International Labor Defense
Encyclopedia
The International Labor Defense (ILD) was a legal defense organization
in the United States
, headed by William L. Patterson
. It was a US section of International Red Aid
organisation, and associated with the Communist Party USA
. It defended Sacco and Vanzetti
, was active in the civil rights
and anti-lynching
movements, and participated in the defense
of the Scottsboro Boys
. It was formed in 1925, and in 1946 merged with the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties to form the Civil Rights Congress
.
Max Shachtman
was an editor
of the ILD's magazine, the Labor Defender, during the 1920s; Whittaker Chambers
and Jacob Burck
were contributing editors
during the early 1930s.
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, headed by William L. Patterson
William L. Patterson
William L. Patterson was a leader in the Communist Party USA and head of the International Labor Defense, a group that offered legal representation to communists, trade unionists, and African-Americans in cases involving issues of political or racial persecution...
. It was a US section of International Red Aid
International Red Aid
International Red Aid was an international social service organization established by the Communist International...
organisation, and associated with the Communist Party USA
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
. It defended Sacco and Vanzetti
Sacco and Vanzetti
Ferdinando Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were anarchists who were convicted of murdering two men during a 1920 armed robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts, United States...
, was active in the civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
and anti-lynching
Lynching in the United States
Lynching, the practice of killing people by extrajudicial mob action, occurred in the United States chiefly from the late 18th century through the 1960s. Lynchings took place most frequently in the South from 1890 to the 1920s, with a peak in the annual toll in 1892.It is associated with...
movements, and participated in the defense
Defense (legal)
In civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions under the common law, a defendant may raise a defense in an attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability...
of the Scottsboro Boys
Scottsboro Boys
The Scottsboro Boys were nine black teenage boys accused of rape in Alabama in 1931. The landmark set of legal cases from this incident dealt with racism and the right to a fair trial...
. It was formed in 1925, and in 1946 merged with the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties to form the Civil Rights Congress
Civil Rights Congress
The Civil Rights Congress was a civil rights organization formed in 1946 by a merger of the International Labor Defense and the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties. It became known for involvement in civil rights cases such as the Trenton Six and justice for Isaiah Nixon. The CRC...
.
Max Shachtman
Max Shachtman
Max Shachtman was an American Marxist theorist. He evolved from being an associate of Leon Trotsky to a social democrat and mentor of senior assistants to AFL-CIO President George Meany.-Beginnings:...
was an editor
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
of the ILD's magazine, the Labor Defender, during the 1920s; Whittaker Chambers
Whittaker Chambers
Whittaker Chambers was born Jay Vivian Chambers and also known as David Whittaker Chambers , was an American writer and editor. After being a Communist Party USA member and Soviet spy, he later renounced communism and became an outspoken opponent later testifying in the perjury and espionage trial...
and Jacob Burck
Jacob Burck
Jacob "Jake" Burck was an American painter, sculptor, and Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist.-Early years:Jacob Burck was born January 10, 1907, near Białystok, Poland, the son of ethnic Jewish parents, Abraham Burck and Rebecca Lev Burck...
were contributing editors
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
during the early 1930s.
External links
- International Labor Defense (1925 - 1946). Organizational history and document archive at Early American Marxist History archive. Retrieved August 25, 2006.
- International Labor Defense Activities (1 January-1 July 1928). By Martin Abern. From James P. Cannon and the Early Years of American Communism. Selected Writings and Speeches, 1920-1928. Spartacist Publishing Company, 1992. ISBN 0-9633828-1-0.
- International Labor Defense. Scottsboro: An American Tragedy. The American Experience, Public Broadcasting ServicePublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
, 1999. - The International Labor Defense, its Constitution and Organization Resolution : adopted by the Fourth National Convention New York : International Labor Defense,
See also
- International Red Aid (MOPR)International Red AidInternational Red Aid was an international social service organization established by the Communist International...
- Executive Committee of the Communist InternationalExecutive Committee of the Communist InternationalThe Executive Committee of the Communist International, commonly known by its acronym, ECCI, was the governing authority of the Comintern between the World Congresses of that body...