Reform and revolution at fun fundraiser

It’s been awhile, but we had our first Wine Tasting fundraiser since April 2019. We raised money for the Progressive Labor Party’s 2023 Summer Project and it was a rousing success! Over 50 comrades and friends showed up and it was quite a collective effort as many people stepped up and contributed to its success. As capitalism ravages the workers of the world more and more, it was inspiring to see a multiracial crowd of women and men committed to a better world for the working class. It was a little bit of the working class that under communism will run the world.

These Wine Tasting socials have always been fun events with a strong political component. They have helped to strengthen ties with friends that want a better world and with friends that are in struggles against racism and sexism and are also interested in that better world, communism. This year was a little different as we struggled with a short organizing timeline and also threatening weather. But the working class again came through as many people stepped up to help out. A friend collected money; she was  friendly but efficient, making an important task easy. Another longtime friend took care of an auction that was meant to raise a little money. Wandering through the crowd, joking and cajoling, he raised a lot more. The food was not only plentiful, but fantastic. And people committed to taking part in the Party Summer Project.

Fight racism - organize for communism
But, most important was who came and who spoke and what was said. Many old friends showed up, but also new comrades and friends came from recent struggles. And it was clear that capitalism cannot be reformed. Whether it’s racist harassment of students in Brooklyn or the horrible, intentional racism of migrants drowning in the Mediterranean, the whole damn capitalist system has to go!

At one high school where teachers and students fought to have a memorial for a Black student who was killed (see CHALLENGE, 4/12), the struggle goes on. The same principal who took down memorial posters is the same principal refusing to provide mandated services for English language learners. On the same campus, union misleaders are pushing a racist contract proposal and attacking teachers for merely asking questions (see CHALLENGE, 7/5). Some of these teachers came to the fundraiser. One of the teachers compared how the capitalist media is so concerned about some billionaires who died in a ridiculously lavish underwater excursion, while hundreds of migrants on a sinking boat (seeking refuge from the perils of imperialism) are allowed to die in the Mediterranean Sea with no effort to save them.  

Meanwhile some students and faculty from Kingsborough Community College attended. They spoke about the continuing harassment of students at their college by an administration led by liberals including a Black woman president (see CHALLENGE, 1/18). These liberals  are pursuing a baseless investigation of two faculty who defended a student who was tackled and arrested at the college for trying to stop a fight. They have forced students to drop out of school and they constantly harass students in the school cafeteria. The fightback has been active and ongoing with many students attending various actions and Party events.
At this fundraiser two students spoke about how this struggle has helped them see the power of the working class when we unite and fight back. They have both joined the Party.

Join the 2023 Summer Project
This fundraiser was a small step toward a successful Summer Project 2023. We will rededicate ourselves to building a revolutionary communist  movement, train new young leaders and welcome many more leaders into the PLP as we fight for an egalitarian,  communist world.