First Published: Alive Magazine No. 126, March 10, 1979
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Malcolm and Paul Saba
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GNS. March 5: “Internationally, the factors for both war and revolution are on the rise making the task of forging Marxist-Leninist unity more pressing and urgent.” This analysis is given in the September 11, 1978 press statement on the founding of the League of Revolutionary Struggle (Marxist-Leninist) in the United States. The August Twenty-Ninth Movement (ATM) and I Wor Kuen (IWK), two communist organizations in the U.S. merged to form this new organization.
The press statement continues: “The League will strive to contribute to the forging of a single vanguard party. The merger of ATM and IWK is an important step towards unifying the entire Marxist-Leninist movement and forging such a party. It sets an example for all communists to push ahead the struggle for communist unity.”
The first issue of Unity, political organ of the League of Revolutionary Struggle (Marxist-Leninist), was produced in September 1978. The first two issues of Unity appeared on a monthly schedule, but the newspaper has since appeared biweekly.
Unity is a lively, informative newspaper which over the months has given excellent coverage of political events both nationally and internationally. The newspaper has given excellent coverage of the Soviet-backed Vietnamese invasion of Kampuchea. The recent series of study columns on the theory of the three worlds gave a clear, concise explanation of the three worlds theory and its significance in international politics. Each column presented suggestions for additional reading and also gave discussion questions. This series was a lively and imaginative educational tool.
The January 26-February 8 issue of Unity contained an editorial summing up 1978 and looking forward to the important tasks of 1979. This editorial reviews the success of the unity talks between ATM and IWK and its significance to the U.S. Marxist-Leninist movement. The announcement of plans by ATM, IWK and the Communist Party Marxist-Leninist (CPML) to initiate a Committee to Unite Marxist-Leninists was also made in 1978. The editorial notes that this committee does not yet exist but will be formed this year after consultations and discussion with as many communist organizations and groups as possible in the U.S. “It’s purpose will be to facilitate a process of principled discussion and debate among the established communist organizations over the key issues of ideological and political line facing our movement, and to help resolve differences in line towards uniting on the basis of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought.”
The editorial concludes by pointing out: “For U.S. Marxist-Leninists, 1978 saw many advances and offered tremendous challenges for 1979. U.S. Marxist-Leninists must hold firmly to principle, take steps to unite, vigorously combat revisionism and opportunism, and lead the masses to resist all attacks and fight for an end to all oppression and exploitation.”