Descendents of Ida Rothstein

Photos of Ida Rothstein

"Ida was a firm believer in Communism and workers' rights." (Anne).

Here's a quote from The red angel: the life and times of Elaine Black Yoneda

(p. 36) Elaine joined the Communist Party on October 14 ... She was recruited by ILD District organzer Ida Rothstein, a Russian emigré , also known as Ida Roth. Ida was "a forceful speaker - forthright ... each word a pearl," Elaine sad. A former needles trades worker, Rothstein had a long history of trade union organizing, including going to mine fields and orgnizing miners as the legendary Mother Jones and Mother Bloor had done. Elaine considered Ida "viable and forceful," a woman who "participated in all the unemployed marches and demonstrations ... a woman who dedicated her life to the betterment of mankind."

(p. 47) Ida Rothstein also came to San Francisco that year to work for the Communist Party as Fillmore Section orgnizer. She remained active in the ILD [International Labor Defense], and she and Elaine maintained a close relationship. Rothstein was arrested many times, and harrassed, but she kept right on. [fn: In the 1950s, Ida Rothstein was killed by a hit-run driver.]

Here is a note from The Lamp, no. 65, Feb. - Mar. 1951, p. 2

San Francisco: On January 9, Ida Rothstein, 54, native of Russia, resident of the U.S. for 44 years, was arrested and released on $5000 bail. Mrs. Rothstein, secretary of the SF Civil Rights Congress, claims to be an American citizen on the basis of her common-law marriage to an American citizen.

Ida was Executive Secretary of the San Francisco (or California?) Civil Rights Conference (CRC). There are a lot of references to her in books on US radicalism and her name came up in testimony before the various Un-American Activities Committees. There's also mention of her being the subject of a deportation effort.

Ida Rothstein (1943)