Los Angeles, October 17—Dozens of workers militantly took to the streets to protest the racist police murder of David Flores by kkkiller kops Andrew Do and Bryan Tahuite of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). In a magnificent show of solidarity, four other families of workers who have been murdered by these killers, came out to speak and support following the strong leadership of working-class women.
In the two days before our rally and march, the LAPD and the LA Sheriff’s Department each killed two more workers. Despite massive multi-racial marches against racist cop terror in the LA area all summer, these ruling class-serving thugs continue to brutalize our class. Mass anti-racist actions are inspiring and essential. But, without a revolutionary communist outlook and plan for taking down and smashing the capitalist system itself, we will never achieve true justice for our class. The Progressive Labor Party (PLP) aspires to do just that!
Families, workers, PL’ers fight for Flores to build antiracist movement
David Flores was the first person in his family to graduate high school and go on to college. He worked two construction jobs to support his two sons. Like many other workers, David’s children were his inspiration and the reason he struggled so hard to make ends meet. His mother, Teresa, has taken up the fight for justice for her son.
Our protest began at the corner near where kkkops murdered David back on April 22, 2019. Workers warmly received us in this mostly Black and Latin neighborhood. As we rallied, passing cars slowed down to listen to our speeches, honked, and took copies of our flyer and CHALLENGE.
After our rally, about 30 of us began our march and caravan to the Southeast Station. As we approached, three kkkops approached us and tried to shut us down. However, a swarm of enraged and loud family members, PLPers, and protestors quickly surrounded the kkkops. Within minutes, they made a tactical retreat behind the automatic gate of their parking lot.
As we blocked the gate with our numbers, the cops frequently warned us in English and Spanish to leave or face arrest. We stood our ground. Three young workers who lived across the street began vigorously chanting “Black Lives Matter”. We called out the contemptuous kkkops, who smirked at our chants. Meanwhile, we distributed literature and talked with workers who lived near the station. Several filmed  our action. They were unanimous in their support.
 Family members from each of the other four victims’ families spoke on the bullhorn. The horrendous stories of their losses are heartbreaking, but, working-class anger predominated in response to their impassioned calls for justice. After two hours of rallying and shutting down the parking lot exit, we accomplished our goals for the day. We pledged to continue the battle to smash racism and, before leaving, warned  the Southeast Station cops that they had not seen the last of us.
KKKops and kkkourts: partners in racist terror
Three days later, the weekly meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission (LAPC) was scheduled to discuss the November 19, 2019 murder of Alex Flores. The LAPC basically rubber stamps police murders. They discuss the cases in “closed session.” It is exceedingly rare for a killer cop to be disciplined when they murder one of our class.The LA City Attorney no doubt advises the LAPC to avoid findings that would in any way aid families filing civil rights lawsuits against the cops and the City.
Alex’s family was determined to tell their story to the LAPC, PLPers and others joined them online. We witnessed a racist travesty. The LAPC said the day before that it would allot the family a total of 10  minutes to speak. But they were cut off after only six by the Commissioners sitting in their posh offices because we hadn’t supplied them with the names of the family speakers the prior day. We notified them in advance that translation was needed for Alex’s mother and father. Of course there was a “technical problem” and they didn’t have translation services available. A substituted board secretary mangled what Alex’s parents said, her translation deliberately leaving out statements like “all cops are racist”.
Many other speakers supported the Flores family’s struggles and sharply attacked the LAPC for persistently condoning the cops murders. But the klan-in-blue also organized themselves and their friends to speak. They attacked Alex and his family as “gang members”, among other disgusting slanders. These are the same racist LAPD cops whose fellow officers have recently been exposed as fraudulently adding thousands of mainly Black and Latin youth to the “CalGang'' statewide database, subjecting targeted youth to enhanced charges.
PLP must continue to help lead the battle for justice for the family of Alex Flores and many others. The mainly women workers who lead these campaigns defy the sexist gender roles that capitalism imposes on our class. They are strong, smart and dedicated organizers of working-class fightback against racism. Through this work, more people understand the true role of the police in a capitalist society and see PLP as leading the fight against their murders. Communist ideas will become more widespread and the Party will grow. Only a communist society can eliminate the bosses’ armed goons who protect private property and preserve the rule of the capitalists.