Latvian revolutionaries, particularly of Boston, played an enormous role, far above their relatively small numbers, in the Socialist Party’s Left Wing and in the formation of the Communist movement in the U.S. As such, the community was a special target of the Red Raids. Here, a group internees at Ellis Island awaiting deportation write to comrades outside urging them to keep up the fight.

‘Letter from Ellis Island, the ‘Island of Tears’ from Truth (Duluth). Vol. 4 No. 5. January 30, 1920.

To Comrades Outside of the “Island of Tears”:

Here upon the so-called “Island of Tears” are gathered hundreds of soldiers of the proletarian army, from all parts of the United States and of many nationalities. What fate we are going to meet we do not yet know. But we do know that we have earned the most bitter enmity of the representatives of the existing order and that its means will be used to try to make us harmless to capitalism.

We are ready for anything and everything. We are ready to carry on the struggle against international capitalism up to the finish. According to the United States Constitution, every person has the right of consultation with his attorney before testifying. This right has been denied us and so we are answering our persecutors with an aliens’ strike. In other words, we refuse to talk or give answers to the questions. With this we are trying to demonstrate to the workers that there is NO DEMOCRACY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE WORKINGCLASS.

A joyous spirit prevails amongst us. The icy waves splashing around our prison walls do not weaken our courage, nor do the agents of the ruling class. Our courage, in fact, has been strengthened by this new experience.

Twice every day we walk in the open air. Ranks are formed. Comrades experienced in the art of soldiering instruct us how to march and maneouvre. Undoubtedly the government agents consider us a veritable RED Army and soldiers of the revolution.

The time “inside” is taken up by lectures and discussions. As often as possible concerts are arranged for the evenings, for we have amongst our numbers good talent, some professional actors and musicians. Singing choruses have been organized and sometimes the “Internationale” and other revolutionary songs are sung. We call upon the comrades on the outside to do all in their power to solidify their fight. DO NOT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT US. Do not waste much finance in the defense. The great majority have admitted that they are Communists. Our plans are decided. We are refusing individual defense, we demand to be tried as a mass, and we, Communists, who do not deny our principles.

YOUR DUTY ON THE OUTSIDE IS TREMENDOUSLY LARGE. Reaction threatens you. Yet you must face the enemy and battle until victory is ours. Our places made vacant amongst you must be filled in multiplied numbers and so we demand that you must do everything to unite the Communist Parties immediately. We here on Ellis Island, regardless of which the parties we belong to are only Communists. If there are leaders amongst you who stand against unity push them aside. He who still propagates thus unnecessary split is not worthy of the name of Communist. Do not share your energies and determination in the propagation of our principles. May the workers soon establish their own rule in the United States…May the revolution soon be a consummated fact. Down with Capitalism! Long live the workers international!

Signed,

Lettish Group of Communists,

Ellis Island, January 13th, 1919

Truth emerged from the The Duluth Labor Leader, a weekly English language publication of the Scandinavian local of the Socialist Party in Duluth, Minnesota and began on May Day, 1917 as a Left Wing alternative to the Duluth Labor World. The paper was aligned to both the SP and the I.W.W. leading to the paper being closed down in the first big anti-I.W.W. raids in September, 1917. The paper was reborn as Truth, with the Duluth Scandinavian Socialists joining the Communist Labor Party of America in 1919. Shortly after the editor, Jack Carney, was arrested and convicted of espionage in 1920. Truth continued to publish with a new editor J.O. Bentall until 1923 as an unofficial paper of the C.P.

Access to PDF of full issue: https://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn89081142/1920-01-30/ed-1/seq-4