Red Politics At Home in Flatbush

Brooklyn, September 15—Communist politics featured prominently in the lead-up to a vigorous and multiracial march against racism, gentrification, and police violence. Organized by two neighborhood organizations, the Brooklyn Anti-Gentrification Network and Equality for Flatbush, the march was guided by a wishful liberal slogan: “Brooklyn is not for sale.” But a more militant note was struck by one of the event’s featured speakers, a Black woman who lost her sister to police violence. After experiencing capitalist state terror in this horrific fashion, she has developed into an important leader in anti-racist struggles.   
When this leader was invited to speak at the pre-march rally, she shared the microphone with a member of Progressive Labor Party. As CHALLENGE found its way into the hands of dozens of passersby, our comrade reminded the crowd that Brooklyn will always be for sale as long as we live under a system driven by profit. The capitalist world degrades any chance for meaningful neighborhood integration with racist gentrification. But we can create a better world!
The Tuesday before the march was election day, and many marchers likely had voted for progressive challengers to local Democratic Party incumbents.  Their presence was a sign that the bosses’ charade of electoral “democracy” has not completely crowded out dedication to class struggle.  In coming weeks, as liberal misleaders head into overdrive to divert righteous anger against capitalism into voting against Trump-backed Republicans, our number-one job is to keep the flame of struggle alive
Don’t Vote; Revolt!
The organizers of today’s march are seeking to mobilize the masses on a multiracial basis against the rulers’ racist attacks. They are serious about Black leadership. They are careful not to feature elected leaders or candidates for office, and they work to attract workers who are frustrated by the raging inequalities of this system. Their endgame, however, is to kill any momentum they build for change at the dead end of the voting booth.
Our communist message, delivered by Black workers, drew nods of appreciation and agreement from many people there.  Over decades of political work in Flatbush, our multiracial comrades have maintained a focus on winning Black workers and youth to communism and PLP.  Patient base-building has been punctuated by moments of sharp anti-racist class struggle in the schools and on the streets.  
The cumulative effect of this history is that our politics and our newspaper are an expected and welcome part of the political life of the neighborhood.  At today’s march, 250 CHALLENGEs were distributed.  Our comrades fell a bit short, however, in bringing out our Party’s base. It would have been good for more of our friends to see us in action.
Even in the current period of rising fascism, where the attacks of capitalism are constant and mass movements are politically weak, opportunities for fightback are all around us. Each one is pregnant with potential to win more workers and youth to communism.  Dare to struggle, dare to win.