[Marxism] A regrettable incident of exclusionism

[John Riddell]

Dear friends of MarxMail--
 
Those approaching the memorial meeting for Robert Simms, held January 19,
were confronted at the door by a phalanx of four guards, alert to prevent my
entry into the meeting.
 
I had been banned from this meeting on the grounds of association with
Ernest Tate, a prominent and respected figure among revolutionary socialists
in Canada and a member of Socialist Project.
 
The meeting was organized by the Communist League, of which Simms had been a
member. 
 
This incident is so bizarre as to seem almost unworthy of comment. However
we must recall that the norms of democratic discussion and inclusivity in
the workers' movement have been won through tenacious struggle. We should be
vigilant in their defense.
 
What follows is the exchange of letters between the Communist League, sister
organization of the U.S. Socialist Workers Party, and Riddell.
 
John Riddell
 
Letter from Communist League to John Riddell

January 15, 2008

 

John Riddell, Toronto

 

Dear John Riddell,

 

This is acknowledging your December 12 letter requesting information on the
celebration of Robert Simms' political life.

 

You have been excluded from events organized by the Communist League since
2004. Your public association at that time with Ernest Tate, who was
violence-baiting the party and its sister organization in the U.S., the
Socialist Workers Party, put you outside of those who are welcome at
meetings we take responsibility for.

 

You will not be admitted to the celebration of the life of Robert Simms, and
we will not tolerate disruption of the event.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michel Prairie

 

Reply by Riddell to Communist League 

January 25, 2008

Michel Prairie, Communist League, Toronto

Dear Michel:

I strongly protest your decision to bar me from the January 19 memorial
meeting for Robert Simms. Your action violates working class norms of
solidarity and elementary human decency.

I have been active in the labour and socialist movements for 50 years. Never
before have I heard of a comrade being prevented from honoring the life of a
fellow fighter because of political differences. 

Responding to my request a month earlier for information on the memorial
meeting, you wrote me January 15 that I was excluded from the meeting on the
basis of my "public association [in 2004] with Ernest Tate, who was
violence-baiting the party and its sister organization in the U.S., the
Socialist Workers Party." 

You offered no evidence for this bizarre accusation against Ernie Tate, and
no one who is familiar with his many decades of principled activity in the
left can possibly believe it. In fact, my one public association with Ernie
in 2004 was a letter we wrote and circulated calling for vigorous support of
the Socialist Workers Party, whose campaign office in Pennsylvania had been
firebombed. (See: "Protest Fire-Bombing of Pennsylvania Socialist HQ"
<http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=20> http://www.socialistvoice.ca/?p=20.) 

You expelled me from the Communist League supporters group in 2004, after I
disagreed with the CL's policy on opposition to the war in Iraq. Despite our
political differences, we are both committed to the workers' struggle, and
so I considered it an honour and duty to join in celebrating the life of
Robert Simms, a comrade I worked with for many years.

No one questions your right to organize your internal meetings as you see
fit, or to defend your public meetings against disruption. But we share a
common working-class heritage that has always upheld open discussion and
debate and defended it against attacks from all sides. Your violation of
that heroic tradition is all the more notable since it concerned a memorial
meeting, which ought above all to be an expression of unity.

I urge you to return to the norms of solidarity and mutual respect that the
Socialist Workers Party and Communist League have supported in the past.

Fraternally,

John Riddell
Copy to Ernie Tate




 


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