Attendance at the conference was split between two groups, voting members and non-voting members. Voting members consisted of those organizations which met the criteria outlined in the convention proposal: have a defined democratic structure, have a nominal commitment to Marxism-Leninism, and have at least five full and active members. Non-voting members were made up of organizations which either did not meet one or more of the criteria or did not grant its delegates the power to enter into preliminary agreements. Among the non-voting members were a number of observer organizations.

Outside of CCAP and CTRRG, the conference was attended by representatives from the Kansas Socialist Book Club (KSBC), Red Help Austin TX, the Atlantic Regional Communist Party (ARCP), the Shenandoah Valley cadre, Unity of Fields (formerly PAL Action US), the People’s University of Amherst (PUA), and Ocean State Student and Worker Alliance (OSSWA), among a few other unaffiliated individuals. Additionally, representatives from the Chunka Luta Network (CLN) and Red Sails were present online for a short while. Of these attendees, only CCAP, CTRRG, and the ARCP qualified as voting members, while Unity of Fields, OSSWA, and the PUA were in attendance solely as observers.

The conference opened with a “State of the Movement” address written and delivered by the CTRRG, which laid out the background for this conference and why it was deemed necessary. The piece assessed the conditions of our current historical moment, and concluded that no Communist Party exists nor has a legitimate Communist Party ever existed on this continent. Therefore, they posit, it is our role to build one. The piece explored the histories of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of China, which were formed through the unification of and struggle between different Marxist organizations and study groups. The principal method by which this happened was the formation of Leagues which unified small, local organizations into “organizations of organizations.” The League form existed as a step up from the local organization and a step below a party. Therefore, the intent of this conference was to struggle over this idea with other capable, principled Marxists and to establish such a League if the struggle led in that direction.

After the initial address, individual organizations were given the opportunity to present reports of their own. Reports were prepared and delivered by the Shenandoah Valley cadre, CCAP, the ARCP, Red Help, and KSBC. Each report explored the conditions of the struggle in each of their localities and centered on specific lessons each organization had learned from their experience organizing. The Shenandoah cadre shared the lessons they learned from a recent split in their organization, CCAP shared its plans for a cadre development program, the ARCP described organizing conditions in Canada and the tensions between settlers and the Indigenous, Red Help discussed their recent expulsion from CPUSA, and KSBC presented their plans for expansion and the process of their education program as well. Each report was followed by a period of discussion whereby people in attendance asked clarifying questions, critiqued elements of the report, and contributed any other relevant experience or information to the topic at hand.

Following the reports, discussion turned to the formation of a Worker’s League. It was during this time that OSSWA raised criticisms that they had developed of the idea of a League and shared their conception of the vanguard party. It was the opinion of these attendees that the reconstitution of the Communist Party should follow the example set by the Peruvian Communist Party using the strategy of concentric construction and clandestine organization. Debate ensued around the applicability of such a strategy to the conditions of the North American Empire, the efficacy of clandestine organizing as an ideological versus a tactical concern, and the method by which mass organizing relates to party building. Ultimately, the voting members agreed to move forward with the formation of the League, with the promise that they would interrogate the strategy of concentric construction and conduct an analysis of its applicability to our current conditions.

Of the three voting members present, CCAP and the CTRRG voted to establish the League. The ARCP, citing labor shortage in their current work, deferred their entry into the League until a later date. Additionally, a number of the observer organizations professed an interest in joining the League as either candidate or member organizations upon reporting back to their respective cadres.

At a special session of the General Body held on September 17th, CCAP voted to ratify the League charter and join as full members.

Analysis

What is a League and why did the conference set out to establish one?

The Lake Quonnipaug Conference came as a step in the strategy for party building as outlined by the prospectus of the Unity–Struggle–Unity Press organization, which is a strategy that we at CCAP have also arrived at and have chosen to adopt. This strategy, as demonstrated by the founding of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and of the Communist Party of China, is characterized not by the direct growth of one individual organization that becomes the vanguard, but the establishment of unity between existing organizations and the formation of “organizations of organizations.” A League is such an organization, a second-order organization of which the membership consists not of individuals but of other primary, local, organizations. A League is not a party, however it is still an advancement in organizational complexity and capability over a primary organization, and lays the groundwork for the development of further unity and the eventual establishment of a party.

The purpose of the All-Empire Worker’s League is two-fold. On the one hand, it establishes unity between a number of existing primary organizations on the basis of a shared commitment to Marxism and a shared strategy for party building. It establishes a meaningful and lasting connection between such organizations whereby they are in active, formalized relation and communication with one another to coordinate efforts, struggle ideologically, and provide strategic resources between them. On the other hand, it serves as a living example of the strategy it is following. Ultimately, the party would be founded through the unity between a number of Leagues, therefore it is our aim to inspire others to create unity between principled Marxist formations in their own localities and form Leagues of their own. The All-Empire Worker’s League thus serves as an example that such a strategy is viable and provides a model for others to follow.

Our delegates felt that the conference itself was extremely successful, not only because it managed to achieve its stated aims. Possibly the most important and most valuable part of the conference was the connection made between the groups present. Many of these groups did not have formal communications with one another prior to the conference. Many had not even heard of one another. However, what we found was a collection of the most principled, most revolutionary, most dedicated comrades from all around the country who we established meaningful and lasting connections with. The conference served as a place for principled struggle, for sharing organizing tactics and strategies, for educating one another on our specific conditions and efforts, and for learning from the varied experiences of our newfound comrades.

Conclusion

All the proceedings from the conference including meeting minutes, copies of organization reports, and the Worker’s League charter will be published in full in the Red Clarion. We recommend that any and all comrades who are curious about the conference go and review the materials when they become available. Additionally, we recommend that interested organizations review the League charter and consider applying to join, or consider an effort to establish a League of their own with organizations in their specific locality.

Any questions about the League, the conference, or CCAP’s role in it, please reach out to us through Unity–Struggle–Unity, our Instagram, or our email: cincycap@protonmail.com.

Introduction

The socialist left up to this point has collectively failed to combat gender and sexual chauvinism, abuse, and misconduct within the movement. While sexual misconduct is abhorrent in any case, it is particularly egregious when perpetrated by Communists, who are supposedly dedicated to ending oppression, exploitation, and chauvinism in all its forms. 

A detailed, materialist investigation has not yet been completed that explores why sexual misconduct is such a pervasive phenomenon on the left. Perhaps it is due to the fact that such an act is so antithetical to what it means to be a Communist, that no one expects it to happen, and thus our collective guard is down against potential perpetrators. Perhaps it is due to the fact that Communist circles, by virtue of their “alternative” status in mainstream culture and political discourse, attract members of oppressed genders and sexualities, who are the primary targets of sexual chauvinism and violence. Whatever the reason, sexual misconduct is a pervasive and ill-addressed issue in left organizing spaces. It is so pervasive, that it is no longer permissible for Communist groups to take a passive stance towards sexual misconduct. In other words, it is not enough to hope that it won’t happen, at this point we must anticipate that it will happen and put measures in place to address it when (not if) it does. Measures to prevent sexual misconduct from occurring are necessary, but because the Communist movement is not separate and isolated from our existing patriarchal and sexually violent society, it will be impossible to prevent every instance. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare to enact swift and decisive action when the time comes.

Basis Behind CCAP’s Bylaws

CCAP was formed, in a large part, in response to a series of sexual misconduct scandals that occurred in organizations in and around Cincinnati in 2020 and 2021. These included PSL’s sexual assault scandal in Philadelphia, which caused a massive, nationwide exodus from the organization, the interference into a sexual misconduct investigation within the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky chapter of the DSA by members of that organization’s own steering committee, allegations of sexual chauvinism that split the New Afrikan Black Panther Party and dissolved the Ohio United Panther Movement, and a sexual misconduct scandal that effectively dissolved Cincinnati’s Socialist Alternative chapter. The founding members of CCAP consisted of both former members of some of these organizations and new comrades eager to get involved, all disillusioned with the state of the movement by these organizations’ failures. It was clear to us that it would not do to join one of the existing organizations and that it was necessary to form our own, and one of our first points of business must be to formulate strict policies combating sexual misconduct.

CCAP’s bylaws and Code of Conduct take a zero tolerance stance towards instances of sexual misconduct allegations, from outside or inside the organization. First and foremost, before any investigation even takes place, the victim and other vulnerable persons must be protected. Upon receiving the allegation, the accused person is immediately suspended from all work and activities pertaining to the organization. The second consideration is discovering the truth through rigorous investigation and assessing the allegations for credibility. An emergency investigation committee is established, tasked with conducting the investigation and preparing the results to be presented to the governing body of the organization.

Above all, such actions must be enacted immediately. In a situation as serious as sexual misconduct, time is of the essence. If the allegations are deemed credible, the accused member is immediately expelled from the organization and banned from organization activities indefinitely.

Why so harsh? After all, as materialists, shouldn’t we believe that no one is inherently evil and that anyone can be rehabilitated? Shouldn’t we give the offender an opportunity to correct their behavior and redeem themselves?

It was the Chinese Communists who proved that a person can be re-educated and rehabilitated regardless of status or deed by successfully rehabilitating the last emperor of China and collaborator of Japanese Imperialism, Pu Yi. However, they also proved that doing so was a resource intensive process, in which Pu Yi was effectively imprisoned and made to attend numerous struggle sessions and lectures over the course of several years. As such, our question regarding rehabilitation is not whether it is possible, but whether it is realistic to achieve at the current moment. At a moment when the global organized left has been at its weakest since before the Russian Revolution of 1917, we are not equipped with the resources, authoritative bodies, stamina, or time necessary to rehabilitate a person who engages in so severe and so damaging an act as sexual violence. For the time being, our duty to combat chauvinism and oppression and to fight for the liberation of oppressed genders and sexualities outweighs any moral duty we may have to “save” any one individual from their own actions.

Sexual misconduct is one of the most evil actions one can engage in. It is purely about short-term satisfaction of one at the expense of another, and not just in the physical sense. The victim is more than likely to develop psychological and emotional damage as a result. Should the investigation find the allegations credible, there is no struggle session, no self-criticism that is capable of reconciling these actions and rehabilitating the perpetrator. They must be dealt with, firmly and decisively. They must be prevented from harming others, to the degree that the organization is capable of ensuring.

Example Bylaws and Protocols

Situations as serious and difficult as these cannot be trusted to instinct. Mishandling of sexual misconduct cases is one of the foremost killers of socialist organizations at the present moment. What is needed is in-depth, specific, and decisive protocols that can be enacted on the fly. In keeping with our push for unity and the fostering of new Marxist organizations to build the base of a new party, CCAP’s bylaws are presented below as an example from which to learn.

Excerpt from CCAP Code of Conduct and Criticism Protocol

Extreme Situations

In the event that a member or members are accused of extreme violations of the organization Bylaws/protocols, sexual misconduct, or being infiltrators/bad faith actors, a much more rigorous and strict process of investigation is required.

All accusations of this nature must be taken seriously by CCAP leadership and the following protocols must be enacted immediately:

Extreme Violations of Bylaws/Protocol, Category 4 or 5 Errors

Violations of this nature may involve engaging in actions that would endanger other members or members of the community, attempting to strong-arm decisions or refusing to engage with the democratic process of the organization, threatening other members, or engaging in bigoted actions/language on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, class or monetary means, etc.

When a member is accused of engaging in such activity, it must be brought before the Central Committee, either directly or through another committee’s acting Secretary. When such an accusation has been brought before the CC, they should take the following actions:

1. The accused member should be suspended and not be permitted to participate in organization activities for the duration of their suspension.
2. The Central Committee must create a mediating/investigation committee to conduct an investigation into the accusations and determine their merit. This committee should consist of no less than three members.
3. The investigation should consist of meeting with the accuser, the accused, and if possible, both parties together to talk through the incident. The investigators should meet outside of these meetings to discuss the content of the conversations. They must also review any evidence that has been offered to support a claim.
4. When all the meetings have been conducted and a decision has been made, the investigation committee must prepare their findings for a report to the Central Committee. The report should include the opinion of the investigators as to the validity of the claims and suggested action to be taken to resolve the situation. The investigation MUST properly document their process from beginning to end for review by the Central Committee.
5. Upon hearing the report and decision of the investigation, the Central Committee will discuss and vote to verify the decision and to decide what actions to take going forward.
   1. Depending on the severity of the infraction, actions to take can include either one or multiple of the following:
      1. Mandated readings, lessons, or struggle sessions to communicate proper protocol and conduct. Suspension should continue until the action has been completed and the accuser/CC is satisfied with their progress.
      2. Written apology to the affected parties to be made public to the wider organization membership.
      3. Demotion from a position of leadership with a minimum period before they can be elected again.
      4. Expulsion from the organization with a set time period before they may attempt to rejoin.
      5. Expulsion from the organization for good.

If a member has committed a serious enough violation to be expelled, the Central Committee must prepare a statement to be delivered to the General Body to give all members context as to the nature of the situation. Additionally, the entire investigation including all evidence should be made available to the General Body, which should discuss to verify the decision and assess the integrity of the investigation. If the General Body determines that the investigation was mishandled, the investigating committee and/or the Central Committee must be placed under review by an interim committee appointed by the General Body to determine how and to what degree the investigation was mishandled.

It is important for both the General Body and Central Committee to not only see that the situation has been resolved, but also that the integrity of the organization remains intact.

Allegations of Sexual Misconduct, Category 5 Error

Allegations of sexual misconduct are serious violations that require absolute priority from org leadership. Too many organizations have dissolved or faced extreme controversy due to inadequate handling of instances of sexual misconduct. If an allegation of sexual misconduct is brought before the Central Committee, the absolute first priority is that the immediate needs and considerations of the victim-survivor are met, and that any vulnerable individuals are protected. The second priority is that the integrity of the organization is upheld by taking swift action to investigate and determine the correct course of action to address the situation.

The investigation process should largely follow the process outlined in the previous section with a few key differences. Meetings involving both the victim-survivor and the accused being present should be discouraged. The victim-survivor should not be put in a situation where they can be retraumatized by their abuser. If the accused is found guilty of the accusations, they must be immediately expelled without possibility of rejoining. They should also be prevented from attending any events that CCAP is involved in in the future. To this end, the entire investigation including all evidence and proceedings must be made available for all members of the organization to review. Depending on the level of publicity of the case and factoring in the victim-survivor’s wishes of anonymity and publicity, the General Body should assess whether to make the documentation of the proceedings available to the public.

While we believe in restorative and rehabilitative justice, without systemic power and the resources to properly rehabilitate someone, the best course of action is to remove the abuser from their victim-survivor and any other potential victims among org membership and members of the community. With permission from the victim-survivor, other organizers in the city should be given a warning about the violator.

Excerpt from CCAP Bylaws

Article VI. Criticism

6.1 Criticism and self-criticism are central to the operations of the Organization and maintaining a healthy organizing environment.

6.2 The official process of delivering criticisms is outlined in the Code of Conduct and Criticism Protocol.

6.3 Criticisms may be brought to any member by any member regardless of the hierarchical standing of either member.

6.4 Members are expected to participate fully and enthusiastically in the criticism process.

6.5 Upon request by any party OR the elevation of a criticism to a more official matter, a mediator may be chosen to facilitate the criticism process given the agreement of all involved parties.

6.6 If a criticism is leveled at a member and a mediator (or mediating Committee) deems the criticism valid AND the offending party refuses to engage in the process and/or correct their behavior, that member’s good standing status may be jeopardized. Decisions regarding that member’s standing must be discussed by a mediating Committee and the verdict brought before a meeting of the Central Committee.

6.7 If a serious accusation or allegation of misconduct or abuse is leveled at a member by any person (inside or outside the Organization), that member will be immediately suspended, and an emergency Committee will be established to handle the case. After a thorough investigation of the case including consulting both the accused member and the accuser/victim, a verdict must be reached and delivered to the Central Committee and approved by the General Body. Members found guilty of engaging in misconduct or abuse will be immediately removed from the Organization.

Conclusion

It is not possible for a single organization to eliminate sexual misconduct within the entire movement, it must be done through coordinated and collective effort. As such, we highly recommend that any and all organizations adopt policies such as this in their bylaws and other governing documents, using the above-quoted sections as examples from which to pull. Not only will it help to protect the members within your organization, but also the community in which your organization is rooted. 

As Communists, we must set the standard for exemplary conduct and commitment to the cause, for we are the guiding light by which the masses will navigate their future. You have a duty to your organization and to your community to fight for the liberation of the oppressed and to challenge any and all weapons set against them. You must take a proactive stance towards misconduct, and together, we can change the character of the movement for the better.