Fifty comrades and friends of Progressive Labor Party rallied and marched through the streets of Bronzeville to celebrate May Day 2018. PLP has been having regular CHALLENGE sales in the neighborhood for years— lately every week—with an enthusiastic response from the community.  It is a historically Black area that has been the home to workers and communists since the 1920s. 
We rallied with red flags and signs against racist deportations and mass incarceration.There were specific messages about killer kkkop Jason Van Dyke, who murdered teenager Laquan McDonald by shooting him 16 times.  We shouted anti-racist, pro-international working class chants, and distributed over 400 CHALLENGEs during our two-hour rally and march.
A young man who had been arrested while attending a court hearing for Van Dyke’s pre-trial motions gave an impassioned speech on the bullhorn. He pointed out that he lost his freedom and his job for calling for justice, while Van Dyke is still free and working.This racist, capitalist system will always protect kkkops and punish workers to maintain itself. This is why we chanted, “The cops, the courts, the Ku Klux Klan: all are part of the bosses’ plan!”
One world, one international working class, one party
After the march we had a dinner and dynamic program, with just over 90 people and families attending. The main speech was given by a young comrade who focused on the inspirational international fight back that is happening around the world and in the US. He linked the struggle of striking nurses in Zimbabwe to striking teachers in West Virginia and other states, and striking health care workers in Illinois. He explained how holding state power (controlling the military, the police, the press, the schools, and the workers through dead-end reform groups) is the way capitalists are able to continue to exploit our class. He pointed out that true freedom can only be won when the international working class, led by a mass PLP, captures state power. 
The comrade linked the policies enforced by Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump: imperialist war, deportations, mass incarceration.  His speech was inspiring and made it clear that “we have to be in it to win it!”  He talked about our Party organizing 30 workers in only three days in Indiana to protest an ICE raid where eight construction workers were arrested at work (see page 3).  After the speech, we had table-talks about whether reform movements can create lasting change and if non-violent revolution is possible.  The discussions that followed were inspiring, and were followed up by a call for all in attendance to continue these conversations and actions by joining the Party and study groups. 
Ey ta, ta ta!
The program highlighted the importance of a fighting and politicized international working class. We read aloud letters from comrades from around the world: Iran, Iraq, Ecuador, Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan (see some on page 6).We chanted (both during the rally and at the dinner) a slogan from the anti-apartheid struggles in South Africa, “Ey Ta, Ta Ta!,” which mimics the sound of an AK-47 fired by workers to shut down the fascist system during revolution. 
We also heard from the mother of a KeMonte Cobbs, a young Black teen murdered by the police in Gary, Indiana last year. There’s been no reason as to why her son was gunned down by killer kkkop Justin Hedrick.She has bravely called out the lies and conflicting stories in the police reports and is fighting for justice for her family.
Through their mass organization, comrades have stood with the family, highlighting that true justice can never be won from appealing to killer kkkops and their murderous system. Her story and strength showed both the personal effects of this racist system, as well as the strength and ability the working class has to challenge the system.  
We ended the evening with fists up, singing the International; another inspiring May Day celebration with friends and comrades. Onward to another year of communist organizing!