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NY 100-18676 CLAUDIA JONES was the principal speaker at a May Day Rally sponsored by the Communist Party of Los Angeles on May 5, 1948, which was held at the Embassy Auditorium, bu7 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California. Approximately 1700 persons ate tended this rally. The Chairman of the rally was SPARKS, Chairman of tho Los Angeles County Commun- ist Party. . CLAUDIA JONES spoke, and reportedly centered her speech around alleged mistreatment of negroes, Mexicans and Jews, and the foreign born in the United States. The subject reportedly stated that negroes in the United States are under "Jim Crow rule." She spoke favorably of the plan of civil disobedience of negroes in the next draft for military service. She quoted WILLIAM Z. FOSTER, National Chairman of the Party, as stating, "The Communist Party will refuse to comply with this measure” (referring to military train- ing and servicd. The subject revicwed the incidents surround- ing her arrest for deportation and ridiculed the fact that she was charged by the Government with advocating the overthrow of the Government by force and violence, She referred to the immigration station at Ellis Island as a concentration camp. Sho reportedly completed her speech by referring to the "valiant, democratic, freedom- loving people of Grecce, China, and other countries," who, she stated, were fighting for their independence. Wie Witneas: : a F.B.f., Los Angeles