On May Day, in South-Central Los Angeles, Progressive Labor Party (PLP) comrades gathered to celebrate working-class unity, internationalism, and revolutionary struggle. Held in a small, neglected park within a predominantly Latin working class neighborhood, the event reflected both the hardship and the resilience of the working class.
Workers will govern ourselves
The park, long abandoned by city authorities, exemplifies capitalist failure. So before the celebration could begin, comrades of all ages rolled up their sleeves—cleaning trash, scrubbing playground equipment, and reclaiming the space for the community. The act of restoring the park was not just practical—it was political. It demonstrated that only the working class, not the bosses or their politicians, has the collective power and will to build a better world.
With the space prepared, tables and chairs were set up, and the smell of home-cooked food began to fill the air. About fifty workers and their families joined in the celebration—multiracial, multi-generational, and brimming with solidarity. The energy escalated as participants lined up in march formation and took to the streets. The destination: a nearby police station, where the killer cop who murdered Alex Flores was assigned.
Chanting “Justice for Alex!” and “Workers united will never be defeated,”we exposed the racist terror inflicted by the police.
The community’s response was powerful. Drivers honked in support, and bus riders raised their fists and shouted encouragement. Chants like “Freedom, freedom, we need freedom, freedom. All the racist killer cops, we don’t need them, need them!” and “La migra, La policia, La misma porqueria,” all led by new Party members, resonated deeply with those watching. At least 200 copies of CHALLENGE were distributed along the route, and a few residents were so inspired by the march that they took dozens of copies to share with friends and neighbors.
After the march, we returned to the park, where we sang “Bella Ciao” and “Deportees,” a haunting song about immigrant workers whose lives were discarded as nameless deportees. Newer members read revolutionary poems, while others led the group in songs of resistance.
A seasoned comrade recounted experiences from the 1975 Boston Summer Project, when PLP organized against racist school segregation. That history set the stage for our next step: a new Summer Project this year, where PLP will lead the fight against racist deportations, police brutality, and capitalism itself. In this speech the comrade reminded participants that it’s always a great day to join the Party.
A long time base member whose loved one was murdered by the police answered his call with a resounding “Yes!” The keynote speech came from a leading comrade who brought students from her school. She spoke about Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the legendary 25-year-old Soviet sniper who defied pressure to become a nurse and instead fought fascism on the front lines—credited with 309 kills of Nazi scum. Her example was clear: every generation plays a role in the struggle for communism. We ended the day singing “The International” in both Spanish and English, voices raised in unity and determination. Our message was clear: we fight not just for reform, but for a communist world free of racism, exploitation, and borders.
See you in Boston!
