May Day march article here ♦ letters from marchers here ♦
El Salvador, May 1— distributing Red Flag to May Day marchers
EL SALVADOR — “In past years we started meeting in January with workers, farmworkers and students to prepare for the May Day march. This year we weren’t sure there would be a march, due to the pandemic,” said a worker leader.
In the first extended meeting, two months before May Day, a worker leader was sharp: “We must go out into the streets and chant our slogans. The Party cannot advance without mobilizing the masses in the streets.” This was met with loud applause and agreement.
Meetings were held weekly for two months with collectives from three factories. There were monthly meetings in the mountains and in the eastern part of the country.
We planned the march collectively, including banners, t-shirts, flags, taking everything to the capital days before to avoid police controls. We delegated a worker for the social gatherings after the march. Three comrades were entrusted with guaranteeing transportation. A comrade was the link with other organizations participating in the march.
A worker who marched on May Day for the first time said, “I was afraid to come, because a union leader told me, ‘If the people from Red Flag invite you to the march, don’t go, because they are a union that the bosses don’t like.’” When she told a Party comrade about this, he answered, “Tell him that we are an International Communist Workers’ Party.”
This worker continued, “When we got to the start of the march, I liked that there was no absolute boss, that we all saw each other as equals. I saw the respect with which workers, students and farmworkers are treated. I’m going to join the meetings to find out more about the Party.”
Thirteen new comrades marched with the Party for the first time. Seven are garment workers, three are youths who came with worker parents. We distributed 1,100 Red Flag newspapers throughout the march. A university student, who we invited for the first time, commented, “I was surprised that people came up to ask for the newspaper. They came up to me and said, ‘Hey, give me one,’ even those who were passing by on the bus.”
Workers wearing their Party t-shirts and waving red flags stood out in the streets of the capital. Their eyes shone with happiness as they advanced through the streets as ICWP, presenting a revolutionary alternative to other workers.
A young Red Flag reader who has come to extended party meetings told us, “Every year I see more people participate with you.”
A worker came up to a comrade and asked, “Where does ICWP meet? I would like to come to your meetings. I’m going to give you my phone number to learn about the Party.”
“As the International Communist Workers’ Party, we feel proud because we got a lot of attention from other workers. Especially because of the sign that a comrade carried saying that we stand in solidarity with the workers in India.” There were many good comments from that sign.
“We are learning in the Party that international solidarity is important,” concluded a worker.
A group of workers commented:
“We are in this party that represents the brave workers, not like the unions.”
“We needed a car with a bullhorn.”
“Yes,” answered another worker, “next year, we will rent one.”
This activity, amid everything that’s going on and the fear caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, showed us that the participation of many youth, workers and students is thanks to the work in the collectives. And that it’s necessary, urgent, that these collectives of women and men workers, farmworkers, and students are consolidated. That there is a plan for an ICWP political school in each of them. That the leadership in the factories, universities and the fields continues to develop and expand.
We ended the day with gatherings in tourist centers and comrades’ homes, where we enjoyed pupusas, carne asada and pizza.
El Salvador May Day Letters
“Comradeship of Unity”
A new comrade who has been a union leader, whom I invited to the May 1st march, showed his political development and commitment to the ICWP, defying the threats of the union to which he belongs – as I did 11 years ago.
He said to his comrades, “To those in the union who know me and know that I am already clear, I told you that I would support all the activities of struggle within the factory, but in the marches and political activities, NO.”
This comrade has already taken the Red Flag of the ICWP and marched together with his son. Then he wrote us a note saying, “Marching with the Party has been very special for me because I have lived and enjoyed a comradeship of unity, and not like in the union where there is a lot of conflict between them. Also, my son and I really enjoyed the fellowship we had with the comrades who were together at lunchtime. Thank you, comrades, for being so united. We will continue to advance.”
—Comrade in El Salvador
Hello everyone, I am a first-year high school student and I would like to tell you that this May 1st I marched with the ICWP. I write in WhatsApp and help with the Zoom application so that my father can communicate with the other comrades of the ICWP. I read Red Flag; I am learning a lot. My mother is also a worker, and we are very glad that more women and men workers are joining.
With this year, it has already been two years that I have participated. I liked marching with the party very much. I felt great and I hope to participate again next year, next to my father who is a worker who fights for our working class.
—Red Student
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