Provisional Communist Party
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The Provisional Communist Party is a Communist political party in the United States founded by Gino Perente. The party includes much of the leadership of the National Labor Federation (NATLFED) and functions to direct the strategy of the NATLFED movement through secret deliberations.
The party is clandestine and its exact origins and extent are obscure. Party members do not openly acknowledge its existence; volunteers are introduced to the party only after they agree with a set of central beliefs. Many, if not most, members of the party are full-time volunteers in NATLFED entities.
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[edit] Membership and history
Membership in the party is by invitation, and invitation comes to volunteers in NATLFED entities as a revelation of the existence of the party, an explanation of the party's goals and strategy, and a brief "history" of the party, called the "genesis." This story has evolved over the years, but included claims that the party was part of a secret International including the Communist Party of Cuba, the Sandinistas and revolutionaries in Chile and El Salvador, and that members of the Weather Underground were among its founders. The story also contains critical commentary on existing communist governments and asserts that a revolution in the US is imminent.
Klehr reports that members of the party live communally and spend all their time working for the organization. Because of these great demands the party places on members, many people call the group a cult.
Offices of a law firm in Brooklyn staffed by members of the party were raided by the FBI with a search warrant in February of 1984, on a tip that the group was about to launch some violent attack. Truckloads of documents were seized and sifted for evidence related to the warrant. One of the party members, Amanda Reid, was convicted of making a false statement on a firearm application in connection with the raid, but no other charges were filed. Party lawyers contested the legality of the seizure on technical grounds for years following the raid. Reid appealed a petition to suppress evidence to the Supreme Court unsuccessfully.
Police raided the PCP's headquarters in Brooklyn again in 1996 on a dubious tip that there were children in the office being mistreated. A cache of weapons was found, and two of the organizers were charged with improper possession of firearms. Thousands of documents were seized, and there was a very brief flurry of media attention given to the elusive group.
The Provisional Communist Party is known by several names, including "The Communist Party USA/Provisional" and, in press reports, "The Provisional Party of Communists."
Although the party's aims attracted little support, observers estimate the party holds perhaps 200 members. Perente died in 1995 and Margaret Ribar is reported to have became its leader.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Klehr, Harvey Far Left of Center: The American Radical Left Today Transaction Books. 1990. ISBN 0-88738-875-2
