More than 1.5 million people without potable water. Ninetypercent of homes damaged. Eighty percent of cropsdestroyed. Broken sewer and electrical power systems. Food,fuel and medical supplies dwindling rapidly. Two weeks afterHurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, the US territory is facinga social crisis of unprecedented proportions.The leaders of both the Democratic and the RepublicanParties in the US have spent the last quarter century mobilizing trillions in manpower and equipment across the globe topursue wars of aggression and global domination. However,in the face of the devastating destruction of Puerto Rico, thepolitical establishment is incapable and unwilling to mobilizeemergency aid to the territorial island of 3 million desperately vulnerable people.Hundreds of billions are needed to save the lives of those atrisk of death and disease and to rebuild and modernize infrastructure. Such efforts cannot be accomplished under capitalism. We proceed not from what the financial aristocracysays is affordable for disaster relief and rebuilding, but fromwhat is necessary for the working class to secure its rights tothe necessities of life.The International Youth and Students for Social Equalityfights for international socialism through the conscious,independent political mobilization of the working class. Weencourage all students, youth, and workers to attend ourmeeting.