“We need a bigger, bolder Communist Party if we are to meet the challenges of the day,” Sam Webb, national chair of the Communist Party, USA, said in an interview.

“With the all out attacks on workers rights’ in Wisconsin and states across our nation, it is imperative that we build the Communist Party as we help build the grassroots movement for jobs and democracy,” Webb continued.

As tens of thousands continue to take to the streets nationwide to stop the ultra-right Republican assault on workers’ rights, democracy, public education, health care and vital social services, the Communist Party is in the mix, say its members.

In fact, Communist Party members are working in coalition with other progressive groups in helping lead many of the local fight back efforts.

Moments like this, say CPUSA leaders, call for a special emphasis on building the people’s movement, the Communist Party and Young Communist League – which is the aim of the “1st Annual CPUSA National Conference,” to be held at the Unity Center in New York, April 16-17.

The conference will bring communists and left and progressive activists together from all over the country to discuss, plan and act.

Central to the deliberations will be panel discussions highlighting many of the opportunities and challenges of building the Communist current in the working class and people’s movement. Use of the working-class tools like PeoplesWorld.org and PoliticalAffairs.net and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are also on the agenda

Conference participants will hear from activists “in the trenches” and discuss fight back strategies.  Participants will share experiences, map out plans, “deepen Marxist methodology and get fired up for the big challenges ahead.” Everyone will leave the conference with an action item to take back to their respective areas and communities.

Webb said, “The Communist Party and Young Communist League are growing. Readership of the People’s World and Political Affairs are increasing dramatically. However, we need to deepen and expand our influence, grow our membership and help build the people’s movement. In short, we need to do more to meet the urgent challenges. That is why this conference is so important.” 

Leading into the National Conference local leaders will be working on a number of organizational goals – including hosting regional Marxist schools in Los Angeles, New England and the South; building e-mail lists; hosting a national new member outreach phone bank in St. Louis, Mo.; and increasing automatic sustainer program.

Photo: (John Bachtell/PW)

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