Rose Rossi, beloved by many in the Bay Area and beyond, passed away this spring, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to building Progressive Labor Party (PLP) and advancing the struggle for communism. A groundbreaking technologist who made huge advances in the field of Natural Language, Rose fought for the working class and against racism from the time she was in high school. She marched with Martin Luther King in Selma, organized against the Vietnam War, and fought violent gutter racists in Progressive Labor Party’s iconic Boston Summer Project of 1975.

Her strong and unwavering commitment to antiracism, anti-imperialism, and anti-capitalism strengthened a multitude of struggles across decades.
Later in life, Rose expanded her focus to ecological justice work in Bayview Hunters Point in San Francisco. A committed basebuilder, her avid study of and expertise in the works of Marx and Lenin were invaluable to PLP clubs in the Bay Area and brought several members into the Party, strengthening its overall presence in California.

While Rose is dearly missed by those who love her, her material influence is still felt deeply and lives on. In studying CHALLENGE, Rose  once remarked, “A good article always reminds us why it is necessary that we fight for communism…but often it’s in the last paragraph. I think that should be reversed. We need to always say it first.” 

In other words, it is necessary to meet fellow workers in the struggle for communist revolution now. Because the moment can only be now, as the history of countless failed socialist and reformist movements has taught us.

That was the lesson our comrade left us, one that rings truer than ever today. The capitalist bosses’ liberal democracy is  now showing its true face. Genocides are live-streamed to workers held captive under crumbling  empires lurching toward fascism. The earth heats to unbearable temperatures and the imperialists do nothing to stop their oppressive race to devastation. It is in these moments we must stand steadfast like our Rose, remembering to continue to build toward victory for our class, and having the humility and hope that a better future must be possible. Comrade Rose lived what she believed in a lifetime of telling the truth, never compromising or settling, always inspiring countless others. We must live by the principle of “Don’t vote, revolt!” and take up the banner so lovingly and militantly carried by our passed-on elders. In all that we do, we promise to do you proud, Comrade Rose!

¡ROSE, PRESENTE!¡LA LUCHA SIGUE!  ROSE, NEVER FORGOTTEN, THE FIGHT CONTINUES!