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The past four years, our Party in So Cal has had its challenges but we have also seen some great successes.

We are on the move on many different issues.  From the national issues like elections, health and immigration reform, and the peace movement to local struggles such as city and neighborhood council reform, local elections and some very exciting cultural projects. 

I think it is important for all of us to share some of the struggles we are active in with our new members and they share with us what they have been involved with. 

I hope you’ve all have had a chance to read the main documents and will share your thoughts, on what you agree as well as what you disagree.

As the main document states we are in a period of transition. The balance between the right center and left forces has been in constant realignment.

Battles are heating up everywhere. It’s been 3 decades since we have had an administration who is open to meeting some of our demands.

But as history has shown us, politicians don’t bring fundamental change, social movements do.

We need to build social a movement that will be strong enough to pass a jobs bill, one that will not only put people back to work but also fix our infrastructure; a social movement, which will pass a just and human immigration reform bill.

One that will pass the EFCA, an improved health-care bill, one that can finally bring peace and transfer the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on war and destruction to one that build schools and hospitals, and funds green jobs.

One that can change the moral character of our country, how we relate as human beings: one that promotes collectivity, instead of individualism, cooperation instead of competition, sharing instead of greed.

So, where do we start?

How do we as communist, make advances in the 3 main areas of struggle, social, political and ideological, to the point that we truly impact our nation and our communities?

One important component is that our party needs to have a greater public presence we need to define and present ourselves and not have others define us.

Here locally we have taken some first good steps in that direction

We had an open BBQ at Mc Arthur Park with our banner hanging for all to see.

We were at the last anti war demonstration with our Party banner and for the first time in 10 years the YCL marching proudly in front of us with theirs.

We are organizing a May Day festival to celebrate and recapture our working class history with music poetry, food and art.  This effort is allowing us to connect with a much broader group of people.

We are co-sponsoring this event with the FMLN and just last week because of the relationship Joe has built over the years, we got the endorsement of the local neighborhood council, who authorized their logo be included in our advertising. 

We now have an environmental project, ongoing Marxist classes; we have cool t-shirts, blog pages, and a new spirit.  We are currently planning to establish an ongoing food distribution center based here in our building. This will connect us even closer to our community, which will in turn facilitate organizing our community to fight for their local needs such as jobs or even a traffic signal at this intersection.    

Our comrades in the Inland Empire have been building a truly amazing social movement. They focus on addressing issues their community is facing and connecting with state wide as well as national struggles.

They organize on the premise that they are running a marathon not a sprint. Their organization has recently taken a qualitative leap. They started several months ago with 5 members to organizing their first public gathering at a restaurant with over 50 people attending; a truly diverse group, which is multiracial, mutigenerational, key community members and with a lot of spirit.

Another important component to moving forward is the need for a much bigger Party; we need to grow to be able to carry out the struggles before us.

Locally we’ve also taken our first steps in this direction.

In the last 10 months we have recruited 25 new members, some of our new members are here, others couldn’t make it. But we do keep in touch with everyone of our new members and help them to integrate into our Party, their Party.

But this recent growth in recruitment didn’t happen automatically.

We had to develop a conscious and planned approach because even though our Party policy had been sound, and our strategy and tactics was right on, without a plan it had not resulted into Party growth. We’ve learned that good political work will not automatically result in growth.

It’s been a process of thinking creatively, connecting with different circles and creating new entry points into the Party that has made a difference.

This is truly an organic ongoing process, which we hope every one of you here will help further develop and strengthen.

What are some of those struggles before us that require a larger Party?

Having won a healthcare bill, no matter its shortcomings, is a victory against the right, -but the battle is not over.

The right has said they will use their power and resources to prevent its enactment as well as go after those politicians that supported it.

They’ve created a media blitz to confuse and mobilize people to actively participate against their own self-interest.

We need to be active in the November elections at national, state and local levels. In various capacities, from sending emails to family and contacts, who live in key races, to phone banking, precinct walking etc.

Here in California we have some key battles in the up coming elections. Some key congressional seats are at stake, we will elect a new governor and the Republicans are going after Barbara Boxer, in the senate and a few propositions will determine the direction of our state.

Our main document’s emphasis is the need to get involved in the fight for jobs and immediate relief, because that’s what people of this nation need to survive.

But how do we this translate this national policy to our involvement in the community, our neighborhood, and our work place?

How can we have the greatest impact as a Party and as individuals?

What can we do?

• Strategically pull our resources and determine where we can have the greatest impact in supporting progressive candidates.

• As we organize people to vote we must raise their understanding that it is mass movements that bring about fundamental change.

Progressive politicians can create a more favorable environment, ultimately; it will be up to us to move our nation in a better direction.

We can do much more but only if we grow the Party.

We are in a moment in time in our country’s history where we have a great opportunity to bring hundreds of people into our ranks. 

Arming them with the strategy and tactics that we know will move our class forward and gain the ground we need to build that road to Socialism.

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