Progressive Labor Party (PLP) activity  at the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting (CD 11/26/25) focused primarily on the demands for APHA to reinstate the leader of the International Health Section and speak out for an end to U.S. support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Two events inside the conference showcased our ongoing work in mass organizations.  

A PLP speaker presented a slide show on the organizing in Maryland to stop the state from funding the Maryland Israel Development Center (MIDC) which brings military and surveillance technology from Israel into the state. Israeli Companies like Rafael Advance Defense systems work closely with Lockheed Martin on missiles, and others like AIRIS labs, an Israeli tech startup company, pursue surveillance and associate with Palantir. Others develop robotics and drones for warfare with sophisticated targeting mechanisms. Since Maryland is close to the White House and the Pentagon, it is a prime location for these companies. Presenting this work at the APHA along with one of the local leaders led to a lively discussion about U.S. imperialism and strategies to fight back with a standing room only crowd. The presentation outlined the inter-imperialist struggle over oil which underlies the uncompromising support of Israel by the United States. The presentation did not call for communism and revolution but our literature was handed out to many attendees and we were able to share our politics in multiple conversations afterwards.  

We also built on our work with University of Maryland students by presenting a poster session on health care in the Philippines. Fifteen public health workers and students joined a discussion with the PLP member and a friend from Hawaii who is also in the ICHRP (International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines). All got CHALLENGE with the article about the ICE attacks on seafarers from the Philippines(10/15 /25). We will use the poster at  multiple local programs.  Struggles in the Philippines have heated up with demands for “BoomBoom” Marcos and Sara Duterte to resign and for a transitional government to plan a new course for the government. The corruption by the ruling families is now out in the open and more intense organizing is ongoing. 

Recent earthquakes and typhoons in Cebu, Philippines have revealed the failure of capitalist politicians to provide flood control while operating “ghost contracts” and pocketing the money meant to protect the workers. As the movement grows to end this Marcos regime, students and workers in the United States have joined in protests around the country including in DC at the embassy of the Philippines. The demands of these groups for “national democracy and a just and lasting peace” fall short of the call for international communist revolution. So we have now begun discussing the limits of fighting for liberal democracy (even with a socialist outlook) which has never led to the next step of a communist society. 

The history of the Philippines is one of ongoing struggles against colonialism by Spain and now the United States. Replacing Marcos Sr. and his tyranny of martial law has not led to working class control, and now his son rules the country. As we join in the struggles against the Marcos family and other “nepo-babies” and a few ruling families, we will continue to share CHALLENGE and debate the next steps.  Taking advantage of our presence at the APHA to raise these issues has given us opportunities to talk about communism and revolution and share our literature while contributing to the ongoing struggles against fascism here and in the Philippines.