No ICE on our block!

Working with neighbors, PLP members helped organize a neighborhood meeting in the Bay Area to build a solidarity and direct response team for our block if ICE or other racist forces showed up. 

There was an interesting discussion about what to do. It ranged from: 

“Know Your Rights” cards/videos from the ACLU with information about not opening your door unless there is a court order with a judge’s signature or giving ICE access to your phone.                                                                                                             

To:

“You have no Rights” …The current experience with ICE, La Migra, is that they will act as a vicious, fascist force when mobilized.  One person spoke about why she fled Roberto D’Aubuisson’s fascist rule in El Salvador and is now facing similar attacks here in the U.S.
Some neighbors brought up that the presence of PLP’s posters/images and communist messages on our outside porch made them feel safe on the block.   

Everyone agreed that displaying and acting with neighborhood solidarity was the way forward.  We also discussed the long history of attacks on immigrant workers.  PLP members put these attacks in the context of USA capitalism of today where the ruling class can’t maximize profit and accumulate investments at the rate they need to “stay ahead of the competition” among themselves and with China. 
These attacks are aimed at creating an insecure, desperate work force to lower wages.  Most importantly, these attacks are used to divide & weaken any fight back of working-class people against the oppression of capitalism. Therefore, an attack on one is an attack on all.  

We made plans 1) a signal hot line for people to turn out if ICE is spotted or comes to a house in the neighborhood. 2) an agreed-upon poster to show neighborhood solidarity and safe houses for those who live, work and walk in our area.  3) further outreach and meetings to expand the group; also, to include workers who go door to door selling food or do maintenance in the neighborhood.
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Anti-immigrant racism a global danger

The front page article of the July 2 issue, “Rebel Against Fascist Terror” and the editorial, “ICE, LAPD, U.S. Terror” were excellent examples of the need for communist leadership “in fighting back against racist state violence and standing in defense of their families, neighbors, and fellow workers.”

However, the “immigration crackdown is just one part of the rulers’ drive to build fascism and prepare the U.S. working class for imperialist war” does not mention that the immigration crackdown is a worldwide phenomenon. Our brothers and sisters across the globe are fighting the same fight. There were recent violent clashes between far-right groups, residents and North African migrants in Spain. Denmark is pushing the European Union to reduce immigration sharply across the continent. Germany will no longer fund organizations that rescue migrants at sea, meaning that the more than 25,000 who have drowned in the last ten years is only the beginning. 

Albania is cashing in on imprisoning migrants from Italy, just as El Salvador is doing with U.S. deportations, to the tune of 800 million euros over five years.  Across Europe immigrant bashing by the far-right parties leads to electoral gains, and the liberal fascists are quick to sing the same song in order to stop losing votes and hold on to their political power. 

Workers have no borders and capitalism around the world must be smashed. Join the PLP in the fight for world communism.
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