Communist Party Chairman to Hold Press Conference at Convention Opening
CHICAGO, IL – Sam Webb, Chair of the Communist Party USA, will hold a press conference at the University of Illinois in the media center (Illinois Foyer) Friday, June 13 at 2 p.m.
Webb will outline the party’s views on what needs to be done about the major economic and political problems the nation is grappling with these days.
He will be available for questions and answers after a brief opening statement.
Some 350 delegates from across the nation are arriving here today for the opening of the Communist Party’s 30th National Convention.
According to convention organizer John Bachtell: “They’re coming from as far away as California, Texas and Maine and they are excited and ready to get started.â€
The convention differs in some ways from previous ones that the CPUSA has held and even from ones held by the major political parties in that it will be an open convention. “Sessions are live streamed, the press is invited and our coalition allies are coming to share their views,†said Bachtell.
On Friday afternoon Webb will deliver the keynote speech.
A key challenge , according to Webb, will be the 2014 mid-term elections. “Everyone should be involved,†he said. Taking note of Eric Cantor’s surprise defeat in Virginia Webb warned: “This is a decisive election, nothing can be taken for granted including the election of tea party extremists.â€
Friday evening peoplesworld.org is hosting a panel discussion on organizing low wage workers that includes Howard Kling, Secretary of the International Labor
Communications Association, AFL-CIO, Change to win, Rasheen Aldridge, St. Louis Can’t Survive on $7.35 strike leader, Young Activists United, Naquasia LeGrand, Fast Food Forward Colbert Show guest, Elce Redmond and Ada Fuentes of Jobs With Justice, Terrie Albano, co-editor of peoplesworld.org and Judith LeBlanc, field director of Peace Action.
Saturday the convention will feature a panel discussion on the mass media with Kari Lyderson, Social Justice Chicago Reporting Fellowship, Northwestern University, Bhaskar Sunkara, publisher jacobin.com, Don Washington, Mayoral Tutorial.com and Sue Webb, co-editor peoplesworld.org.
The day will be topped off with a welcome of international guests from Brazil, Great Britain, Cuba, Vietnam and Germany.
The convention ends on Sunday. “We’ll close with a call to action that will encourage everyone to get busy,†said Joe Sims. “The future belongs to those who organize it.â€
During the convention contact at any time:
For more information, contact Rossana Cambron 562 728 7895, John Wojcik  773 951 3723
