Conference Plans for ICWP Growth here ♦ We Are Family here ♦
Conference Plans for Party Growth
EL SALVADOR, January 4— “I am a communist all my life, and as a communist I will die.” These stirring words from our version of the anti-fascist song Bella Ciao rang out from a chorus of workers to open our recent international conference. The song paid tribute to the dedication of our fallen comrades.
Garment workers from various maquilas, students, health workers from here, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United States participated. Others connected by Zoom. The leadership of worker comrades, women and men, made the conference a success.
Our purpose was to build our International Communist Workers’ Party. To unite the masses, strengthen communist relations, organize new collectives, and massively distribute our newspaper Red Flag. Recruiting young people and soldiers is key.
An army veteran comrade spoke about the international situation. He emphasized the need to organize soldiers for the communist struggle. “Having a communist teacher and thus the experience of a non-capitalist education, prompted me to become a communist.
“To be communists we must belong to a collective,” he added. “It is here where we strengthen and struggle with ourselves as the ICWP. I now understand the nature of war much better: a competition between imperialists like the US, China, Russia, and Iran, among others.”
A leading South African comrade emphasized that communists must become family and learn from other comrades’ lives. She described the impressive work of young people who are learning through communist political practice. (See below.)
Three worker comrades reported on the political organizational work in the factories. They shared experiences of how and why they organized the ICWP. All belong to collectives.
“I am a maquila worker and I have always been against injustices against workers. I have lived surrounded by exploitation without knowing what to do,” said D. “They told me about the ICWP, and it changed my life. Being part of this conference motivates me. I share Red Flag with coworkers so they can be part of our communist struggle that will free us from capitalist horror.”
M added, “The work we do as a collective is to organize with the other workers in the factory, presenting them with the ideas of the Party through Red Flag and letting them know that communism can be accomplished if we unite.”
He continued, “That is why we organize ourselves in collectives. This has led us to grow in the factory. We have new members here and others who have joined.”
Another worker added, “My objective is to continue getting together to get more workers to organize as well, to continue distributing Red Flag and to open more paths.”
A young woman clarified the deplorable conditions where she works. A comrade asked her, “Why has it been important for you to belong to the Party?”
“Because I have understood what exploitation means,” she answered. “Because I have learned how to respond to it. Being in the ICWP is important to me. It was my husband who spoke to me about the need to be organized in the Party.”
Comrades of the Movement of Workers and Peasants of Costa Rica described the social and political movements, alliances at the national and international levels, confronting the crisis of capitalism. How international solidarity with the Palestinian people is currently a central focus.
Comrades in Mexico, who confront capitalism daily, showed their commitment to take advantage of the full potential of industrial workers. “It is a hope to continue growing and fighting for a communist system,” they concluded.
Latin America: Imperialist Battlefield
The conference highlighted the fight between the US and Chinese empires over Latin America, a geopolitical and economic competition. The US military tries to integrate Latin America into its Pacific security strategy. It activated all its military bases, to reduce Asian influence. China has large investments in Latin America in trade, technology, and infrastructure.
We must make more workers aware of the urgent need to end this world of wars, where the poor class bears the burden of death and the capitalist class keeps the profits. Our party is organizing workers to join the military, to turn the guns around on these bosses and warlords.
A comrade emphasized, “Workers must pay attention and be careful, because nationalism and patriotism are a trap of the capitalists.”
Finally, a report and workshops discussed Red Flag. Participants reflected on the importance of the paper as an organizational political tool for the working class in the struggle for communism.
The attendees’ dynamic participation strengthened the commitment to organize more workers into the ranks of the ICWP.
We Are Family and We Are Winning
Excerpts of a South African comrade’s conference speech via Zoom
Greetings, comrades! I’m seeing some new faces. And we are missing a few comrades. I want to say condolences to the families of the fallen comrades. It has been an honour to fight for communism with them.
It has been a very rough year for a lot of people, so I want to put a stamp on the importance of showing up for everyone. And keeping in touch with all the comrades, and not just for party activities. Because at the end of the day, we are all family.
I have learned this year that the true importance of being a communist includes being family. Openly sharing with your comrades what is happening in your life. Without comrades being on my side and consistently checking up for me, I wouldn’t have been here.
We learn from Red Flag, but also from what comrades are living through. That too is what we can dedicate ourselves to more. Because we can’t preach being a communist one way and then behind closed doors do something else. We have to preach what we are also practicing.
Being a true communist is deeper than what we are writing or selling in winning over the masses. Our blood and sweat have to be in it. In our sacrifice.
I’m in awe of the new young comrades. Comrade S passed tenth grade and is going into the eleventh. While distributing Red Flag and organizing a large group. Applause!
We distributed Red Flag at two centres. I had to chase after the young comrades because they were spreading like flies. They were distributing, inviting everyone, telling them to go to this website, contact this number, we are willing to meet up with you again.
They gave out all the Red Flag, to all generations, to students, to the fruit vendors — literally everyone. It was finished in a split second. And nobody threw them away. Then they asked me when are we going to do this again?
They’ve learned from those questions that the masses asked them. Those questions are sending us into the streets again with more confidence.
Comrade S organized a large group in her street. She cooked for them. She hosted a successful meeting without me or Comrade Slim present.
I have a lot of ideas for next year. We have tried a lot of angles on doing things. We just need to keep trying, there’s no backing out. Even though others are falling back, it doesn’t mean we have failed them. We still have time to revisit them and keep the communist movement going.
Because the capitalists are trembling now. They can feel the heat and how we are fighting back.
Look at what is happening with the immigrants. The neighbours are fighting for everyone. They are not discriminating, “You are a foreigner.” We are all united because we are all sick and tired of this capitalist system.
We see how capitalists try to manipulate us. In workplaces, they make sure that white and Black workers are in different positions. That one has more power than the other. They want me to say, “This one is taking my job.” It is not the employees. It is the employers who are creating these divisions. All the other bosses around the world do the same thing.
But we are winning. Some people are not seeing it now, but we as the communists are winning. If we keep on pushing and there is no backing down.
Party Military Work and Imperialist Conflict in Latin America here
Red Flag Report here
Solidarity Letters here