing in the near future.
