Communist Party of Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Communist Party of Maryland
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| Founded | 1919 |
| Headquarters | P.O. BOX : 39463 Baltimore, MD 21212 |
| Ideology | Communism Marxism–Leninism Trade unionism |
| National affiliation | Communist Party USA |
The Communist Party of Maryland is a political group that is part of the larger Communist Party USA. It works in the state of Maryland. This party started in 1919, the same year the national party began. Today, its main office is in Downtown Baltimore.
History of the Party
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 were against Communists. The people inside the hall used chairs to defend themselves until the police arrived.
Many Russian people in Baltimore were involved with the party in the 1920s. The Communist Party in Baltimore even had a special group for Russian speakers. Some Russian members went to the Independent Russian Orthodox Church in Baltimore. The leader of the Russian group, Prokope Suvorov, taught Russian at the church. Other members sold Communist books there.
The party also had candidates who ran for governor. In 1930, Samuel Parker, a longshoreman (someone who loads and unloads ships), ran for governor. He was African-American and focused on helping people find jobs. He received 855 votes. In 1934, a lawyer named Bernard Ades also ran for Governor of Maryland for the party. He received 776 votes.
From 1937 into the 1940s, the Communist Party of Maryland ran a bookstore. It was called the Free State Bookshop. This store was next to the party's main office in downtown Baltimore. Another store, the Frederick Douglass Bookshop, also sold Communist books. These bookstores were important meeting places for party members.
A famous rapper named Tupac Shakur was connected to the Baltimore branch of the Young Communist League USA. This was in the late 1980s when he was at the Baltimore School for the Arts. The Baltimore Young Communist League is now sometimes called the Tupac Shakur Club to honor him.
In 1991, a newspaper called the Baltimore Sun wrote about the party's past. It said that the party's roots in Baltimore went back to a strike in 1877. In the 1930s, Baltimore was a very active area for the party. They tried to get many factory workers to join. After World War II, many members had to work in secret. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, some party members were arrested. This was a difficult time for the party.
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 big event. They marked 100 years since the national Communist Party USA was founded.
Notable Members
- Bernard Ades: A lawyer who worked to protect the rights of African Americans. He also ran for Governor of Maryland for the Communist Party.
- Albert Blumberg: A thinker and activist who was a party official for many years.
- Maurice Braverman: A civil rights lawyer for the party. He faced legal challenges but later won the right to practice law again.
- Harold Buchman: A lawyer who was also part of the Progressive Citizens of America. He was also the state director for the Maryland Progressive Party.
- Tupac Shakur: A very famous rapper, writer, and actor. He is known as one of the most important rappers ever.
See also
