Inspired and Ready to Fight

The following letters are from young comrades and friends of PLP who particiapted in the antiracist activities during the Thanksgiving weekend in Ferguson following the courts’ refusal to indict killer kkkop Darren Wilson.

Going to Ferguson, I was reminded of how important this struggle is. We are dedicating our lives in working towards a future for the international working class.
This was my first time being arrested and at no point did I lose confidence in the strength of this Party, at no point did I feel like I was being left behind.
The only violence I felt in Ferguson was from the police. The strength, discipline and organization of the PLP were inspiring to myself and the people of Ferguson. We sent a message that cameras and Black police officers are not enough. Mike Brown was not the first and he will not be the last. This struggle is ongoing and it was imperative that the strength of our comrades showed during the protest and that it continues to permeate throughout the working class. We have strength in number. These are our streets and we will continue to fight back until the international working class takes power.
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This past weekend I was in Ferguson, Missouri, and had a big impact on me. The mere chants and shouts allowed the people of Ferguson who struggle to survive to witness a brief view of solidarity. It was heartening to see people from all over the country come together for a good cause while fighting for justice for Mike Brown and his family as well as all the other young dead Black souls in the field. Fear is just a tool. We have to move ahead with courage.
What precisely inspired me are the traits I’ve observed and the moments I experienced in my life. Other than those instances, I seldom have what amounts to a direct inspiration.
Our task is to resist. I wish it were different but we must fearlessly accept these circumstances, even embrace them, by focusing our attention on what’s going on around us.  We will then gain a sharp appreciation for what makes some people advance and others fall behind. Being in Ferguson I was inspired to take that step. In struggle, in love, in humanity, in communism.
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One thing capitalists do exceptionally well is piss off workers. Workers like Mike Brown’s parents, whose child was murdered by the State on August 9th. Darren Wilson was the murderer and as a reward, he raised four thousand dollars from crowd funding and was paid mid-six figures for a George Stephanapolous interview. So for murder, he got presents instead of punishment.
As the bosses anger people every day, it creates an opportunity for our comrades from PLP to remind people of the need for an egalitarian society. We responded to workers’ anger by showing solidarity with the people of Ferguson this past weekend. They responded to our display of solidarity with support very step of the way.
I was one of the people who got arrested in Ferguson. In the protest, Fergusonites defended our action.  While in the police van, a Fergusonite said “Y’all crazy“ for going up against the police. After being arrested, and while being detained for twenty-four hours, Fergusonites thanked us for being on the side of the people. Despite being arrested I knew we did the right thing and as usual, the police were wrong.
Although I joined the Party around 2013 and was active then, I have been around less recently. This weekend renewed my desire to be more active in PLP.  Through continuous actions like the ones from this weekend we all got the opportunity to sharpen our political skills. We have a long way to go, but this weekend we won and will continue to show workers our support through our actions all across the world.
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Ferguson is the best experience I’ve had with the PLP. All the leadership got arrested and the rest stepped up. As a result, I have much more confidence in the working class.
I learned that what we do has a profound effect on the international working class. The preachers sold us out, but the friends we made last time stood by us. We took the streets and stayed on the streets. We showed workers that they should not be afraid. In fact, it was the cops who were afraid.
I commend all the people, especially the new ones who stepped up and gave leadership. They made a new banner after the cops stole ours. Our bullhorns were taken but our voices were loud enough to still reach them [the cops and National Guards].
For the experience we gained, for the confidence we gained, this trip was worth everything. We should go back to Ferguson soon. This is one moment in history that can die down soon, but if we take the lessons and apply them, we will grow in numbers and experience. There will be many more Fergusons.
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The experience in Ferguson was exhilarating and new for me. I’ve never felt so scared, but empowered in my life. The first night we went to the Ferguson police department and protested. We chanted and eventually we linked up and stepped out in the streets, which the police did not like. A few of us in the PLP got arrested. It was definitely a scary situation, but it showed me how actually peaceful the protesters are and how violent and dangerous the police actually are.
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After spending 24 hours in jail, our comrades and friends all came out smiling and full of renewed energy, ready to continue the struggle. Those who got arrested on Friday night for defying the cops’ rules guaranteed that the rest of us had a great day organizing on Saturday. What we did on Saturday was also inspiring to those who were arrested. It made for a great bus ride home.
Friday night we took the streets for several hours before the final confrontation and arrests. Several onlookers said it was the most organized and they had seen while they were in Ferguson. We made many connections.
On Saturday, we made more connections, distributed literature and our “Darren Wilson Wanted Posters“. We went to a mass meeting and also went door to door. We made more contacts and pulled off a Party dinner — a Forum attended by several of our local rebel leaders.
Communism was everywhere in all kinds of ways during these events. It was a great weekend.
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I was a participant in the Ferguson project this past weekend. It was an amazing, intense and inspiring experience. Over the weekend our project of mostly college students marched, rallied, met and organized in this town where the anger at the whole capitalist system is so apparent.
Far from the racist media (like CNN) that has been showing the residents of Ferguson as wild and out of control, we have seen just a glimpse of how Black workers here live. In our visit to the projects in Canfield, we learned that there is martial law here. The National Guard, who are permanently positioned in front of the police station, also close down the entrances and exits to public housing between 5 PM and 7 AM. We visited the memorial where Mike Brown was murdered as well.
But we also got a glimpse of how Black workers are fighting back. Every night, a large crowd gather and march. We attended a community meeting with over 500 people who assemble regularly.
I am part of the group that went to Mississippi in 1979. I am honored to have had the opportunity to be with our new generation of brave and dedicated PLP leaders.
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It was a great weekend of opportunity. It was very scary and frustrating. I was very upset at how the police treated citizens and protestors. These police need to understand that they are violating the rights of the citizens. The first amendment says we can assemble for protesting, marching and rallying. We have a right to speak our mind and to protest. I think the people who were arrested should file lawsuits against the city of Ferguson. If 200 people or more file a lawsuit, it will be on national news. And just maybe the federal government will do more. I think everyone should also file a complaint against the city of Ferguson and the Federal Government.
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The Ferguson Project was my first protest. When I initially was invited, I immediately decided that I wanted to be a part of such a positive movement. When I asked my mom to go she said no but I quickly came up with a successful lie so that I was able to go. I am glad I did because this trip was an eye opener.
 This environment was completely different from what I’m used to. On the first night, we protested in front of the police departure and it was really great to voice our opinions. There were snipers on the top of the building keeping watch and ground troops guarding the courthouse and multiple businesses. There were a lot of Humvees parked, keeping patrol. It felt so surreal, like we were filming a military movie. I was comfortable and felt safe in my group until things got out of control when the police decided to escalate. I saw people being thrown to the ground, getting beaten with batons and getting arrested. People were running for their lives, in fear of getting hit and being the next victim [of police brutality]. They [the police] began to spray those who they couldn’t catch with pepper spray and mace. Out of the Progressive Labor Party about 16 were arrested, but we came back stronger than ever the following day to show our support for their bravery.
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This weekend was by far the most intense, immersive political action I’ve ever participated in. We accomplished so much, both in terms of community unification and ideological discussion. We lost a lot of out leadership to arrests the first night, but I loved watching our people regroup and reorganize and assume extra responsibilities in order to protect and support one another, the communist cause, and the fight in Ferguson.
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It was a pleasure to be a part of the Ferguson trip during Thanksgiving weekend. It felt right to fight racism with PLP and our extended working class families. I had been to Ferguson once before, so I was not totally unprepared, but I was still very nervous given the recent aspects of police violence by the local police, State troopers and National Guard.
My fears were realized when I was pepper sprayed in the face and arrested. I spent twenty-four hours in jail, 6 of those hours spent totally blind. Despite this being my first time arrested, there was not one moment I thought the Party would leave me behind. I knew that we were all in this together, as comrades, both inside and outside. We raised our morale and turned our “grueling“ prison cells into a bonding moment for all.
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Although this was not my first experience protesting and rallying for an issue of injustice, it was my first hands on organized demonstration. The grand jury’s decision (even though it was expected) affected me a whole lot more than I would have thought. I am fed up with the way my brothers and sisters are threatened daily. After feeling extremely emotional and enraged during the last weeks, going to Ferguson was a great experience. It helped me channel those frustrations towards solving racism and unnecessary murders throughout the world.
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During our time in Ferguson, I was arrested. My experience in jail and the events I witnessed were inspiring. Though I had seen lots of footage and thought I was following the situation well, the military police surprised me. Though I wish we were better organized in some ways, the discipline of the Party made me feel strong. I am looking forward to carrying on the fight for Eric Garner, for Akai Gurley and for all victims of this fascist State.
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My first experience protesting in Ferguson was exciting. For the first time I had the chance to say that we’re tired of so much injustice and discrimination we are subjected to in the United States. As an immigrant, I want to send a message to all those who are facing the same problems. I believe that if we unite our voices will be heard.