BALTIMORE, January 17- An old tradition in the Balkan region of Europe is to have soup or a stew available for fellow workers when they finish a day’s work, or after a long hike to a mountain hut during the weekend.
This past Saturday, on a cold snow-covered day, one of our Progressive Labor Party (PLP) members prepared a large pot of lentil soup, and another member of our Party club brought several loaves of fresh bread and creamy butter. This gathering, by the PLP Baltimore club, with friends and interested people, took place at a member’s home. It was a combination of a social event and a political discussion about the recent election in New York City.
We shared our organizational chores with contributions of food, beverages, PLP literature, flyers, pins, t-shirts, and stickers. We decorated the room with a red communist flag. By the time we were ready to commence our program, about a dozen guests and members had gathered.
To break the ice, we played a game – telling personal stories sparked by what was written on cards picked from a stack on a table. We enjoyed hearing wonderful stories about childhood, relationships, and so on.
Discussing current events
Our main discussion was then kicked off by two of our PLP members. We read aloud the article from CHALLENGE (11/26/2025) “Mamdani, a dangerous misleader we cannot afford” and opened up for sharing thoughts. Very soon, however, two Trotskyites that we had met at recent demonstrations elucidated their views and overtly promoted participation in the electoral process, which triggered a unanimous response from our club members in defense of the written article.
One comrade compared current political events with historic events of the decaying economy in Western Europe and the U.S. in the mid 1880’s, and again in the 1930’s – when Bismarck and FDR both adopted pretend-socialist ideas, and created a plan for some social reforms to counter the demands of growing socialist and communist movements.
Another part of the discussion was about today’s large base of young, anti-genocide protestors, who stood behind Mamdani and played a significant role in getting him elected. But starting even before that, he gradually shifted his alliance toward the Democratic Party establishment. Even the racist-in-chief in the White House applauded Mamdani’s reappointment of NYPD Police Zionist-commissioner Jessica Tisch.
NYC mayor pro-boss wolf in sheep’s clothing
Following that, over one hundred organizations and anti-genocide activists, which only few months before had eagerly campaigned for Mamdani, signed a petition condemning him. Capitalism will adjust to any politician playing by the rules of their game. They might be complaining on the airwaves of their state-run propaganda, but to save their profits they welcome a touch of democratic socialism and perhaps a tiny lessening of economic inequality, because it is a relatively low price to them, to keep the profits of capitalism thriving.
Some of Mamdani’s billionaire donors and establishment lieutenants prove these intentions: Michael Novogratz, Liz Simons, Robert Wolf, Sally Susman. Mamdani’s proposal, to tax anyone whose wealth is above a million with a 2 percent tax increase, is laughable and changes little for the working class.
Our Baltimore PLP members, and the majority of the group, stood firm about the need for smashing this cycle of egregious belittling of the working class in the U.S. by big fascists and their liberal politicians, and similarly by small fascists and their MAGA lackeys.
The best time to join the party is always now
PLP is an international revolutionary communist organization, fighting for workers’ democracy and for working class dictatorship against capitalist oppressors.
Our comrades did well presenting the importance of organization and participation of communists in the mass movement which, after revolution, will go on to eliminate any need for high-paid elected officials, and will end the wage system.
Our club is young and growing, and is effectively integrating itself into the Baltimore community. Come and join us for our next event! Join Progressive Labor Party! Fight for communism!
