Surveying the park on this Labor Day in Oakland, one may have missed them. Tucked away in the far corner of Mosswood Park near Oakland’s Piedmont Avenue, behind the backstop of a little league baseball diamond and under the arms of an elderly oak tree, a rag-tag group of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA met for a potluck picnic.

“Welcome to the revolution,” said the volunteer at the welcome desk, which was adorned with books, newspapers, leaflets and T-shirts. Another volunteer was having a difficult time setting up his phone which was soon to play speeches of Communist leaders, like Bob Avakian, the much highly mentioned chairman of the party.

“He was involved in the Free Speech Movement at Cal,” mentioned a starry-eyed volunteer referring to Avakian.

Avakian, being chair of the political party, which often appears on election ballots nationwide, is also the leader of the Communist BA Everywhere Movement. “BA” stands for Bob Avakian.

Twittering conversations between members of BA Everywhere campaign revolved around a historic announcement that was going to be made that day, while other members of the campaign claim that a revolution is needed within our society. Some talked as if the revolution was happening in real time.

“The problem and solution is revolution!” shouted Gena Lee, a speaker who touched on topical news items like the state of Texas restricting abortion rights and the troubles in Ferguson, Mo. Both of these news stories were clear examples of societal oppression, according to the speakers.

The event focused on the protests in Ferguson, while just last week Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill said the city had been “‘invaded’ by a minority of violent individuals,” according to Politico.

Lee mentioned triumphantly that the cover of USA Today depicted a member of BA everywhere being arrested. ºConsistently after each speaker, the topic of discussion turned towards money. “The campaign aim is to raise big money to get Bob Avakian’s vision to the most amount of people,” said Lee, MC of the ceremony, as a collection basket circled the crowd.

Another speaker implored the small gathering that the T-shirts, at what was a functioning merchandise table, needed to be sold to help the BA cause.

Other speakers expressed anger at law enforcement and the crowd seemed at times to endorse anarchical principles over communistic ones. “It’s been a long time since people resisted like this!” extolled one speaker who was in Ferguson just last week.

The BA Everywhere campaign also talked of what they saw as unjust mass incarceration. Members of the campaign said they frequently visit prisons to share Avakian’s literature and message with those who are serving jail time.

“Bob’s new synthesis is in a new book,” Lee excitedly told the crowd. The book will cost its reader around $10.

Soon the historic announcement was revealed: Avakian, an atheist, will be having a debate and discussion with prominent media commentator and philosopher Cornel West. West, who is a Christian, focuses prominently on race and class issues in America, and spoke at California State University, East Bay in 2011.

The loudspeaker system of the revolutionary speakers cut through the dry summer air to a couple playing sports across the field, who wished to remain anonymous.

They expressed that they couldn’t support all of the rhetoric of those who spoke but were appreciative of “peaceful demonstration” and intellectual “diversity.” The individuals, with bocce balls at their feet said, “I think it’s great that people are having a discussion; that these [topics] aren’t swept under the covers.”