The May 19th Communist Organization and the Days of Rage, which occurred during the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, drew some inspiration from earlier communist movements, including the German Communist Party (KPD) of the post-World War I era.
May 19th Communist Organization
Overview:
The May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO) was a far-left militant group active in the United States from 1978 to the mid-1980s. It evolved from the Weather Underground Organization (WUO) and was named after the shared birthday of Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh.
M19CO was involved in armed robberies, prison breaks, and bombings, with the aim of overthrowing the U.S. government and establishing a socialist state.
Similarities to the KPD:
Revolutionary Ideology: Both M19CO and the KPD were driven by Marxist-Leninist ideology and sought to establish a socialist state through revolutionary means.
Use of Violence: Both organizations embraced violence as a tool for achieving their political goals. The KPD engaged in armed uprisings and street battles, while M19CO carried out bombings and armed robberies.
Opposition to the State: Both groups viewed the existing government as illegitimate and oppressive. The KPD sought to overthrow the Weimar Republic, while M19CO aimed to dismantle the U.S. capitalist system.
Days of Rage
Overview:
The Days of Rage were a series of protests organized by the Weather Underground Organization in October 1969 in Chicago, aimed at confronting the U.S. government and raising awareness of the anti-war and anti-racist movements.
The protests involved violent clashes with the police, property destruction, and attempts to bring attention to the radical left's causes.
Similarities to the KPD:
Direct Action: Both the Days of Rage and the KPD's activities involved direct, confrontational tactics. The KPD engaged in street battles and uprisings, while the Days of Rage saw militants smashing windows, vandalizing property, and clashing with police.
Anti-Government Stance: Both movements were staunchly anti-government. The KPD opposed the Weimar Republic, while the Days of Rage aimed to protest against U.S. government policies, particularly the Vietnam War.
Youth and Militancy: Both movements were characterized by the involvement of young, radical activists willing to use militant tactics to achieve their goals.
Black Lives Matter (BLM), the May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the Days of Rage share certain ideological and historical connections, primarily through the individuals involved and their approaches to activism. Here’s how BLM, particularly through its connections to Thousand Currents and Susan Rosenberg, relates to these earlier movements:
Black Lives Matter (BLM)
Overview:
BLM is a contemporary social movement founded in 2013 to address systemic racism, police brutality, and racial inequality.
The movement uses various tactics, including protests, advocacy, and policy reform efforts, to achieve its goals.
Connections to Thousand Currents and Susan Rosenberg
Thousand Currents:
Thousand Currents is a nonprofit organization that provided fiscal sponsorship to the BLM Global Network Foundation. This means they managed the funds and donations for BLM, allowing it to operate more effectively.
Susan Rosenberg:
Susan Rosenberg, a board member of Thousand Currents until 2020, was a former member of the M19CO. She was convicted for her involvement in illegal activities, including a weapons possession charge and connection to armed robberies, and later received a commutation of her sentence by President Bill Clinton.
Historical and Ideological Links
May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO)
Overview: M19CO was a militant far-left group active in the 1970s and 1980s, known for its revolutionary activities, including bombings and armed robberies.
Connection: Susan Rosenberg’s involvement with M19CO ties her directly to BLM through her later role at Thousand Currents.
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Days of Rage
Overview: SDS was a prominent student activist organization in the 1960s that focused on civil rights, anti-war protests, and social justice. The Days of Rage was a series of protests organized by a militant faction of SDS, the Weather Underground, in 1969.
Connection: SDS and the Weather Underground's tactics and philosophies influenced later movements, including M19CO. The radical elements within SDS and the Weather Underground, particularly their use of direct action and confrontation, set a precedent for later groups like M19CO and, by extension, influenced individuals like Susan Rosenberg.
Antifa, short for "anti-fascist," and the German Communist Party (KPD) share historical and ideological roots, particularly in their opposition to fascism.
Historical Context and Origins
German Communist Party (KPD)
Origins: The KPD was founded in 1918-1919 in Germany, emerging from the Spartacist League. It aimed to establish a communist state in Germany, inspired by the Russian Revolution.
Origins: The term "Antifa" originated from "Antifaschistische Aktion," a militant anti-fascist group founded by the KPD in 1932. This group was established to combat the Nazi Party and other far-right movements in Germany.
Activities: Antifaschistische Aktion engaged in street battles, propaganda, and other direct actions to oppose the Nazis. The group was dissolved after the Nazis came to power in 1933 and banned all communist organizations.
The May 19th Communist Organization and the Days of Rage, which occurred during the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States, drew some inspiration from earlier communist movements, including the German Communist Party (KPD) of the post-World War I era.
May 19th Communist Organization
Overview:
The May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO) was a far-left militant group active in the United States from 1978 to the mid-1980s. It evolved from the Weather Underground Organization (WUO) and was named after the shared birthday of Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh.
M19CO was involved in armed robberies, prison breaks, and bombings, with the aim of overthrowing the U.S. government and establishing a socialist state. Similarities to the KPD:
Revolutionary Ideology: Both M19CO and the KPD were driven by Marxist-Leninist ideology and sought to establish a socialist state through revolutionary means.
Use of Violence: Both organizations embraced violence as a tool for achieving their political goals. The KPD engaged in armed uprisings and street battles, while M19CO carried out bombings and armed robberies.
Opposition to the State: Both groups viewed the existing government as illegitimate and oppressive. The KPD sought to overthrow the Weimar Republic, while M19CO aimed to dismantle the U.S. capitalist system.
Days of Rage
Overview:
The Days of Rage were a series of protests organized by the Weather Underground Organization in October 1969 in Chicago, aimed at confronting the U.S. government and raising awareness of the anti-war and anti-racist movements.
The protests involved violent clashes with the police, property destruction, and attempts to bring attention to the radical left's causes. Similarities to the KPD:
Direct Action: Both the Days of Rage and the KPD's activities involved direct, confrontational tactics. The KPD engaged in street battles and uprisings, while the Days of Rage saw militants smashing windows, vandalizing property, and clashing with police.
Anti-Government Stance: Both movements were staunchly anti-government. The KPD opposed the Weimar Republic, while the Days of Rage aimed to protest against U.S. government policies, particularly the Vietnam War. Youth and Militancy: Both movements were characterized by the involvement of young, radical activists willing to use militant tactics to achieve their goals.
Black Lives Matter (BLM), the May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the Days of Rage share certain ideological and historical connections, primarily through the individuals involved and their approaches to activism. Here’s how BLM, particularly through its connections to Thousand Currents and Susan Rosenberg, relates to these earlier movements:
Black Lives Matter (BLM)
Overview:
BLM is a contemporary social movement founded in 2013 to address systemic racism, police brutality, and racial inequality.
The movement uses various tactics, including protests, advocacy, and policy reform efforts, to achieve its goals.
Connections to Thousand Currents and Susan Rosenberg
Thousand Currents:
Thousand Currents is a nonprofit organization that provided fiscal sponsorship to the BLM Global Network Foundation. This means they managed the funds and donations for BLM, allowing it to operate more effectively.
Susan Rosenberg:
Susan Rosenberg, a board member of Thousand Currents until 2020, was a former member of the M19CO. She was convicted for her involvement in illegal activities, including a weapons possession charge and connection to armed robberies, and later received a commutation of her sentence by President Bill Clinton.
Historical and Ideological Links
May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO)
Overview: M19CO was a militant far-left group active in the 1970s and 1980s, known for its revolutionary activities, including bombings and armed robberies.
Connection: Susan Rosenberg’s involvement with M19CO ties her directly to BLM through her later role at Thousand Currents.
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Days of Rage
Overview: SDS was a prominent student activist organization in the 1960s that focused on civil rights, anti-war protests, and social justice. The Days of Rage was a series of protests organized by a militant faction of SDS, the Weather Underground, in 1969.
Connection: SDS and the Weather Underground's tactics and philosophies influenced later movements, including M19CO. The radical elements within SDS and the Weather Underground, particularly their use of direct action and confrontation, set a precedent for later groups like M19CO and, by extension, influenced individuals like Susan Rosenberg.
Antifa, short for "anti-fascist," and the German Communist Party (KPD) share historical and ideological roots, particularly in their opposition to fascism.
Historical Context and Origins German Communist Party (KPD)
Origins: The KPD was founded in 1918-1919 in Germany, emerging from the Spartacist League. It aimed to establish a communist state in Germany, inspired by the Russian Revolution.
Origins: The term "Antifa" originated from "Antifaschistische Aktion," a militant anti-fascist group founded by the KPD in 1932. This group was established to combat the Nazi Party and other far-right movements in Germany.
Activities: Antifaschistische Aktion engaged in street battles, propaganda, and other direct actions to oppose the Nazis. The group was dissolved after the Nazis came to power in 1933 and banned all communist organizations.