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The Arsenal of Marxism

The Leon Trotsky Museum Gains Support

By Carole Seligman

The International Friends of the Leon Trotsky Museum held a successful event in Alameda, California, February 13, 2011 and raised over $10,000 for the maintenance, restoration and improvements to the museum. The Instituto del Derecho de Asilo—Museo Casa de Leon Trotsky A.C.—IDA-MCLTAC (The Institute on the Right of Asylum—House/Museum of Leon Trotsky) was the home and place of political asylum for Leon Trotsky in Coyoacan, Mexico City. Trotsky was assassinated there by agents of Stalin in August, 1940.

Esteban Volkov, Trotsky’s grandson, who lived with his grandparents as a child (his parents, and all of Trotsky’s children were killed by Stalin’s agents) in the home in Coyoacan, spoke at the Alameda event and, on behalf of the Museum, throughout the world. Visited by thousands each year, the Museum is a repository of information about the revolutionary ideas and actions of Leon Trotsky, a key leader of the Russian Revolution.

The Alameda event also previewed a film about Trotsky by David Weiss entitled “A Planet Without a Visa.” The film was unfinished before Weiss died, and Lindy Laub and Suzi Weissman are completing it. The film has footage of Trotsky as well as interviews with associates and fellow revolutionaries. It promises to teach new generations of 21st century liberation fighters important information about one of the great revolutionaries of the 20th century.

To donate to the Fund to preserve the Leon Trotsky Museum please make your check payable to: Global Exchange (write Trotsky Museum on the memo line), and mail to Global Exchange, International Friends of the Leon Trotsky Museum, P.O. Box 40009, San Francisco, CA, 94140.