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Simon William "Si" Gerson (January 23, 1909 – December 26, 2004) was a leader in the Communist Party USA. In particular, he was considered its leading expert on campaigns and election. He was the party's appointee to fill the New York City Council vacancy left by the death of Peter Cacchione, but the council refused to seat him. He was also an editor for the Daily Worker.
Both of Gerson's parents were members of the Socialist Party of America, and his mother, Dr. Helen Movshovitz, later became a member of the Communist Party USA and supported William Z. Foster's presidential campaigns. Si Gerson's father supported Norman Thomas' campaigns.
In 1937, Gerson was appointed confidential examiner (also known as assistant) to Republican Manhattan Borough President-elect Stanley M. Isaacs, making him the first Communist to hold any appointed office in New York City. In this position, he was charged with handling complaints and ensuring other members of the borough president's staff did their jobs. He served from the beginning of 1938 until his resignation in September 1940; facing a legal challenge from the American Legion on his right to hold office, Gerson could not afford a legal team and the City Corporation Counsel refused to take his case. Gerson later served in the Pacific War during World War II.
In 1947, incumbent Communist New York City Councilman Peter Cacchione unexpectedly died. Under city law, council vacancies had to be filled by a member of the same political party as the previous officeholder, but when the Communist Party nominated Gerson, who had been Cacchione's campaign manager, the council refused on the grounds that the CPUSA was not legally a political party. Instead, the seat was left vacant, and a special election was held the following year. Although he received the nominations of the Communist and American Labor parties (earning 18,000 votes on the former ballot line and 132,000 votes on the latter), he came in third place with 15% of the vote, behind Republican Jacob P. Lefkowitz and Democrat Jack Kranis, the victor.
On the morning of June 20, 1951, Gerson and 16 other Communist Party leaders were arrested by the FBI and charged with violating the Smith Act. In September 1952, Judge Edward J. Dimock dropped the charges against Gerson and Isidore Begun, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to convict them.
Gerson later served as campaign manager for Gus Hall and Angela Davis during the 1980 presidential election.
Gerson died in Brooklyn, New York on December 26, 2004.
Personal life and death
Gerson married Sophie Melvin, the "Red flame" of the Communist Party, in 1932, with whom he had two children. Melvin was a passionate union organiser who gained notoriety due to her involvement in the 1929 Loray Mill Strike, during which she was imprisoned.John A. Salmond, Gastonia, 1929: The Story of the Loray Mill Strike. UNC Press Books, 1995
Legacy
Gerson and Melvin's papers were donated to the Tamiment Library after their deaths.
Works
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