Young Americans For Freedom - Factionalism

Factionalism

Historians have emphasized the bitter factionalism inside YAF starting in the 1960s. Heineman says "the YAF itself suffered internal strife. In 1969 the organization split into competing, irreconcilable factions." Schneider says, "in the mid-1970s YAF suffered from weak leadership based on factions and personalities rather than ability". Tuccile says, "The second faction of rebels consisted of radical libertarians or anarchists, most of them belonging to Karl Hess IV's Anarcho-libertarian Alliance. This contingent was more interested in splitting off from YAF entirely." Klatch says "When one young libertarian burned his draft card on the convention floor, the crowd turned into an angry mob and, ultimately, purged all libertarians from YAF. One libertarian faction stormed out of the meeting."