Communist Party USA, 2007
Jarvis Tyner. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1941. Started as a factory worker, tradeunionist, and Civil Rights activist. Joined the Communist Party USA in 1963. Since 1968, Chairman of the W.E.B. DuBois Club and a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party USA. From 1970-1973, Founding Chairman of the Young Workers' Liberation League. From 1974-1991, Chairman of the New York State Communist Party. Since the mid 1990s, Executive Vice-Chair of the Communist Party USA. Candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1972 and 1976. ¬
What is your view of the former Soviet Union?
- Soviet Union adopted a very progressive agenda of social equality, including in housing, education, and healthcare. Certain achievements of the Soviet Union such as, for instance, its advances in the space program is something that no capitalist country could ever achieve. But they ran into difficulties and were bump rushed by capitalism.
What is your opinion of Mikhail Gorbachev?
- He turned out to be a tragic figure. He really became a tool of Western imperialism. He totally lost his standing now. What is he doing now? Do you know? I don't.
What is your view of today's Russia?
- We regret very much the collapse of socialism in Russia. We hope that the Russian people will find their own way to socialism.