[World War I] has undoubtedly created the acutest crises and has incredibly intensified the sufferings of the masses. The reactionary character of this war, the shameless lie of the bourgeoisie of all countries which covers its predatory aims with “national” ideology, all this inevitably creates…revolutionary sentiments in the masses. Our duty is to help make these sentiments conscious, to deepen them and give them form. The only correct expression of this task is the slogan “Turn the imperialist war into civil war [class war, ed.].” All consistent class struggle in time of war, all “mass action” earnestly conducted must inevitably lead to this. We cannot know whether in the first or in the second imperialist war between the great nations, whether during or after it, a strong revolutionary movement will flare up. Whatever the case may be, it is our absolute duty systematically and unflinchingly to work in that particular direction.
—V.I. Lenin, Turn Imperialist War Into Civil War (August 1915)
A little over two years after Lenin wrote these prophetic words the Russian communists (Bolsheviks) led the working class to a socialist revolution right in the middle of World War I. Today the imperialist world powers (United States, China, Russia) are devastating the world’s workers as they promote many, vicious regional wars and move ever closer to world war. Millions of workers are sucked into fighting and dying in these imperialist wars for profit and resources, but many are also rebelling and striking against their own profiteering, warmongering bosses. Now, more than ever, the job of the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) is to fight the bosses everywhere, to disrupt their plans for war and world domination and to rebuild a worldwide, revolutionary, communist movement to seize power for the working class.
The young, Black rebels of Ferguson, Missouri had it right when they violently fought the racist cops and proclaimed that “It’s the whole damn system.” That rebellion set an example for workers and students worldwide. Many members of our Party went to Ferguson, learned from that militant fightback, and also were able to provide some leadership. And the Progressive Labor Party grew, both in numbers and in toughness.
Young, Multiracial Collectives Lead the Party
At our convention in 2015 we adopted a new collective style of leadership with many young comrades, strengthened by Ferguson, stepping forward and taking on more responsibility. This past year has shown this to be an excellent decision. Collectives now lead most areas of Party work, with young comrades, especially women, Black, Latin, and immigrant comrades, at the forefront. Challenge articles and editorials are researched, discussed, and written collectively. We have had cadre schools for college comrades, internationally, and for producing Challenge.
This transition to collective leadership paved the road for even sharper struggles in 2016. Our new, young Party leaders became stronger leaders. They learned mainly through struggles against the bosses and the bosses’ government. In San Francisco they helped lead a takeover of City Hall. While occupying City Hall they organized study groups explaining communism. Soon after, comrades in Anaheim and Sacramento battled KKK and Nazi scum to show them that there’s no free speech for racists!
Several comrades with a bullhorn provided leadership in Baton Rouge during the rebellion against racist police terror. A few weeks later, a local leader from Baton Rouge joined us in Philadelphia to protest against the Democratic National Convention. When we exposed Bernie Sanders in the streets outside the convention, many Sanders supporters joined us and some came to our forum. In Cleveland, comrades learned from workers in the neighborhood where Tamir Rice was murdered. Those workers didn’t care about the Republican National Convention going on downtown. They knew it wouldn’t stop racist police murders. Some agreed with the ideas of communism and took CHALLENGE for their friends. In Minneapolis, we learned about boldness when we interrupted Hillary Clinton at the American Federation of Teachers Convention. We unfurled a banner and led chants to show that Clinton is just as racist as the rest of them. In the Bronx our young leaders have stepped forward both in the streets and at several college campuses fighting back against racism and exposing the futility of elections.
In Haiti, as our young leaders organized relief efforts after Hurricane Matthew, they also explained that only communism can end capitalist exploitation once and for all. In Pakistan, comrades are leading anti-sexist struggles in the brick kiln industry and fighting for better wages and working conditions in electricity, sanitation, and gas companies. In Mexico, comrades are leading the struggle against fascist attacks on teachers and workers in several provinces. From India to Standing Rock we are fighting back against the bosses’ exploitation and building a mass, revolutionary, communist party that will lead the working-class to power.
Spread Challenge and its Communist Ideas Worldwide
But it’s never enough. We can always do more, and better. The bosses will not let us rest. As imperialist competition intensifies and misery for the working-class increases all over the world, so do fascist movements, from Donald Trump in the U.S. to Marine Le Pen in France. But the only solution is communist revolution. Whether it’s a civil war in Syria or Yemen or Ukraine, capitalism offers nothing for workers but death and destruction. CHALLENGE does a great job of explaining what’s going on, and we must bring its communist ideas and our communist Party to the workers:
From Flint, Michigan to Standing Rock—
Strikes in India and Pakistan to
a failed coup in Turkey—
Teacher rebellion in Mexico to
national prison strike in the U.S.—
Be it military bases in tiny Djibouti or
the racist police killings in Brazil—
Let’s bring challenge, its communist ideas, and PLP to every corner of the world.
Because the Ferguson rebels had it right: “It’s the Whole Damn System!” Help us in making 2017 a great year of struggle for the international working class. 2016 has steeled us for more intense fightbacks in 2017. Join the Progressive Labor Party. Fight for communism!