Communist Industrial Organizer, Singer, Fighter for the Working Class
I met Martha in 1974, through my sister. They were teenaged garment workers, recently arrived in Los Angeles. We lost touch for a short time, and by 1976, my sister and I had become communists. We involved Martha and recruited her.
This young woman from a poor family had come to Los Angeles to work to send remittances to Mexico. Little by little, she began to learn politics through discussions and by reading—reluctantly. But most importantly, she learned politics by putting it into practice. Our line then — fighting for Socialism and reforms — attracted her. She gave herself entirely to the struggle to improve the conditions of the workers in the garment
industry.
The Party clubs in garment dedicated ourselves to organizing within the sellout union. Comrade Martha organized co-workers in each factory where she worked. We were young people, committed to the struggle. We would make any sacrifice necessary to achieve our goal, to fight for Socialism and organize the union.
When we were thrown out of the sellout union for being communists, we started the Anti-Racist Garment Workers’ Union. Marta led the organization in the Sassoon pants factory. We lost the vote, but Martha did not get frustrated. She continued the struggle within the factory to recruit Party members. There she met workers who remained her friends for a long time. That was one of her best qualities: to make friends and keep them. It’s an example that we should all follow.
She was also very active and disciplined in distributing the party’s newspaper. She would walk along with people talking about politics until they took the paper. Then she asked for their name, address and telephone number to visit them later. Something we should keep in mind, when distributing our literature today.
Martha married a Party comrade and had four children. This did not prevent her from continuing to fight. In the late 1970s and in the 1980s, the Party was involved in a series of clashes against the KKK and the Nazis. She also actively supported the struggles of Iranian students against the fascist Shah. Martha fought shoulder to shoulder with other comrades and friends.
Likewise, when the wars in Central America had their effects in Los Angeles, she brought her friends to participate in marches against US intervention. There were often violent fights that steeled many comrades.
She continued to participate for a long time, always working in the garment industry. The line of the party evolved. We dedicated ourselves to fighting more sharply for Revolution, while still participating in reformist struggles. Later, we fought directly for Communism without going through the stage of Socialism. We witnessed the birth and consolidation of the glorious new International Communist Workers’ Party. And Comrade Martha was always present.
She sang beautifully, and participated in numerous choirs and plays that delighted and motivated many comrades and friends at Party activities. She always participated in everything, to make sure everything went well.
The capitalist system makes workers’ lives very hard, and with Martha it was no exception. The last few years were the most difficult. She had to fight her husband’s heart disease. She got cancer and after numerous treatments, she was able to get it in remission. Family problems caused a lot of stress on a woman like her with a lot of strength of character.
A massive stroke took Martha’s life on August 19, 2019.
The bosses did not win. The communist movement won her legacy.
For Communists, even when they die, we continue to remember them for what they did, and for their love and commitment to the working class.
And you, Martha, are no exception. You will live every day, every hour, every minute, in all the comrades who knew you and in the new generation of young communists. And in every worker who believes in and fights for Communism.
—Comrade in Los Angeles (USA)