Bogotá, Colombia, May 1st — In Bogota, International Working Class Day — was commemorated with strong participation from workers across many sectors: union members, peasants, women’s organizations, community groups, folkloric and sports groups, students, the unemployed, and the opportunist political groupings of the so-called “left.”
Planning for May Day
Over the course of two months, we organized planning meetings to coordinate our participation in the march. We formed four collectives responsible for logistics and outreach — inviting more people, preparing our flags and banners, and developing the slogans for our Progressive Labor Party (PLP) contingent. Our contingent was composed of 63 people, including 24 working women, students, supporters, family members, and readers of our press — all part of our social base, each at a different level of commitment to our Party.
PLP brings true workers’ energy
From early in the morning, we were present, energetically waving our flags and chanting communist slogans, marking our political difference — our revolutionary line — at a communist holiday that has increasingly been reduced to an electoral spectacle: reformist, manipulated by opportunists who turn it into a carnival of whistles, nationalist pageantry, and support for the candidates of the fake left. In sharp contrast, the PLP chanted with enthusiasm and conviction: “The history of the workers’ struggle is not found at the ballot box! Those who put their faith in elections will reap only disappointment!”
Our multiracial collective raised revolutionary chants denouncing the imperialist genocide,
the crisis, and the ideology of capitalism, putting communism forward as the only solution — including: “Against fascist deportations unity and communist struggle!
We also spoke with many workers who still place their faith in democratic change, challenging them to see that the capitalists’ rotating puppets seek only to enrich themselves at the expense of our class — which is why we chanted: “Against deadly capitalism — a communist workers’ state!” and No more reformism — long live communism! “Peace is a tool of the state while they murder the proletariat! and peace between classes serves criminal bosses!”
We moved through the march waving our red flags and chanting slogans that drew curiosity and admiration for their revolutionary content — including: Fight against racism, sexism, and wage slavery scourge the international working class! We distributed one thousand leaflets carrying our Party’s communist line, and sold more than 80 copies of our newspaper CHALLENGE-DESAFIO.
People came up to be photographed alongside our banner and flags, and to receive our literature. Upon reaching Plaza de Bolívar, we made contact with several sympathizers whom we will follow up with to continue advancing politically.
Post May Day
In the afternoon, 29 of us held a lively evaluation meeting, assessing our participation in the march, analyzing the electoral conjuncture, and mapping out next steps. We concluded that we must deepen ideological debate — building on our strengths, correcting our weaknesses, and continuing the struggle and organizing work. We reaffirmed our commitment to winning more of these workers and supporters to the unity of our class: organizing CHALLENGE reading circles, raising the potential of our base, and transforming these peaceful marches into combative struggles for communist ideas.
