Revolutionary Communists of America

This article is about the Trotskyist communist party. For the Marxist-Leninist communist party, see Communist Party USA. For the Maoist communist party, see Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. For similarly named groups, see Communist Party USA (disambiguation).
Revolutionary Communists of America
AbbreviationRCA
Founded1998
NewspaperThe Communist
Membership (2024)800
Ideology
Political positionFar-left
International affiliationRevolutionary Communist International
Members in elected offices0
Website
communistusa.org

The Revolutionary Communists of America (RCA) is a communist political party in the United States. RCA is the US section of the Revolutionary Communist International (RCI), a Trotskyist political international formerly known as the International Marxist Tendency (IMT). RCA first formed in 1998.

RCA describes itself as a revolutionary socialist party fighting for a workers' government and a democratically planned economy, because capitalism cannot be "gradually reformed out of existence".[1]

Membership

In August 2023, Socialist Revolution claimed 340 members.[2][3] In February 2024, RCA claimed 630 members.[2] In June 2024, RCA claimed 800 members.[3]

Ideology

RCA is a Trotskyist party, arguing that communists "must base ourselves" on "the writings of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Trotsky", which are the "pinnacle of revolutionary theory".[4] RCA's program supports public ownership of "the essential levers of the economy", economic planning, a $60 minimum wage and a 20-hour workweek, "socialized health care", public college for all, and "guaranteed employment". RCA supports anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-transphobia, anti-xenophobia, and anti-imperialism.[1]

Joaquin Montelibano characterizes RCA as a "middle of the road" Trotskyist organization, between "programmatic" orthodox Trotskyists and "progressive" post-Trotskyists who seek collaboration with left and progressive organizations.[5]

RCA rejects the Big Bang,[6] which RCA writers call a "broken theory" (2025),[7] "an idealistic notion of an origin to the universe" (2023),[8] and a "modern creation myth" (2022).[9]

History

Renamings

In 1998, supporters of the International Marxist Tendency (IMT) in the United States created the group as Youth for International Socialism (YFIS), which published New Youth.[10] In June 2002, YFIS renamed itself to the Workers' International League (WIL) and its newspaper to Socialist Appeal. The group was usually known as Socialist Appeal (SA).[11] In 2017, WIL renamed its newspaper to Socialist Revolution. The group was usually known as Socialist Revolution (SR).[12] In 2024, WIL renamed itself to the Revolutionary Communists of America and its newspaper to The Communist,[13][14][5] as part of an IMT-wide rebranding from Trotskyist labels & symbols to more generic communist labels & hammer and sickle symbols. IMT itself renamed to the Revolutionary Communist International (RCI) in 2025.[15][5][16]

Subsequent history

In 2020, after the rapid growth of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), many SR members joined DSA chapters.[17] In contrast to the DSA's current strategy, in which virtually all elected DSA endorsees won on the Democratic Party ballot line, SR members demand "an immediate and total break with the Democrats".[18]

In 2022, conservative website Campus Reform negatively covered SR's "Marxist School" events,[19][20] where a Turning Point USA reporter noted that the Socialist Revolution organizers "allegedly called for a revolution".[20]

In 2023, SR members put up posters near college campuses which read: "Are you a communist? Then get organized." The posters were styled after "I Want YOU for US Army".[21][22][23][24][25]

In 2024, after its founding convention, RCA held a rally of 300-500 people in Philadelphia,[13][26] who chanted "fight the rich and feed the poor!"[27] When Elon Musk replied with "!" to a video of this on X, the RCA said "billionaires are parasites".[28]

In 2024, several conservative influencers spread a fake video of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz posing with a Revolutionary Communists of America sign.[29][30] The image went viral among some American Latino communities.[31] The La Nueva Poderosa podcast cited the video to prove Kamala has "no shame" about supporting communism. When corrected, the hosts said their story was "not true" but that "doesn't take away from the reality that Kamala is a Marxist".[31]

In 2025, RCA members joined the No Kings protests in New York City,[32][33] Chicago,[34] and New Orleans.[35]

In 2025, RCA claimed that Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) endorsee Zohran Mamdani was trying to "divide the working class against one another" by supporting congestion pricing. RCA also claimed that Mamdani was "deceiving the working class" by running on the Democratic Party ballot line.[36]

Conventions

# Name Date Location Attendees Notes Reports
2nd RCA Second National Congress May 31–June 1, 2025 Philadelphia, PA "460 communists"[37]
1st RCA Founding Congress July 27–28, 2024 Philadelphia, PA "over 400 communists"[38] Workers International League (WIL) renamed to Revolutionary Communists of America (RCA), Socialist Revolution to The Communist.
6th 2023 SR National Congress June 3–4, 2023 Philadelphia, PA "some 230 communists"[39]
5th 2021 SR National Congress October 9–10, 2021 Pittsburgh, PA "170 delegates and comrades"[40]
4th 2020 SR National Congress May 2020 Pittsburgh, PA Cancelled by COVID-19.[41]
3rd 2018 US IMT National Congress May 26–27, 2018 Pittsburgh, PA "nearly 90" attendees[42]
2nd Extraordinary 2017 US IMT Congress May 27–28, 2017 Pittsburgh, PA "over 80" attendees[43] Socialist Appeal renamed to Socialist Revolution.
1st 2016 US IMT National Congress May 28-29, 2016 Pittsburgh, PA "around 80" attendees[44]
8th 2014 WIL National Congress May 24-25, 2014 Pittsburgh, PA not stated[45]
7th 2012 WIL National Congress Nov 10-11, 2012 Pittsburgh, PA "nearly 60" attendees[46]
6th 2010 WIL National Congress May 29–30, 2010 Minneapolis, MN not stated[47]
5th 2008 WIL National Congress May 17–18, 2008 Minneapolis, MN "nearly 30 members"[48]
4th 2007 WIL National Congress May 12–13, 2007 St. Louis, MO "over 30 members and guests"[49]
3rd 2006 WIL National Congress May 13–14, 2006 St. Louis, MO "some 30 members and supporters"[50]
2nd 2004 WIL National Congress
1st 2002 WIL National Congress June 2002 Youth for International Socialism (YFIS) renamed to Workers International League (WIL), New Youth to Socialist Appeal.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "A Fighting Program for the Revolutionary Communists of America". Revolutionary Communists of America. July 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "It is time to launch a Revolutionary Communist International!". International Marxist Tendency. February 12, 2024. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "The Revolutionary Communist International Has Arrived!". CommunistUSA.org. 2024-06-17. Archived from the original on 2024-12-21.
  4. ^ Revolutionary Communists of America (May 9, 2024). "A Manifesto for America's Communist Generation". Revolutionary Communists of America. Revolutionary Communists of America. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
  5. ^ a b c Montelibano, Joaquin (2025). "A Taxonomy of Contemporary American Trotskyist Organizations" (PDF). University Repository at Boston College (Senior thesis). Boston College. Revolutionary Communists of America changed their name from the International Marxist Tendency, following their international organization make the same change from IMT to Revolutionary Communist International, with the hope of attracting a mass of freefloating youth autodidacts attracted to the word 'communist' (H 2024).
  6. ^ Parkinson, Donald (November 17, 2025). "Letter: The Dead Will Not Be Raised". Cosmonaut Magazine. Today, sectarian organizations like the International Marxist Tendency (IMT) hold revisionist lines on the Big Bang theory, while revisionist history around a supposed ancient civilization of Tartaria is popular in the Stalinist American Communist Party (ACP).
  7. ^ Woods, Alan (January 16, 2025). "What is Truth?". The Communist. Revolutionary Communists of America.
  8. ^ Curry, Ben (April 4, 2023). "The Big Bang: Shoehorning the Facts to Fit the Theory". The Communist. Revolutionary Communists of America. Archived from the original on November 3, 2024. But we are convinced that the irrational side of the [Big Bang] theory—the idealistic notion of an origin to the universe; of a moment of creation of matter, space and time; and all the absurd mathematical patch ups that keep the theory going—all that will be forced to give way under the weight of observational evidence, and scientists will once more recognize that the universe is infinite and eternal, and that matter can neither be created nor destroyed.
  9. ^ Garcia Colin, David; Angerer, Vincent (November 21, 2022). "The James Webb Telescope: An Eye onto a Universe, Infinite in Time and Space". The Communist. Revolutionary Communists of America. Archived from the original on November 16, 2024. But far from exalting God's creation, the JWST is now beginning to send back data that poses serious difficulties for that modern creation myth: the Big Bang theory. As it looks deeper into space, it is beginning to challenge long-held prejudices about the origin and development of the universe and shedding a brilliant light on profound and important scientific and philosophical questions.
  10. ^ "About Us". Youth for International Socialism. 2000. Archived from the original on April 11, 2000.
  11. ^ "Editorial to Special Issue of Socialist Appeal (July 2002)". Socialist Appeal. Workers International League. 2002-07-04. Archived from the original on 2011-11-30.
  12. ^ Peterson, John (July 16, 2017). "Editorial: It's Time for Socialist Revolution". Socialist Revolution. Workers International League.
  13. ^ a b Jordan Willow Evans (February 27, 2024). "United States Branch of the International Marxist Tendency Launches "Revolutionary Communists of America" Party". Independent Political Report. Outsider Media Foundation. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
  14. ^ "Class Fighters Gather Across the US to Launch the Revolutionary Communists of America". Socialist Revolution. Workers' International League. February 26, 2024. Archived from the original on 2024-02-28.
  15. ^ Flakin, Nathaniel (February 26, 2024). "Are You a Communist? Then Let's Talk about the IMT". Left Voice. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024.
  16. ^ Chaffin, Joshua (2025-09-27). "The Rise of America's Young Socialists—From the 2008 Financial Crisis to Mamdani". The Wall Street Journal. Still, one of the cell's veterans urged newer comrades to proudly brandish the hammer and sickle during their fall recruiting drive. "Wherever we go, we must show up and show out," the comrade said. "We are Revolutionary Communists!"
  17. ^ Trottier, Tom; Balmer, Antonio (15 June 2021). "What Kind of Party Are We Fighting For? A Reply to Comrades in DSA". Socialist Revolution.
  18. ^ Brancaccio, Nick; Wilson, Robert; White, Sarah (November 7, 2020). "USA: break with the Democrats! A resolution presented to Phoenix DSA". Archived from the original on November 7, 2020.
  19. ^ Dallmeyer, Mckenna (March 1, 2022). "This Marxist group thinks socialism can solve COVID-19". Campus Reform.
  20. ^ a b Cason, Caroline (October 24, 2022). "Universities host 'Marxist Schools' sponsored by international revolutionary organization".
  21. ^ Rogers, Kelly (2023-10-04). "Opinion: Are you a communist? Then fork over $65!". The Minnesota Daily. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  22. ^ Schoenberger, Rory (2025-03-17). "Street Politics: Exploring Visual Dissonance in New Haven". The Politic. Archived from the original on 2025-08-01.
  23. ^ "'Join the communists': Minneapolis to play host to 'Marxist School'". Alpha News MN. 2023-09-23. Archived from the original on 2025-09-09.
  24. ^ Flakin, Nathaniel (2024-02-13). "Are You a Communist? Then Let's Talk About the IMT". Left Voice. Trotskyist Fraction – Fourth International. Archived from the original on 2024-02-13.
  25. ^ "Are You a Communist in the U.S.? Then Get Organized!". Socialist Revolution. Revolutionary Communists of America. 2025-05-15. Archived from the original on 2025-07-23.
  26. ^ "Philadelphia Hosts Large Communist Party Parade in Center City". Shore News Network. July 29, 2024.
  27. ^ Norman, Greg (July 30, 2024). "Video captures communists marching in Philadelphia, chanting for a 'class war'". Philadelphia Police tell Fox News Digital that around 300 people participated in march
  28. ^ Mukul, Sushim (Jul 29, 2024). "As Communists march on US streets, Elon Musk has an exclamation". India Today.
  29. ^ "Harris and Walz posing with a communist sign? No, image is altered". USA TODAY. 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  30. ^ "Harris and Walz Posed with Revolutionary Communists of America Sign? (Fact Check)". Snopes. 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  31. ^ a b "Why 'Comrade Kamala' memes are spreading among Latino exiles". BBC News. September 23, 2024. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  32. ^ NYU Review News Team (October 22, 2025). "NYU Communists Join "No Kings Protest," Calling to "Overthrow Capitalism"". The NYU Review. The NYU Review. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
  33. ^ "'NYU Communists' vow to fight capitalism with Marxist revolution at 'No Kings' rally". Fox News Digital. 2025-10-21. Archived from the original on 2025-11-15.
  34. ^ McClelland, Edward (June 16, 2025). "Cause Canvassing at No Kings". Chicago Magazine.
  35. ^ Ravits, Sarah (Jun 14, 2025). "Thousands of New Orleanians participate in national 'No Kings' protest". Gambit.
  36. ^ Bardolf, Deirdre (June 22, 2025). "Communist group slams Mamdani for 'deceiving working class,' making 'false promises'". New York Post.
  37. ^ "RCA Second National Congress: Building a Bolshevik Training Ground". The Communist. Revolutionary Communists of America. June 4, 2025. Archived from the original on June 5, 2025.
  38. ^ "Founding Congress of the RCA: The Future of American Communism is Bright". The Communist. Revolutionary Communists of America. 2024-07-31. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024.
  39. ^ "Revolutionary Fervor and Bolshevik Resolve at the 2023 Socialist Revolution Congress". Socialist Revolution. Workers' International League. 2023-06-06. Archived from the original on 2024-11-14.
  40. ^ "Socialist Revolution National Congress 2021: Marxism on the Rise!". Socialist Revolution. Workers' International League. 2021-10-14. Archived from the original on 2024-11-15.
  41. ^ "National Marxist School 2020: A World on Fire". Socialist Revolution. Workers' International League. 2020-07-02. Archived from the original on 2026-01-29.
  42. ^ "US IMT Congress 2018: Fighting for Socialism in Our Lifetime". CommunistUSA.org. 2018-05-31. Archived from the original on 2026-01-29.
  43. ^ "Extraordinary 2017 Congress of the US IMT". Socialist Revolution. Workers' International League. 2017-06-07. Archived from the original on 2026-01-29.
  44. ^ "A Turning Point for the Forces of the IMT in the US: National Congress 2016". Socialist Appeal. Workers' International League. 2016-06-08. Archived from the original on 2025-07-02.
  45. ^ "Editorial to Special Issue of Socialist Appeal (July 2002)". Socialist Appeal. 2002-07-04. Archived from the original on 2011-11-30.
  46. ^ "Workers International League Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary Congress". Socialist Appeal. Workers' International League. 2012-11-21. Archived from the original on 2026-01-29.
  47. ^ "USA: 2010 National Congress of the WIL". In Defence of Marxism. International Marxist Tendency. 2010-06-16. Archived from the original on 2025-09-09.
  48. ^ "Successful 2008 Congress of the Workers International League". Socialist Appeal. Workers International League. 2008-05-26. Archived from the original on 2011-12-01.
  49. ^ "WIL National Congress 2007". Socialist Appeal. Workers International League. 2007-05-25. Archived from the original on 2011-12-01.
  50. ^ "Workers International League Congress 2006". Socialist Appeal. Workers International League. 2006-05-13. Archived from the original on 2006-12-31.
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