Communist Party of Maryland facts for kids

The Communist Party of Maryland is a local branch of the Communist Party USA in the state of Maryland. It was started in 1919, the same year the national party began. Its main office is in Downtown Baltimore.

History of the Communist Party in Maryland

408 Park Avenue in Baltimore's Chinatown, February 2019. This building was once the main office for the Communist Party of Maryland.

In the 1920s, a place called Lithuanian Hall in Baltimore was used for speeches. Important members of the Communist Party USA spoke there. One time, in 1929, a speech was interrupted by a group of people who did not like Communists. The Communists inside the hall used chairs to defend themselves until the police arrived.

Many Russian people in Baltimore joined the party in the 1920s. The Communist Party in Baltimore even had a special group for Russian speakers. Members of this group sometimes went to the Independent Russian Orthodox Church. The leader of the Russian Communist group, Prokope Suvorov, taught Russian at the church. Other members sold Communist books there.

In 1930, Samuel Parker ran for governor of Maryland. He was an unemployed longshoreman and a Communist candidate. His campaign focused on helping people find jobs. He received 855 votes. At 26 years old, he was too young to be governor, even if he had won. Maryland law said candidates had to be at least 30.

Later, in 1934, a lawyer named Bernard Ades also ran for Governor of Maryland. He was a Communist Party candidate. He had support from the African American community. However, he did not win the election.

From 1937 into the 1940s, the Communist Party of Maryland had a bookstore. It was called the Free State Bookshop. Alexander Munsell and his wife Louise Ellen Munsell ran it. This store was next to the party's main office in downtown Baltimore. Another Communist bookstore was called the Frederick Douglass Bookshop. Both stores were watched by agents from the FBI. The FBI described the Frederick Douglass Bookshop as a place where Communist books were given out in West Baltimore. These bookstores were important meeting spots for the party. They hosted meetings for party leaders and new members.

In the late 1980s, the famous rapper Tupac Shakur was connected to the Young Communist League USA in Baltimore. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts at that time. The Baltimore Young Communist League is now sometimes called the Tupac Shakur Club to honor him. He also dated the daughter of the Communist Party of Maryland's director.

In 1991, a newspaper called the Baltimore Sun wrote about the party. It said the Communist Party in Baltimore started around 1877. In the 1930s, Baltimore was a big center for the party. It had about 20 "cells" or small groups. The party tried to get many blue-collar workers to join. Important national leaders often came to speak. The party held rallies and had candidates in local elections.

After World War II, many Communists in Baltimore became less visible. They kept their offices in low-profile places. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, authorities arrested some known Communists. This was due to laws requiring loyalty oaths. Some party members faced jail time. For example, George A. Meyers, a long-time party leader, spent 30 days in jail in 1952. He refused to name other party members. The party struggled after this time. It also faced challenges from new ideas and the country's prosperity. The local party almost disappeared. However, it later became active again in the 1970s.

Party Activities

The Communist Party of Maryland supports the Baltimore Young Communist League. This group is also known as the Tupac Shakur Club. It is the local part of the Young Communist League USA.

In 2019, the Communist Party of Maryland celebrated a special event. They marked 100 years since the Communist Party USA was founded.

Notable Members

Here are some people who were members of the Communist Party of Maryland:

• Bernard Ades: A lawyer who worked for the rights of African Americans. He also ran for Governor of Maryland as a Communist Party candidate.
• Albert Blumberg: A thinker and activist. He was a leader in the Communist Party for several years. Later, he joined the Democratic Party.
• Maurice Braverman: A civil rights lawyer and party lawyer. He faced legal challenges in the 1950s. He fought to keep his right to practice law and won in the 1970s.
• Harold Buchman: An attorney and a member of the Progressive Citizens of America. He was also the state director for the Maryland Progressive Party.
• Tupac Shakur: A famous rapper, writer, and actor. He is known as one of the most important rappers of all time.

See also

• Communist Party USA and African Americans