First Published: Unity, Vol. 1, No. 3, November 3-17, 1978.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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The first series of public mass meetings to introduce the League of Revolutionary Struggle (Marxist-Leninist) have taken place in San Francisco/Oakland, Los Angeles, Seattle, Honolulu, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Boston. Further meetings are planned and will be announced.
Over 1,300 people attended the meetings, enthusiastically welcoming the merger of the August Twenty-ninth Movement (M-L) and I Wor Kuen, and the founding of the League. The events drew a broad range of people. Representatives of U.S. Marxist-Leninist organizations and collectives and various international Marxist-Leninist organizations and patriotic student groups were present. Large numbers of workers, activists from the national movements and young people attended the events.
At these meetings, the League explained its founding principles and reviewed briefly the histories of ATM (M-L) and IWK. The League also presented some views on the urgent necessity to unite U.S. Marxist-Leninists into a single vanguard party to lead the revolutionary movement in this country.
Spokespersons from the League, speaking on the significance of the merger, said, “It was the result of almost two years of intensive discussions and struggle between the two organizations in which unity was reached on all basic points of line. We think this is very significant since it is the first time since the formation of the anti-revisionist communist movement in the early 1970’s that two major communist organizations have been able to resolve their differences and unite.
But more than this, the merger of ATM and IWK is the product of many years of struggle. It brings together the histories of two organizations which have been an integral part of the modern-day revolutionary movement in this country. We were able to unite in part because we were able to summarize this rich history and learn from it.”
On the necessity to unite Marxist-Leninists, the League stated, “We need a single, unified communist party perhaps more urgently than ever before. Internationally, the struggles of countries, nations and peoples are advancing, sharply dealing blows to the two superpowers. Domestically, masses of workers and oppressed nationalities are rising up in struggle against exploitation and oppression. Marxist-Leninists worldwide are holding talks and discussions seeking ways to unite. This takes place in an overall favorable situation. At the same time, revisionists and opportunists of every stripe are working overtime to attack the genuine Marxist-Leninists because they fear our unity and strength.
“... We in the League believe that if U.S. Marxist-Leninists pay careful attention to forging principled unity, adhere firmly to Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tsetung Thought, and build deep roots among the masses, that our goal of one single, unified communist party to lead the U.S. working class in our battle against the imperialists will be realized in this next period.”
After the speakers, friends of the League performed original revolutionary songs, including Superpower Blues, the I-Hotel Song, and The People United Will Never Be Defeated (a Chilean song). The programs concluded with the singing of the Internationale and militant chants.
During the receptions, many people expressed their support for the League, remarking that its formation set an example for the communist movement here. One auto worker said, “I feel really encouraged to see a real step toward communist unity.” A Chicano student commented, “I think the three worlds theory is a crucial issue in the Latino movements, especially with Cuba being oppressed and used by the Soviet Union and with both superpowers fighting over Latin America. I think the League is really doing a lot to popularize the theory of the three worlds among the people.” A Black worker, long active in the Black liberation movement, summed up the sentiments of many participants in the public mass meetings when he said, “This is the best event I’ve been to for over 8 years. There was such a feeling of unity and revolutionary spirit and optimism. I really look forward to the work which the League will be doing!”