Marching for Communism:Ā A Great Learning Experience here ā¦ The Day Had Awakened with Fire here ā¦
Marching for Communism:Ā A Great Learning Experience
LOS ANGELES (USA), May Day 2024ā ICWP convened on the streets of Hollywood to march in solidarity with the working class to commemorate International Workersā Day. Although we came to march with the other workersā organizations, like unions and community organizations, our main goal was rooted in mobilizing the masses for communism.
Our contingent made a strong impact in our red T-shirts.Ā Some from other groups asked if they could have one, some wore them proudly as they marched with their contingent.Ā The T-shirts said āMobilize the masses for communismā in five languages.
Comrades marched with bright red banners while others distributed Red Flag, which workers in the march and those who watched gladly took. Other comrades held megaphones shouting at the top of their lungs, āLong live, long live communism!ā āCapitalism you canāt hide! We charge you with genocide!āĀ These were among the many roaring cries we gave as we marched on.
We carried two banners. One read āMobilize the Masses for Communism to End Capitalist Genocide, Exploitation and Imperialist Warsā (in English and Spanish). The other read āPalestinian, Israeli, and all Workers, Letās Unite for Communism!ā (in five languages). We were able to distribute well over 800 newspapers and over 450 Gaza pamphlets.
āAs a new member of the party and being my first time participating in an international march, I liked it. I didnāt expect this many people, I was impressed,ā said a comrade. He was also impressed with the reception to communist ideas. During the march, workers were grabbing Gaza pamphlets out of our hands.
One weakness that we face is that in our contingent there were few people new to the party. For this day we need to make a bigger effort to bring more people. A comrade suggested we should each commit to bringing at least two other people.
We also need to improve on chants and songs. These should be decided on and practiced beforehand to have the entire contingent sound as one.
Before the march ended our contingent set up on a corner and sang the revolutionary songs Venceremos (We Will Win) and Bella CiaoĀ (Fond Farewell).
In Los Angeles, this May Day was a great learning experience as we created a collective of newer leaders to plan and lead the march.Ā And this is a great step forward for our party to get more people involved and take a more active role in our activities. Not only in planning, but also in the political growth ofĀ eachĀ oneĀ ofĀ us.
Mexico City, May 1ā”Youths bring communist ideas to masses of workers,” said a comrade. Then they continued, “The time must come when instead of demanding a fair dayās work for a fair dayās pay, the workers will demand the elimination of wage slavery through a communist revolution.ā
SPAIN, May 1ā Comrades distributed 250 Red Flags in two trade union marches on May Day. They talked with two agricultural workers from Senegal, among others.Ā āAgricultural work should be collective. The fruits of that labor should be for the workers themselves,ā a comrade said. āThatās what communism is.ā At first, these workers had their doubts about whether communism would be possible. But they agreed that things should be that way and took the comradeās phone number.
SEATTLE (USA), May 1āComrades have built many new relationships with anti-capitalist fighters over the last year. These activists literally welcomed ICWP with open arms this May Day. We distributed nearly 900 pieces of our communist literature to eager readers leading up to the march, at the march itself, and afterward at the University of Washingtonās encampment. New friends took close to 100 Red Flags and other literature. They aim to expand the distribution to those they know and those they will meetĀ atĀ futureĀ events.
A comrade wrote this poem and recited it at a party dinner shortly before May Day this year:
The day had awakened with fire
The day had awakened with fire
the contingents of protesters
prepare themselves with the warmth of the bright sunā¦
their signs erect like stars
their combatant banners like red soldiers
their flags held high like riflesā¦
the day had awakened with fire
with it the proletarian masses rise up
like a sea roaring against walls…
May 1st workers day
we tear down imposed bloody borders
we destroy imperialist capitalist wars
the day had awakened with fire
the destruction of wage slavery
the construction of equalities in loveā¦
the International Communist Workers Party
mass mobilization for communism
liberation through armed revolutionsā¦
the day had awakened with fire
we create opulent worlds without chains
we achieve happiness and smiles…
Red Flag announces the necessary struggles
the necessary battles of communist armies
in formation demolishing exploitation and
misery…
every single living human being in motion
burying the past and giving life to the future
the day had awakened with fire.
