Our recent May Day Brunch was a resounding success. A vibrant intergenerational showing of comrades and friends exceeded our seating capacity. The power of collective struggle in the fight against capitalism and sexism was on full display. Over a dozen students came to their first Progressive Labor Party (PLP) event to celebrate International Women’s Day! They joined workers from health care, transit and education sectors as well as retirees to engage in critical discussions on women’s resistance across the globe, and explored strategies for building communism.
One organizing highlight - a young woman brought five of her friends from different schools across the city. This act of organizing highlights the exponential nature of our movement—when one person’s consciousness is raised, it spreads, inspiring others to join the fight. Revolutionary ideas continue to resonate with and galvanize the next generation.
Throughout the brunch, participants recreated revolutionary art and studied the history of past struggles while confronting the limitations of movements that lacked or lost their revolutionary communist horizon. Engaging discussions examined both successful strategies and historical pitfalls, pointing a way forward that equips us with tools to carry future struggles forward to final victory.
From sharing an umbrella to joining the Party
A particularly stirring moment came when one comrade delivered a powerful speech, tracing her journey to the Party from a Palestine rally where a Party member offered her an umbrella. Self-critically, NYC comrades have at times allowed inclement weather to derail plans for outdoor agitation. Through steady rain that day a year ago we shared in the internationalist rage that brought thousands out to demonstrate. We learned to chant, just a bit, in Arabic that day. Energy ran high in our intergenerational group and the simple act of solidarity of a comrade sharing an umbrella led her to find a political home in the Party, and now, the rest is history. She is building a multiracial fightback against ICE, connecting students and workers across struggles. New comrades are reaching toward a new communist horizon. Her story deeply resonated with an audience full of people searching for a way to serve the working class. All comrades were reminded - WHAT YOU DO COUNTS!
With the energy from this event, we are now preparing for the May Day march with even greater momentum. About a hundred blank lists of twenty with organizing check marks were distributed and time was given for comrades and friends to fill them out. Club meetings and study groups have clear marching orders: 56 days left until May Day! The brunch made it clear—our movement is growing, our youth are engaged, and our commitment to smashing capitalism remains unwavering. The fight continues, and with every new face in the struggle, we move closer to a world free of exploitation and oppression. We move closer to communism. Onward to May Day!
