MEXICO CITY, August 23 — In Mexico City the majority of workers live in miserable neighborhoods that surround the city. The PLP’s Summer Project was based in two of these neighborhoods, and included the participation of teachers and comrades from several countries. We distributed flyers, but mostly focused on visiting CHALLENGE readers and their families. Building a base in the working class is essential for a communist revolution.
During the first week we concentrated our efforts in a neighborhood close to the most important industrial zone in the center of the country. We visited some twenty people at work and at home. We had meetings with about half of them.
These conversations made it clear that industrial workers are the key to the revolution. They have the power to stop all production and the knowledge to run the factories for the working class. In time of crisis, fascism crushes their lives and that of their families. But with PLP there to lead them, frustration and anger will become a revolutionary force. We were told that a worker has to try to make it on 600 pesos (about $48) a week, has to put up with abusive bosses, insults and often even physical abuse. Work-related injuries are common and the bosses leave workers unprotected.
One of our friends described the injury of a worker who had his ankle crushed at a bridge construction site. It was difficult for the injured worker to make ends meet on 400 pesos ($32) a week, which is the amount the boss registered for him at the social security office. His co-workers, our PLP friend included, offered their solidarity. A comrade also explained the limits of not fighting back: “what are we going to do when there is another accident? This doesn’t solve anything; we have to get organized.”
Another worker, with a simple question, underscored the challenge we face: “Do you believe the Party is ready now to lead a new society?” We are confident our political line is right and our Party is strong, and as our ties to workers strengthen and we gain more organizing experience, we will lead a communist revolution.
During the second week we visited a community to the west of the city. PLP has been organizing the neighbors to fight against government negligence related to the imminent danger of flooding of the whole community, and against the high cost of utilities, such as electric services to the homes. We visited 10 people, distributed 1,200 CHALLENGE pamphlets, and 2,000 flyers calling for a neighborhood meeting.
Close to 100 people came, including a group of the Mexican Electricians Union (SME) who advised the neighbors on the best ways to deal with the unreasonably high electric bills. We also discussed the ways governments at all levels ignore workers’ problems.
In one of our meetings, a comrade criticized us for the lack of articles about Mexico in CHALLENGE and offered to help increase their production. This Project helped us to increase the struggle against our own weaknesses, such as the low distribution of our newspaper and to understand its importance in the lives of the workers.
In addition to the work in those two neighborhoods, we held a meeting for a couple of CHALLENGE readers, and on another occasion visited two comrades who live to the east of the city, where we support a reforestation campaign.
Every person we visited received a copy of the PLP document “Road to Revolution IV,” an invitation to join a communist school, and was asked to support or join PLP The majority indicated interest in attending meetings and distributing the paper.
We organized two communist schools for around 60 people; 10 of them were participating for the first time. We discussed political economy, fascism, and the need for a communist party.
Comrades’ skills and participants’ generosity allowed us to meet our goals. We thank our comrades for their criticisms and patience.
All the participants in the Project developed a strong sense of comradeship, and at the closing we were moved by the singing of the Internationale. The international unity that our Party promotes is key to the success of communism. Death to capitalism! Long Live Communism!