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The Communist Party organized “unemployment councils” during the depression, giving unemployed workers a means to support each other and struggle for political change in solidarity with employed workers. By the end of 1931, those in Portland had more than 3000 registered members. When efforts to work within the system failed, these councils often took direction action in defense of their members interests. For example, after some 400 unemployed stormed City Hall, the city agreed to provide housing and shelter for over 1000 unemployed working people.

The main council headquarters was the location for the infamous 1934 police raid at which Dirk DeJonge was arrested for violating the Criminal Syndicalism Law. Criminal syndicalism was defined as "the doctrine which advocates crime, physical violence, sabotage or any unlawful acts or methods as a means of accomplishing or effecting industrial or political change or revolution." DeJonge, once a Communist Party candidate for Mayor of Portland, was charged with engaging in criminal syndicalism for giving a speech at the council headquarters that charged the police with siding with the steamship and stevedoring companies in their effort to break the longshore strike. He was found guilty despite a lack of any evidence that he had violated the law. He appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and in January 1937 he was cleared of all charges.

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wpa , work , community , audio , communism , unemployment , portland radical history tour