The Committee for International Labor Defense (CILD) aims to bring together labor organizations worldwide to organize mass defense in cases important to the cause of workers and all oppressed.

 

We seek to build on the past achievements of the working class to revive International Labor Defense.  The original ILD (1925-46) mobilized worldwide campaigns in political and legal defense of Sacco and Vanzetti, the Scottsboro Boys, Cuban sugar workers, sharecroppers in the US South, and many more cases.

 

The ILD took a side, in solidarity with the struggles of workers, oppressed, and other socially marginalized people.  The ILD defended movements, organizations, and individuals with whose political views it did not necessarily agree.

 

While supporting legal efforts, the ILD understood that the law, courts, prisons, and police exist to protect the ruling class.  To paraphrase one of the founding members of the original ILD, “We place all our faith in the masses, and none in the ‘justice’ of the courts or other tribunals.” 

 

In the process of recruiting labor organizations worldwide to rebuild the ILD, the CILD will take up international, domestic and local defense cases, in line with its capacity.

 

For more information contact us at cforild@gmail.com