May Day: Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, May 1—The Progressive Labor Party (PLP) in New York City and New Jersey united a multiracial and multi generational crowd of over 200 fighters to march  working-class power. “Whose day? Our day!! What day? May Day!” Several Black and Latin women workers gave speeches throughout the march. The essential message was loud and clear: “The victories of the rich are not the victories of the international working class; putting worker needs at the forefront is our victory.” That’s communism.
Communists marching by!
Curious faces responded with awe at seeing a multiracial group of women leading the energized march from the sound truck. Their voices amplified by loud speakers denounced the crimes of this capitalist system. This drew a lot of attention from workers coming out of stores, sitting by their apartment windows, walking on the street and riding by in cars, buses, and motorcycles. Over a thousand passersby took CHALLENGE. Some made donations. Many others were receptive to the chants laid over the latest hits. Fists were raised in solidarity with the banner on the truck, “The only solution is a communist revolution!”
The workers witnessed PLP's blossoming red army taking to the streets. As we marched, many workers heard chants in Spanish, Hatian Creole, and English. Some workers joined the march. Workers are tired of this system. They want change.  
Fight Back!
Later in the evening, more than 120 workers and youth joined us for a Virtual May Day celebration. The themes of the event included capitalism’s war on our health, the history of May Day and 60 years of PLP fighting for communism. There were international greetings from PL’ers in Haiti and Mexico. We celebrated the wit and might of the international working class with inspiring original songs about worker fightback against capitalist brutality. Small group conversations at the end of the event gave people a chance to speak on the fightbacks they’ve been involved in recently, and ask questions about the Party.
Highlights of the virtual event included the main speech by a healthcare worker comrade about capitalism’s war against our health and safety and the beauty and healing possible only with a communist future. After the event several workers shared how striking it was to hear a young comrade share about the loss of their mother to capitalist healthcare, and the funny and encouraging stories of fightback in their job as a health worker in a long-term care facility. Attendees also commented with interest on the presentation of PLP’s history of fightback, which included historic photos and recounts of some successful battles against fascists and the bosses from the 1960s to the present. As one said, “I’d heard about some of these events on the news growing up, but I had no idea how many people were actually there and fighting for change”.
Our communist victory!
The response of workers proves to both experienced and emerging working-class fighters that when workers are exposed to communist ideas, it resonates with them. PL’ers are here to show the international working class what communism  looks like (multiracial, multigenerational, of all genders), and what communists believe: a shared vision for victory by workers worldwide, that one day everyday will be May Day!