Baltimore, MD, April 12—On a cloudy Saturday, Baltimore members of the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) hosted a pre-May Day, International Workers' Day, dinner. We had many engaging conversations and made new connections. These ranged from experiences in study groups to class struggle in our neighborhoods. Twenty-one people were present once the program started (as well as three online attendees). Building for a revolutionary, communist May Day is even more urgent during this period of fascist attacks on workers. Only communist revolution can defeat fascism and capitalism once and for all.
Stories of fightback
A veteran member of PLP shared their experience as a healthcare worker fighting for the American Public Health Association (APHA) to acknowledge the genocide in Gaza and pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire. They went into detail about how the leadership of APHA was insistent on not only ignoring the atrocities but also limiting the advocacy of those who oppose the genocide. Despite the intense repression, our comrades and friends successfully won that fight, with a section referring to the need for humanitarian aid and accessible healthcare for our working-class members in Palestine.
We also pushed our area’s largest and longest-running struggle among industrial workers. One of our lead comrades talked about her years of struggle and base building as a Metro worker in D.C., as well as her role within the union. She emphasized the importance of raising class consciousness and putting our sharpest communist politics at the forefront of our work. She then welcomed those who have not yet joined the Party to fight alongside us to build the future that the international working class needs and deserves.
Another friend summarized their nearly year-long involvement within the West Coalition—an organization which for over a decade has advocated for the jailing of all killer KKKops and an end to state-sanctioned violence, especially within Baltimore City. Our friend has learned many important lessons while being in various rallies, attending community solidarity events, and—most importantly—putting the Party’s line into practice among masses of workers. As they explained, “[T]he reason why I believe it’s important to fight police brutality is so that we can get rid of the system that perpetuates police violence and [to] build a system that works for us, not against us.” With this being their first time fully expressing their view of our Party’s work in Baltimore, comrades were proud of and inspired by our friend’s clear analysis and appreciation for our fighting spirit.
There was also discussion of historic and current international workers' struggles, including the origin of the first May Day with the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, Illinois in 1886. Other friends shared their memories of active moments of battle among the workers against fascist forces within and outside of their home country during the 20th century. They also expressed awe at the international protest movement that has re-emerged since Israel escalated their slaughter of workers in Palestine in October 2023. PLP wants an end to all capitalist terror, and the only way to ensure that is by uniting workers in Palestine and Israel with our international movement for an egalitarian communist world.
We continued with lively performances. One long-time base member read a poem called “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay. A younger comrade sang “Commonwealth in Toil” and “Bandiera Rossa.” Another comrade—a local Party leader and our event facilitator—also read a poem called “A New Direction.” This was written by another PL’er during the height of the solidarity movement opposing Israel’s genocide against workers in Palestine (https://multiracialunity.org/2024/08/04/a-new-direction-2/#more-5428).
With a multi generational, multiracial group, our pre-May Day dinner was a success for our small Baltimore collective. The attendees stayed for a while longer, having fruitful conversations and enjoying the remaining food. The event has prepared the guests for the upcoming May Day dinner. This will be our second Party-led May Day celebration since having younger leadership take on the responsibilities of the clubs in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. We recognize the importance of not only showing but giving leadership to our working-class siblings; so, as part of our base building, we have included base members in the planning and facilitation of the event. PLP continues to raise the red flag for a truly communist-led May Day.