First Published: The Call, Vol. 7, No. 19, May 15, 1978.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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The Joint Statement for Marxist-Leninist Unity, issued last week by the August 29th Movement (ATM), the Communist Party Marxist-Leninist (CPML) and I Wor Kuen (IWK) marks a major advance in the struggle for communist unity.
The statement, jointly initiated by the three communist organizations, launches a common effort to establish a “Committee to Unite Marxist-Leninists,” along with other groups. The establishment of this committee will take place in the months ahead based on a unity proposal which reflects the common points of understanding among the forces making up the present U.S. communist movement.
As Carl Davidson points out in his May Day speech these efforts represent a break from the unprincipled blocs formed in the past such as the so-called “National Liaison Committee” and the “Continuations Committee,” which were used to try to stampede the young communist movement into the swamp of revisionism and chauvinism.
The joint unity effort shows once again that the unity trend within the revolutionary and working class movements is genuine. Let the cynical crybabies and so-called “anti-dogmatists” spread their complaints about unity being “impossible” or about “big-group domination.” The unity efforts will show that communists can be welded into a single, unified Marxist-Leninist party, as opposed to primitive local circles.
It is easy to talk about “unity” in the abstract. It is quite another thing to actually implement a plan and carry it through. And, of course, the issuing of the Joint Statement is only a first step.
There are still differences that have to be resolved in the course of the struggle for unity. The CPML fully intends to enter into such efforts, upholding Marxist-Leninist principles and waging an uncompromising struggle against revisionism and opportunism.
But we are confident that last week’s joint statement will lead to even greater advances for the young communist movement.