Haiti: elections control people

In modern times, elections have remained one of the strongest weapons in the hands of the bourgeoisie to try to fool us into believing that people participate in democracy or choose their own leaders. But in reality this process is a form of indirect imposition of class rule by the elites, who give you the same coin with different faces so you can choose what kind of domination you want and who will dominate you.  

The election farce in Haiti has not been able or willing to meet the voters’ aspirations. Besides, what does this so-called democracy even mean when every two or four or six years politicians come to you asking for your vote, and then those very same politicians become your worst enemy to defend their own interests as well as the interests of the bourgeoisie and imperialist powers? 

The post-dictatorship experience in Haiti since ’86 (when the Duvalier dictatorship was ousted by a mass uprising) clearly shows that this choice was, and still is, against the real class interests of the working class. Look at the massacres of the 1980s against the people and the following elections that gave power to Lavalas (the party of Jean Bertrand Aristide, who began on the left and betrayed the interests of the Haitian workers and students). Lavalas greatly contributed to the programs of liberalization of the Haitian economy, to the structural adjustment programs that led to the destruction of public institutions, leading in turn to a wave of employee dismissals so as to meet the demands of the World Bank and the IMF, the two leading international financial institutions run by the major western imperialists, especially the U.S. 

The experiences of the 2000s were not so different, when there was a seeming struggle between Lavalas and PHTK (Parti Haitien Tèt Kale, the party of Michel Martelly, Duvalier acolyte who became president after the devastating 2010 earthquake, handpicked by the U.S. imperialists), which resulted in another great misfortune for the working class. During this period the country experienced more instability, more moments of massive immiseration, and the re-establishment of corruption and violence as a political model of power. Martelly called himself a “legal bandit.” 

So now we were dealing with another Duvalier-style gangocracy in power. During this period, the fundamental rights of the workers almost completely disappeared. Even the primary right to protest, to speak out against patently illegal acts, has virtually disappeared. The rise of gangs, the arrival of mercenaries in the country to kill people in order to stop the masses from making demands to merely reform their lives, tells you a lot about these things. And the establishment of gangs in working class neighborhoods to prevent uprisings raises questions about what elections really bring to the people. Revolt, say no to bourgeois elections! 

The primary task of all workers is to revolt against any system of exploitation, repression, and subjugation. So we continue to say no to bourgeois elections, whether or not they are organized in the context of state insecurity or in so-called times of peace. We know who benefits from these elections: those who control the gangs, along with a parasitic, reactionary, backward bourgeoisie. There is only one way to save our class: Get outraged!!! Revolt!!! Only a communist revolution can truly liberate our working class brothers and sisters from capitalist and imperialist domination.
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Cookies and Communism

I recently gathered with comrades to distribute CHALLENGE along the parade route for the annual West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, along Eastern Parkway. One comrade brought out members from her base collective, which is actively fighting ICE’s fascism in NYC, to leaflet to the community about what to do if encountering those gutter, knuckle dragging racists in the streets.

We managed to distribute close to 200 papers! As a bonus, we even ran into a float criticising the racist attacks on our Haitian brothers and sisters with the removal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The salivating sounds of Caribbean flavor kept our energy up en route to a comrade couple’s house for their yearly Labor Day get together. It’s an opportunity to gather our base for a fun, unofficial sendoff to summer. 
But what we realized is that it was also another opportunity to mix some sweet treats with the paper for a winning combination!

Before everyone left for the evening (as the next day was a regular workday), we decided to bring down the remaining cookies to share with the paradegoers passing by. In that time, it made sense to bundle up the remaining CHALLENGES as well…and it worked to near perfection. Young Black workers were eager to take the cookies and curious to take our literature along with it. One worker even wanted to come to an online study group we are holding later this month! He mentioned his social work and wanted to learn more about PLP.

It’s not often that such a grassroots campaign, formed on a whim and forged with sugary goodness and antiracist politics, gains such traction. But I thought about it, and came up with the name “Cookies and Communism.” It was said jokingly, but the comrade noted it had a ring to it and encouraged me to write about it. This just may become an annual PLP tradition here in New York City! We shall see.
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Reds at the West Indian Day Parade

During the colorful and massive parade of Caribbean communities on Eastern Parkway, a community organization set up a table alongside members of our Progressive Labor Party. While they distributed flyers and Know your Rights cards in English, Spanish, and Haitian creole to inform the crowd marching through the streets about their rights and how they could confront ICE’s increasing activities in our communities, a comrade and I stood nearby distributing CHALLENGE newspapers. We made and posted signs that said smash racist borders and urged solidarity with our Haitian siblings in Haitian creole. The colorful signs grabbed the attention of passersby giving us the opportunity to interact especially with many workers from Haiti, thousands of whom participated in this event that unites the Caribbean community in our area and showcases its cultural traditions, music, and food.

Later on we decided to wrap up tabling and walk through the parade route. Because of how quickly people were distracted by the festive atmosphere or passing by, many didn’t grab CHALLENGE, but when we showed them the last page—which discussed the Haitian Revolution—they immediately took it, especially the young people who may have heard of it but surely don’t know in depth the facts that led Haiti to become the first Black republic.

It was very heartening for us to be involved in this activity—on the one hand, because we were able to enjoy the vibrant colors, the infectious music, and the joy of the Caribbean community, and on the other hand,  because we know that the struggle against capitalism must be waged everywhere and in every possible way, especially during a time when our class brothers and sisters are being murdered.

Afterward, we went to the apartment of some friends who live near the avenue where the parade was taking place, where a group of members and friends gathered to share delicious desserts, and we stayed there for a while. I left early because I was very tired from all the walking after the young comrade who was with me kindly called me a taxi—which she paid for out of her own pocket—and another young comrade who was also with us walked me to the street where I was to board the taxi, which was a few blocks away, since most of the surrounding streets were closed.  I was deeply moved because the camaraderie and solidarity that always exist among PLP members are ever-present. Later, I learned that those who stayed at the apartment—members and friends—went out to distribute more flyers. In total we managed to hand out close to 300 newspapers as the parade drew to a close. 

I believe that our mission as members of the PLP, with the help of our friends, is to be present at every activity where our class siblings, especially Black and migrant workers who are seriously under attack gather—whether they are celebrating their roots and cultures, participating in protests, and above all, in organizations, workplaces, schools, unions, churches, etc.—to introduce them to our newspaper and let them know that they need the Party. This is the only way our Party can become a mass party capable of leading the communist revolution to seize power for the working class.
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Getting CHALLENGE in workers’ hands

There were almost too many take-aways to count from the summer project in Chicago, but I think what stuck with me the most was the support that the more experienced comrades gave to those like myself who struggled on knowing how to get CHALLENGE into workers’ hands. This was something I had been very nervous about and struggled to do effectively the day prior.

One of our sales was in the South Side of Chicago during the Bud Billiken parade. Before arriving on location, a comrade explained how the history of the parade reflected the historic struggle of Black workers against racist oppression and how these racist attacks continue today. The comrade additionally described how through the defunding of schools in the south and west sides of Chicago, and the racist attacks against Black and Brown youth for enjoying the downtown and beach areas, methods of segregation were still in effect.

Our Party’s line, which prioritizes fighting back against racism, was well received. I shadowed a comrade for a while, and they helped me to fine-tune my approach and my pitch. Afterwards, my comrades and I got several armfuls of CHALLENGE out to interested workers enjoying the parade.
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