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African People's Socialist Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman | Omali Yeshitela |
| Founded | May 1972 |
| Newspaper | The Burning Spear |
The African People's Socialist Party (APSP) is a socialist and pan-Africanist political party in the United States. It seeks to create a united socialist state for all of Africa.[1]
History
The African People's Socialist Party was founded in May 1972 by Omali Yeshitela. It formed from a merger of three organizations: the Junta of Militant Organizations, the Black Rights Fighters from Fort Myers, and the Black Study Group from Gainsville. In 1976, the APSP formed the African People's Solidarity Committee and allowed white proletarians to join the party. By 1979, the APSP had spread to 15 states and 26 cities.
In 1981, the APSP moved its headquarters to Oakland, California, which was also the headquarters of the Black Panthers. In 1982, the party held its first congress and a tribunal for reparations to New Afrikans.[2]
Structure
National level
The APSP holds a National Party Congress every five years and the congress elects the National Central Committee (NCC). The National Central Committee meets four times a year and can call additional meetings with a one-third vote.The NCC includes a chairperson, and 13 other officers. All officers are elected except the National Director of Security, who is appointed by the Chairperson. The National Party Congress can amend the party constitution with a two-thirds vote.
The Political Bureau consists of six members who are also part of the NCC: the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary General, and National Directors of Agitation and Propaganda, Organization, and Recruitment and Membership. The Political Bureau meets at least eight times a year.[1]
Regional level
The APSP holds regional congresses once every three years. The six regions are Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest, and West. The regional congress elects a regional committee of ten officers who meet four times per year.[1]
Local level
Each local party organization has six voting members and a security organizer. Local officers serve one-year terms.
The Party Unit is the lowest level of organization and consists of at least three members, including a Unit Leader, Unit Secretary, and Unit Leader of Membership and Recruitment. Larger units may also have a Unit Leader of Agitprop, Unit Leader of Finance and Economic Development, and a Unit Burning Spear Agent.[1]
Repression
In January 1973, a Central Committee member was assassinated by a car crash. Chairman Yeshitela was arrested in May 1973 and imprisoned for two months.[2]