Is it illegal to join Leftist movements?

[Reznov]

Was talking with a friend, and she said that it was illegal to join organizations like the PFLO (Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine) or any kind of groups from Cuba Venezuela etc...

So in the case if someone was to go to Cuba, could that person join the Communist Party? If they did what would happen and would they be welcomed back to the U.S.?

Trying to get the actual law for this, as I don't see how this would be illegal (Free Speech?) And, we are both Americans.

[Magón]

Well they can't necessarily arrest you publicly for saying you're a supporter of the PFLO, or any other group. Most of those are considered terrorist organizations by the US and most of the Western World, so you might get a few stares and maybe a US Government watchman tailing you around, seeing who you're meeting with, etc.

Also, you get in serious shit if you come back to the US from Cuba with a Cuban stamp on your visa/passport.

[Gorilla]

Was talking with a friend, and she said that it was illegal to join organizations like the PFLO (Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine) or any kind of groups from Cuba Venezuela etc...

So in the case if someone was to go to Cuba, could that person join the Communist Party? If they did what would happen and would they be welcomed back to the U.S.?

Trying to get the actual law for this, as I don't see how this would be illegal (Free Speech?) And, we are both Americans.

PFLP is on the State Department list of terrorist organizations. So is FARC. You can get fucked hard for going anywhere near them (see FRSO-Fightback!).

I don't believe the Communist Party of Cuba is on the list, but if you went there to join you'd have to spend some money in Cuba and that is a crime under federal law.

I don't believe any Venezuelan or Venezuela-solidarity organizations are on the list either, although if you're active in them you will probably get your own FBI file sooner or later.

[altnet]

I believe it is law that it is illegal for any United States citizen to contribute funds/be a member of any sort of revolutionary force in any other country. Can anyone shed light on this? And yea they would possibly not let you back into the country/place you under arrest for traveling to Cuba.

[graymouser]

Well, there's the Voorhis Act, which prohibits being part of an international political organization. For legal reasons after the act was passed, the Communist Party USA dropped its official status in the Communist International and the Socialist Workers Party went from being a section to a "fraternal" group in solidarity with the Fourth International. My group, Socialist Action, continues to have this relationship with the FI. You also can't directly advocate the violent overthrow of the government, which is why our tradition likewise calls for a "workers' government" rather than saying "let's overthrow the whole thing."

Of course, the government and its political police do what they damn well please. From a legal point of view, COINTELPRO had virtually no laws backing it up and may as well have been a vigilante operation.

[altnet]

Wasn't there some concern a while ago over the fact that the PSL supports the PFLO and could possibly have been designated a terrorist organization due to this fact?

[chegitz guevara]

While it is not illegal to be a member of a revolutionary group, if you're effective, it won't stop the ruling class from fucking with you.

[Olentzero]

Well, there's the Voorhis Act, which prohibits being part of an international political organization.You got the text cite to back that up? Not that I don't believe you, it's just that it has some very personal relevance and I need to study this further.

[altnet]

You got the text cite to back that up? Not that I don't believe you, it's just that it has some very personal relevance and I need to study this further.



2067 Voorhis Act—18 U.S.C. § 2386

The Voorhis Act (18 U.S.C. § 2386) requires registration with the Attorney General of certain organizations, the purpose of which is to overthrow the government or a political subdivision thereof by the use of force and violence. The rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are set forth in 28 C.F.R. § 10.1 et seq.

anonym.to/justice.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title9/crm02067.htm

Found that and:


The Voorhis Act of 1940 required subversive organizations to register with the attorney general. In 1947 President Harry Truman issued an executive order establishing a program to rid the federal government of employees found to be disloyal or security risks.

from answers.com (answers.com/topic/communist-control-act-of-1954)

[tracher999]

wtf they can arest me because i vizit this site ore what:D

[Obs]

wtf they can arest me because i vizit this site ore what:D

Don't worry - I doubt anyone considers you a grave threat to capitalism.

[flobdob]

Any legality concerns aside, why would you go to Palestine to join the PFLP, Cuba to join the CPC, etc?

Working in solidarity with these movements means bringing imperialism's chickens home to roost. The greatest act of solidarity with Palestine and Cuba is making revolution in the citadels of imperialism themselves.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Well, there's the Voorhis Act, which prohibits being part of an international political organization.


2067 Voorhis Act—18 U.S.C. § 2386

The Voorhis Act (18 U.S.C. § 2386) requires registration with the Attorney General of certain organizations, the purpose of which is to overthrow the government or a political subdivision thereof by the use of force and violence. The rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are set forth in 28 C.F.R. § 10.1 et seq.

* * *

One major achievement to come out of my father's membership in H.U.A.C. was the Voorhis Act, which passed Congress and was signed into law during 1940. The Act did two things. It required that organizations representing foreign governments be registered with the United States Government. This applied to groups which officially represented Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, Kuomintang China, Japan, or Great Britain, and also to organizations that were financed or indirectly controlled by these foreign governments. It also required the registration of paramilitary groups and organizations which advocated a forcible overthrow of the United States Government. Under the Voorhis Act, the Communist Party, the German-American Bund, and pro-Fascist groups like the Silvershirts, would have to register. Their membership, management, financial and paramilitary activities could then be monitored by Washington.

The Voorhis Act attached no criminal penalties to membership in these organizations, unlike the later Smith Act and the subsequent Humphrey Amendment... - http://www.csupomona.edu/~library/specialcollections/voorhis/books/chap4.html (http://www.csupomona.edu/%7Elibrary/specialcollections/voorhis/books/chap4.html)

* * *

(Of course the Voorhis Act was named after Democratic congressman Jerry Voorhis, who was a prominent liberal and backer of the New Deal, which shows just how friendly such "friends of labor" are and always have been... The "Humphrey Amendment" was introduced by liberal Democrat Hubert Humphrey. The Smith Act on the other hand was named for an open enemy of workers, member of the conservative coalition, who opposed desegregation.. but was still a Democrat.)

[chegitz guevara]

You got the text cite to back that up? Not that I don't believe you, it's just that it has some very personal relevance and I need to study this further.

google "vorhis act"

[Olentzero]

I did, and got basically what everybody else said - that certain organizations had to register with the US government. Nothing about US citizens not being able to be part of an international organization. Seeing as how I'm a US citizen who's a member of a Swedish revolutionary organization, I then thought I'd ask graymouser for a little clarification.