CHICAGO, IL, MAY 2—“Asian, Latin, Black and White, Workers of the World Unite!” “The only solution is a communist revolution!” These were some of the chants heard on a sunny May Day celebration as 100 Progressive Labor Party (PLP)  members and friends marched through the Back of the Yards neighborhood in Chicago.  The chants were taken up by workers on the street who were watching and some of the workers joined the march!  Hundreds of CHALLENGE newspapers and fliers were distributed to the overwhelmingly positive workers along the route. 

Taking it to the streets

Our ambitious plan for the day: a rally and 1.8 mile march through the neighborhood where we regularly sell CHALLENGE followed by lunch and a program at a Parks Department fieldhouse. We chose this  neighborhood because Black, brown, and immigrant workers make up the majority of the residents. Over the course of the 3.5 hour day, we had over 90 workers (not including the many children we brought with us) join in the action and festivities. One obvious strength of our May Day was that we brought together a multiracial, multigenerational, and multigendered group of workers.   

The program showcased art from comrades and friends, including moving poems performed by the authors and a 12 year old playing “Bella Ciao” on the violin. A rap inspired by PLP’s “Fight back” chant was also performed and hyped up the crowd.  Interspersed in the program were three speeches.  One was from a Nipsco worker who was recently locked out—he shared the struggle amongst his coworkers to fight back against forced overtime (see previous CHALLENGE articles on this). He shared the PLP's work and support in this struggle. Because of the Party’s work with the Nipsco workers, some of the Nipsco workers came to the march! The main speech was delivered by a Party leader and, while it laid out the dangerous and chaotic state of worldwide capitalism and developing fascism, it also pointed out the working class’s power to change the trajectory through international solidarity.  

The closing speech was from a newer comrade on why she joined PLP.  One of the things she highlighted was accountability being built into the structure of the Party and how this helps us achieve our goals and continue moving forward. She  spoke about the value of CHALLENGE newspapers in winning her to the Party.  She also appreciated the Party’s honesty in pointing out the dead end that is the Democrats: “From Parkland to Palestine Democrats had been funding genocide, tearing apart families, raking in billions, and making false promises my entire life and I was fed up with it.” Her speech was honest, heartfelt, and inspiring.  

Future is bright

At least two base members found the day so impressive that they want to find out how to join our Party!  And we are looking forward to a post-May Day BBQ as well as being involved at the Labor Notes conference in June, a local summer project in July, and participating in the Socialism 2026 conference over Labor Day.  Workers know that capitalism is a dead end that does not help us. PLP needs to continue struggling with our coworkers and friends that the only solution is a communist revolution. Onwards comrades!