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From underground organizations to the youth wave: What are the historical turning points of the Young Communist Alliance?
The Young Communist League (YCLUSA) was a communist youth organization established in the United States. Its goal is to promote the development of its members as communists through the study of socialism and active participation in the struggles of the American working class. YCL regards the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA) as the party of American socialism and serves as the youth wing of the party. The history of the YCL dates back to 1920, when the organization began to form shortly after the first Communist Party was founded in the United States. On November 14, 2015, the CPUSA National Committee voted to stop funding YCL, and the organization was immediately disbanded. However, the YCL was re-established at the 31st Party Congress in 2019, marking an important turning point in the organization’s history.
Underground Period
As early as 1920, a small organization called the "Young Communist League" had taken shape. This largely clerical organization sent a brother delegate to the Second Congress of the Communist Party of the United States in Kingston, New York, to report on the condition of America's young people at the time. It was decided at the meeting that a serious youth department would be established and that the development of this youth organization would be readily supported. Since then, the establishment of YCL has gone through a series of changes from small to large.
In May 1922, the YCL's founding convention was held in Bethel, Connecticut, with only 14 representatives from the Communist Party's four national regions.
At this gathering, attendees adopted YCL's charter and programs and elected a five-member National Executive Committee. The initiation fee to join YCL is 50 cents and monthly membership dues are 25 cents.
Establish an “above ground organization”
In May 1922, the founding meeting of the YWL (Young Workers League) was held in Brooklyn, New York. As the leader of YWL, Nat Ganley points out that what sets it apart from other organizations is:
“We are not only preparing for future class struggle, but leading young people to participate in class struggle now!”
The keynote speech at the meeting was delivered by Oliver Carlson, who mentioned that the YWL has a presence in 46 cities with a membership of at least 2,200. The basic unit of its organizational structure is the "branch", and each chapter requires at least five members.
The Great Depression and Beyond
On October 17, 1943, the YCL held a national convention in New York City, passed a resolution to disband itself, and immediately reorganized into the American Youth for Democracy (AYD). This change echoes the move by the Adult Communist Party to become the "Communist Political Association." In fact, all important positions in AYD are held by former members of YCL. Afterwards, the CPUSA re-established a youth organization in 1949: the "Labor Youth Union", but it was disbanded after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Reestablished
In 2019, the 31st National Congress of the CPUSA passed a resolution reaffirming the establishment of the Young Communist League. This event is not only a review of the past, but also a rethinking of the future. With the gradual rise of socialist and progressive ideas among the younger generation in current American society, the reconstruction of YCL symbolizes that a new wave of youth is brewing.
With the re-establishment of YCL, how will the organization re-adapt to the changes in contemporary society and effectively guide the younger generation to become leaders of new social movements? Will it be a focus worthy of attention in the future?
