Analyze our political situation and hopefully leave here with a better outlook for tomorrow. Sfwroo to have such a well of experience in this struggle is not the elders of our movement. Of our party. When i was asked to give a speech honoring our elders, i was fearful of being someone who would come up with some things of the past and give a tone of the passing archaic, unmoving, and gone. Basically i was afraid i would get up hire and give something of a eulogy. Thing is, this had is not a funeral. And the elders who are with us today in this room and with us in spirit and their local place of residency are still very much alive and fighting and wonderful resource of knowledge of things we are that things the party we need to know and be reminded of in order to be the best we can be and looking forward towards the future. Political activist jane baldwin once said children have never been very good at listening to their elders. They have never failed to imitate them. I think this holds true with the case of the party. Sometimes life is busy. The struggles of the day to day can get us down, and we get wrapped up in our own affairs that we can get tunnel vision. We think we can think this is the first time being done, a problem is arising or a battle is being fought. Thing is, the battle and struggle for the end of capitalist exploitations and for a society based on he equality has been a battle the communist party has been waging for 95 years. It is a battle. It is a battle that has taken on many forms as described as a culmination of issues, but if this is a battle that has gone on for some time and we have elders, people in this very room and around the country who have been fighting in it for decades and continue to fight in it. We can at least hope in some way to imitate their strengths and resilience, to be able to have the similar life lesson they had and to be able to help contribute to the rich legacy of the party as they had as well. Well, okay. Im going to okay. We have some of the greatest resources through our elders within the party. To learn from and be thankful for those that have come before us. Im reminded of a political activist, maran wright elderman noted of his elders. I feel very luck where i to have grown up having interaction with the adults who were megachange and were far from perfect beings. That feeling of not being paralyzed by your incredible inadequacy of a human being which i feel day to day is part of the legacy that i have gotten for so many of the adult elders. Elders may not be the best way to describe them. Im reminded of what author Elizabeth Kobler Ross broeld wrote when speaking of the older generations. The most Beautiful People we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. Shes right. Beautiful people dont just happen. They are created, and blossom in the complexity of life and struggle. Thats who our elders are. Truly Beautiful People who we are so grateful to have still fighting by our side and being able to learn from their experience and lessons. Thank you. Hi. Executive vice chair of the party. I hope you feel as uplifted as i am right now. Wral look great. Let me tell you. I say to you good afternoon, and i say to you were going to have a Great Convention here. But i have a very specific task this evening. I want to talk to you about extending a welcome to our international guests. Coming from the most powerful nation in the world, our party has a long and courageous record of fearless solidarity. Workers of the world and oppressed people of the world unite has become more than a great slogan for our party for 95 years. We have fought this fought for all through those 95 years and for all that we have to translate the powerful words and to powerful movements of struggle. The founders of our party lifted the baber of internationalism and solidarity with the first socialist nation in the land that developed and the land. We carried it in defense of republican spain and against the fascist berlin, tokyo, rome. The banner protested baptista and the and it embraced cuban socialism. Today it reads in the embargo and free the cuban fire. Our banner was lifted in solidarity with the courageous people of vietnam and their valiant struggle against u. S. Impeer wralism. We are with the free people of vietnam today and are hopeful that a peaceful solution will be found to end the current most serious wlikt with the peoples republic of china thats going on right now. Our banner of antirace echl International Us was raised in solidarity with south africas fight for freedom. When we hail the founding of the new antiracist democratic republic of south africa, we continue to raise the banner in solidarity with the new prosocialist venezuela and all newt elected elected progressive governments in latin america. We stood with the people of iraq and occupation in the country and in their continued struggle for a just and lasting peace of selfdetermination, the banner of the cp usa forever will wave against u. S. Impeer wralism and in solidarity with the oppressed and ebbing metro detroited in the world. It is against austerity which is being spread by the most powerful economic forces around the world. Were for labor and peoples fight back all over the world. We stand with the people of iran, against the threats of war coming mainly from our ultra right, but not only from the ultra right. Also from the israeli ruling circles. We hold high our banners of antiimpeer wralism stand with the peoples of central and south america and the struggle for social justice and for economic and political independence. Independence from u. S. Corporate dominance. Workers and oppressed people of the world unite. In the ukraine, u. S. Policy is to join with those who wave the flag of nazism lug to some surprise the Confederate Flag was waived in kiev. These cool people who carry the Confederate Flag of u. S. Slavery, they are supposed to be our allies in the ukraine . Hell no. The world has not forgotten what nazism is. U. S. Imperialism does not represent the interest of the American People. We know that. Their goal is not peace on earth, but how big a piece of this earth they can dominate and exploit. It is the wasted treasure, of our nation squandered on war that we cannot afford. It is the blood of our working and middle class young men and women, many of whom were coerced, bullied into military service on behalf of u. S. Corporate impeer wralist interests, that same interest that exported our jobs in the first place. Scottsboro, Angela Herndon and so many who face the gallos. The whole fight to bring down the beastial slavery system gained worldwide political muscle because of international solidarity. It was a wealthy english during the civil war, the great carmikes land to fight to mobilize the workers to refuse to unload ships made from slave labor and antiracism, antiracist solidarity is basic to working class solidarity. Our party our party will never forget what communist and workers parties did in their fight to save angela davis. [ applause ] long Live International solidarity. Workers and oppressed people of the world unite. Our unity is our strength. Comrades, many parties have sent in wonderful greetings to our convention. We are especially delight to have our Many International guests who have joined us, many traveling thousands of miles to be with us. A number of other parties as john mentioned were blocked by the state department and the cubans sent in their application. They didnt say no. They just hit the visa. I dont know. Nothing came out of it, and they said they often do that. I thought we were irrelevant. I thought we were, you know what are they scared of . Our secretary of state, you know, come on. We had guest from all over the world. What is your problem, brother . You understand what im saying . I think its part of their whatever, wron what it is. Anyway, the South African delegation would be here. They always come. There was a problem of health. He could not make the trip. They send their best wishes. We say to those that are here, however, welcome being comrades. We are honored by your presence. I want to ask each one to stand as i call your partys name. Comrades, please try to hold your amruz until our wonderful International Comrades are all standing. Fat chance, i know. First of all, from the communist party of brazil, please stand. You can remain standing. The communist party of britain, please stand. Thats all the applause yall can do . Come on. Huh . I know. Im teasing you. The party of germany, please stand. The twoday party of iran. [ applause ] the communist party of iraq is here. The communist party of japan is here. And the communist party of vietnam. [ applause ] welcome. Please give them a rouzing hand. You all get a chance in the course of this weekend to hear much and meet them, so on, but long Live International solidarity. Im sorry thank you. Juan lopez, the organizer of the Northern California district. Thank you. Well, it is a great privilege and pleasure to introduce our National Chairman sam web. Sam has been a mentor and an inspiration to many of us, including myself. I am proud to say that sam and i at the ripe age of 69 share a common destiny. We are one were from entering the prime of our lives. [ applause ] as young men our baby boomer swrrgs was shaped by the movements of the 1960 civil rights and antivietnam war era to which the party just emerging from the mccarthy period made important contributions. At the time first as a College Student and then a worker, a shop steward, sam served as leader of the party in his native maine with distinction. In the 1970s at the partys urging, sam and his family moved to detroit when the Automobile Industry was still king. Under sams leadership, the party in michigan ably contributed to the fresh winds that were reenergizing and renewing the Labor Movement unleashing the process resulting in todays progressive trends. In the 1980s at party in new york sam went on to become secretary of the Partys National labor commission. During subsequent years he went to take National Assignments becoming an effective trouble shooter on major parties of the partys work. After the soviet union, the socialist xamp in Eastern Europe imploded, sam played a pivotal role in helping lead the party out of one of the most challenging periods bringing unity, stability, continuity, and renewal to the party. It was a united party that enthusiastically elected him as National Chairman in 2000. It is this threat, continuity, and renewal. Continuity and renewal that our National Chairman has told us to pass through the eye of a needle resulting in the sound policies in overlooking trajectory that characterizes our party today. In todays world, when the contradictions have never been greater in our lifetime between the 1 and the 99 , together sam leading with other highly capable comrades in the collective bodies, together with comrades at all levels, toget r together. Its where we fell short. With fresh minds together, this weekend we chart a course that will build on the Great Strides we have made since our last convention. Sam has brought outstanding qualities worth mentioning because of the impact they have on our party and through our party carry over into the mass arena. A deep understanding of the science and art we call marxism. Marxism not fixed in stone for all time, but one very much alive, masterfully applied to concrete circumstances and evolving with everchanging reality. A keen appreciation for the sensibilities and the aspirations of our nations working class of people, not least for members of our own party. A style of leadership, utterly collected with disarming humility at the same time, reality based bold initiative. Leadership by example as well as persuasion. Being aware that sam is not one for personal nevertheless, i felt obliged to bring these qualities out because they represent much of the best in our partys collective experience. So it is with our minds set on continuity and renewal that we set out as we said leaning to our National Convention not to perform some radical makeover or programs, policies, and party, but rather, to make some adjustments, do some finetuning, and discuss and agree on some exciting new initiatives. Without further ado, i present to you my dear friend and comrade sam web. [ applause ] thank you, juan, for your overly generous introduction, and i accept it. Thats how we try to function over the past 14 years, and by and large, i think weve done a pretty good job at it, but i accept it in a collective spirit. Its great to see all of you here, and special thank you to the Convention Organizing Committee who did yomans work, john, judith, lebarow, john, joelle, elaineaelainaa, hersche tony. Lets have a hand. Good afternoon, everybody, and a special good afternoon to our international guests. Thank you for coming so far to be with us. Seems like everybody is raring to go, so i hope i can get us off and running well. Every convention has its own particular mission. What is the mission of this 30th convention . In addition to catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, breaking bread together and just generally having a good time, our mission is to take a fresh and sober look at the days realities and challenges. This includes making adjustments of a strategic and tactical nature to new conditions. It entails taking better care of the future and the struggles of the presence. Over the next three days, well turn our attention to those social movements which are critical to recasting our countrys politics, economics and popular thinking. While we look ahead, we also keep in sight the immediate challenge of this falls elections. Of course, we give our attention to the many sided building of our party for the 21st century. Such a party should be modern, mature, militant en masse. In my world the much utilized and collective and penetrating voice in the peoples world. Far more effectively than it has done up until now. Im not going to turn my attention now im going to turn my attention to the main challenges that the leadership of the party would like you, you the delegates, to discuss, debate, and decide over the next three days. Ill present them one by one for the purposes of clarity, but real life each intermingles with the others in countless ways. Challenge one, people surge. Seems like every day somebody new is raising hell. Rattling the cages of the powers that be. One day its the dreamers. The next day its walmart and fast food workers, and then the moshl monday movement that the day after that. Then there are seemingly endless actions to increase the minimum wage. There are also initiatives to stop deportations and the militaryization of the border. To this we have to add the mobilizations against Voter Suppression along with ongoing campaigns to register the vote. Nor can we forget the struggles to stop mass incarceration and overhaul a judicial system that is full of racial and class bias. Of great significance are the efforts to protect Womens Health at abortion clinics which are under fierce attack. Then there are the inspiring student campaigns against Global Energy corporations, student debt, and the keystone pipeline. We shouldnt forget the flood of phone calls that nearly overwhelm the congress, switchboards of what look like imminent u. S. Military action in syria. Also great significance was a trance formative Convention Last fall. Still, another impressive example of the surgery was the landslide win of bill deblasio, of mayor of new york. He was a selfdescribed progressive. Then a few weeks ago across the might where i hudson, in another impressive victory was elected newarks mayor. Finally finally an aspects of this surge that is so inspiring it brings tears to my eyes and the pass passage of Marriage Equality legislation in state after state. These victories have become so common that it is ease where i to lose sight of the enormous change that represents that this represents and thanks go to the courage and tenacity of the lbgt movement. Letting everyones name tip our banner to the late harry hayes as well as as well as to the pioneering stonewall generation. That includes our own Jerry Donovan and eric gordon. Eric is with us. The stonewall the stonewall generation the battle they lost loved ones to the aid epidemic, and they never gave an inch to ignorance and hate. If i could sum up the surge in a few words, i might say i might say that things are breaking good, not breaking bad. Ill be the first to say that the surge of struggle doesnt have the capacity, resolve, the crisis of capitalism, and a consistently democratic and working class manner. But does it have transformative potential . Yes. I believe it contains the seeds if could if properly cared for could bring a new burst of freedom, economic security, and peace to our land. Of course, the dels advocate would quickly remind me of wrarz that make any kind of progress, let alone social transformation unlikely. You know what, the obstacles are formidable. The task is daunting. We should lower our sights or lose those gifts called hope and desire or give up on the American People. The present surge is real, and it can evolve into a movement of the majority in the interest of the immense majority. Its a lubbock as well as san francisco. Its in the south as well as the north. Its in the heartland as well as the coast. Its the red states as well as blue states. To put it differently, only a movement is one progressive analyst that includes the desperately poor. In the insecure middle