The new premises will be used as a center to distribute revolutionary literature in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. For the last 30 years this work was done out of Pathfinder Books at 47 The Cut. Last year alone, more than £39,000 worth of books were sold from the London outlet.

The new premises will also house the Militant Labour Forum hall and the London branch and national office of the Communist League in the United Kingdom.

A full-time construction team of volunteers is working to meet the targeted opening date. In addition to London, volunteers hail from Manchester and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, as well as Norway, Sweden, and the United States.

Overlooking the bustling Brick Lane street market, the new political center will be a place where workers and young people attracted to the struggles of the working class can get hold of Marxist literature, have political discussions, and learn about activity they can get involved in. “This is the type of area where we can get a good response to working-class politics,” said James Haywood, a member of the Young Socialists at a sixth form college in Surrey, who has worked on the crew on weekends. “This work has given me a better idea about how the communist movement is organized internationally,” he said, “and helped me learn some new skills.”

“Today we have installed the first six bays of bookshelves, got the main lighting up, and are close to completing the plumbing in the bathroom,” said Tony Hunt, organizer of the steering committee for the construction work on January 16. “The next big step will be to start work on the kitchen. Utilizing volunteers who understand the political character of the center that we are building is decisive to completing the work. We’re learning all the time how to do the work in a more disciplined and efficient way.”

Marge Towers, an unemployed garment worker from Boston, Massachusetts, has been working on frames for the interior windows. She said good lighting is needed for well-presented book displays that will attract those visiting the new center.

Elton Grey, a Socialist Workers Party supporter from Los Angeles, California, has been helping to lead the plumbing work. “It’s great to make a contribution to the work of the movement internationally and to be able to pass on some of the skills I’ve learned that are necessary to completing these projects,” he told the Militant. Another supporter of the communist movement, Greg McCartan, who helps distribute revolutionary books to shops and libraries in Norway, added, “Living in Scandinavia it’s important to contribute to constructing the place from where Pathfinder books and the Militant will be distributed across Europe. It’s also an opportunity to talk politics with those involved in the communist movement in different countries.”

The project is being funded from beginning to end through a £5,000 (U.S. $9,650) fund appeal. Collecting the pledges already made and winning new contributions is necessary to complete the work on schedule. Checks can be made payable to CL London and sent by January 31 to Pathfinder Books, 47 The Cut, London, SE1 8LF, UK.

A meeting to celebrate the opening of the new premises will be held on Saturday, January 29 at 7 p.m. at 120 Bethnal Green Rd., London.  
 
 
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