Communist Work in the “No to APEC” Movement here ♦ Fighting for Revolution and a Communist World here ♦
Communist Work in the “No to APEC” Movement: Need Patience, Perseverance, Confidence in the Working Class
SEATTLE (USA)—The political battle in the “Say No to APEC” mobilization is far from over. On July 29 – 30, activists in Seattle demonstrated against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade cartel. APEC’s ministers were meeting here.
The International Communist Workers’ Party held a workshop and a contingent in the march. We showed clearly that only communist revolution will end trade wars and the inevitable imperialist shooting wars.
But the fair-trade NGOs are still advertising meetings with leaders of the US Progressive Congressional Caucus. They are promoting the illusion that they can negotiate a fair deal for the worlds’ workers.
Some leaders of the resistance admit that the trade blocs have become platforms to build alliances in preparation for global war. But they condemn only US imperialism. They refuse to condemn other imperialists.
The idea that we can reform capitalism diverts us from the most important struggle. That is developing communist organizers in preparation for ending capitalism with communist revolution.
Revolution not Reform
The next site of the anti-APEC fight will be San Francisco. APEC heads of state are gathering there in November. There will be anti-APEC workshops and demonstrations on November 11th-12th.
ICWP and many friends learned a valuable lesson in Seattle. Coalition leaders pushed reform over revolution. But the rank-and-file wanted to discuss communism, revolution, and the experiences of communist organizers.
At the Seattle People’s Summit, two alternatives were presented to the 400 participants. The morning panel presented the first: reform. They wanted more exposure of the super-exploitation of Asian workers. They proposed one global trade union.
One panelist admitted that prior attempts to negotiate better working conditions for Philippine workers never worked and never will.
After this session, comrades debated what reaction to expect to our planned communist agenda at the ICWP afternoon workshop. Should we water down the agenda or launch right into communist struggle?
The 60 or so who attended the workshop in person helped us decide. Many said they came to discuss communist solutions. This, despite the coalition leaders not allowing us to use the word “communist” in our printed introduction.
Industrial workers from El Salvador set the stage with a short report on building communist cells in the maquilas to counter fascism and super-exploitation. Our solution includes building one international communist party. Reform of capitalism and trade union politics cannot get the job done. Our goal is international communist revolution.
Confidence In the Working Class Helps Develop Communist Relationships
We distributed over a thousand pieces of communist literature during the two days of workshops, rallies, and marches. More than two dozen people gave the party their contact information. These include rank-and-file activists from Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.
In retrospect, comrades and close friends had not adequately prepared for the tremendous response to our communist strategy. Our number one priority must now be to follow-up with these contacts to deepen our political and social relationships. We’ll learn from these relationships how to overcome obstacles and resolve political contradictions that slow the growth of the party.
In small ways, we are beginning this process. Some new contacts emphasized how much they appreciated the party’s effort to immediately include them in collective decision making.
A few days later, D, a long time Philippine activist, expressed his doubts. “What do we do if someone disagrees, and we know they made a political error?”
“Obviously, the party has a political line,” answered a comrade. “But the way we advance that line must be anchored in concrete practice and confidence in the working class.” D responded, “That might be right.”
We’ll have lots of time to deepen the discussion about how we work with trustworthy people who have political and organizational differences. D and his friends are going to San Francisco in November.
Our work there will certainly present more contradictions. Learning how to resolve contradictions in a comradely manner will help develop communist organizers and contribute to the party’s growth.
The positive response to our communist efforts has built revolutionary enthusiasm among party members and friends. It will help us find the perseverance and patience we need to follow up the party’s many new contacts. It will mark the path to communist revolution.
Fighting for Communist Revolution and a Communist World
Comrades from the US, El Salvador, and India went to a two-day anti-APEC event in Seattle (USA). We proposed communist revolution as the remedy to the conditions that lead to multinational imperialist alliances and capitalist war.
I attended a workshop where I was able to give a communist perspective to the discussion of US-led preparations for war with China. The workshop centered on the US as an aggressor. It is an aggressor, but so is China. Inter-imperialist rivalry over resources, trade routes, and markets has increased to remedy the capitalists’ crisis of overproduction.
A role-playing exercise tried to show the working-class struggle against the ruling class. But it offered no answers for how to stop the conditions that led to this buildup.
I explained that communism was the only answer to stop the capitalist machine from exploiting workers. We would end the use of money, private property, borders, and racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other capitalist ways to divide the working class.
ICWP comrades led the next workshop. There was great participation and critical thinking. A comrade from El Salvador presented about the struggle there. Another summarized the history of communism in El Salvador. The comrade facilitator laid out thoughtful questions.
Many people stayed afterward to talk and give us their contact information.
The march on Sunday started late. That gave us more time at our ICWP table with our paper, flyers, pamphlets, and sign-up sheet. We had lengthy conversations with several people who left their info and took literature.
We marched with our ICWP banner. Comrades passed out about 500 Red Flags, a similar number of communist flyers, and dozens of pamphlets about the communist fight against racism, sexism, and attacks on migrants.
Then we talked about how we would write about our experience. This is my contribution. Long live Communism! Power to the workers!
—Comrade in Los Angeles (USA)
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