Chicago Communist Party

Chicago Communist Party

Strength

The Communist Party of Chicago has long been one of its strongest in terms of numbers of members and supporters, as well as fundraisers for the CPUSA and its various-named newspapers. The conjunction of the railroad, slaughterhouses, other major industries,and immigrant group influxes made Chicago a nature place for the CPUSA to build up their organization. They particularly targeted the newly formed unions in the 1900's, of which more will be written on later.

Memorial Services for Karlin Flory

When Karlin Flory, the son of the former chairman of the Illinois District of the Communist Party USA, Ishmael Flory passed away, a memorial service was held for him on January 5, 1985.. He was described in the article as "A Daily World supporter, Flory began circulating the paper in the early days of Operation Breadbasket, which later became Operation PUSH", and had participated in many activities for peace and equality."

Those in attendance at the memorial represented the cream of the Illinois Communist Party and more specifically, the Chicago Communist Partyand their supporters. (There may have been some personal acquaintances/family friends who were not involved in the Party).

Attendees were:

• Ishmael Flory - former chairman of the Illinois District of the CPUSA
• Catherine David Flory - second wife of Ishmael Flory. (His first wife Eloise Boone had passed away some years ago).
• Patricia Flory - Karlin's sister
• Eloise Flory - Karlin's sister

Speakers were:

• Rev.Willie Barrow - Operation PUSH, Reverend (a Hanoi visitor during the war and a Castro/Cuba visitor as well. Friend of [[Michelle Obama)
• Harold Rogers - National Vice-president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (id. member of the CPUSA)
• Rev.William Hogan - Clergy and Laity Concerned CALC, Reverend, (later an open member of the CPUSA)
• Dr.Margaret Burroughs - director of the DuSable Museum of Afro-American History (a longtime supporter of the CPUSA)
• Rev.George Reddick - Operation PUSH, Reverend
• Mildred Williamson - Organizational Secretary of the Illinois District of the CPUSA
• Frances Davis
• Bert Phillips
• William Murphy - Flory's uncle

Musical Tributes were sung by:

• Lucille Newton
• Nita Marchant

Eulogy was read by:

• Sterling Plumpp

"Chicago unionists announce program for rank and file educational fund"

Source: Daily World, April 27, 1972, p. 9

• Morrie Davidson - rank and file trade union leader, announced the formation of the Trade Union Education Fund- Secretary & Trustee of the fund
• Charles Wilson - Trustee and id. CPUSA member
• Fred Gaboury - Trustee and id. CPUSA member; Labor Today publication, and Trade Unionists for Action and Democracy [{TUAD]], a CPUSA front
• Len DeCaux - first editor of the CIO News in the 30's sent a letter of support. Id. CPUSA member

Trade Union Education Fund 343 S. Dearborn, Room 602 Chicago, Ill, 60604 (312) 922-2540

Taxpayers protest in Civic Center Plaza, April 1973

An interesting captioned photograph appeared in the "Daily World" of April 19, 1973 about a "taxpayers' protest" in downtown Chicago. What is worthy to note about this rally is how the CPUSA managed to insert itself and its members/fronts into this affair, which was actually a standard operating procedure (SOP) for them.

The photo showed a number of speakers at the protest including leftist U.S. Senator Dick Clark D-IA with the following detailed caption story.

"Sen. Dick Clark [{D-IA]] addresses taxpayers' protest rally in Civic Center Plaza in Chicago's Loop, one of dozens of such rallies across the country on Monday. To Clark's right, Mrs.Gail Cincotta, chairman, Chicago Tax Coalition; to his right, 46th Ward Alderman Chris Cohen. Clark proposed campaign contribution disclosures and an end to corporate tax exemptions. Other speakers included:

• Kenneth Brown - president, Graphic Arts International Union, AFL-CIO
• Cohen - and -
• Jack Spiegel - Midwest Director, United Shoeworkers AFL-CIO, and chairman, Chicago Peace Council CPC", a cited CPUSA front. Spiegel has long been an identified member of the CPUSA and was photographed in 1967 walking along side the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a Vietnam protest (SOURCE and PHOTO to be provided)

"Sponsors included the:

• (Chicago) Peace Council - Chicago Peace Council
• Chicago Tax Coalition
• West Side Coalition
• Local 245 - Retail Clerks Union
• District 7 - Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union (once a CPUSA dominated union)
• Senior Citizens Council of Chicago
• American Friends Service Committee - AFSC
• Women for Peace - (this group name was often a chapter of the Women's Strike for Peace organization, a heavily CPUSA influenced and at times dominated far-left organization)
• Consumer Federation of Illinois
• Uptown Community Organization"