College Park, MD, March 21—As part of celebrating International Working Women’s Day, members of the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) hosted a dinner and trivia night. Two comrades worked alongside a close friend to the Party in creating 26 questions, ranging from historic strikes and women-led struggles to attacks on workers that spurred collective action and fightback. Around 35 people attended, and 25 formed teams for the trivia game. 

One comrade introduced the event as a working-class celebration of women’s important contribution to the various fights against capitalism and for liberation from its oppressive institutions. Even the name of the holiday represents our understanding that honoring anti-sexist struggles and victories is based on class distinctions. Capitalist history muddies revolutionary events, groups, and figures, and picks a select few women “role models” who don’t threaten the ruling class’s power. Feminism especially concedes to the notion that patriarchy or male-centered systems of oppression are responsible for women’s mistreatment, and that giving women rights traditionally reserved for men will eradicate the wrongs of society. PLP understands that capitalism relies on sexism, alongside racism, to deny women and queer workers many of the few crumbs that keep us won to its illusions. Another passed law does not guarantee the safety of any worker.

Sexism harms all workers

Another comrade read a speech that highlighted how sexism harms workers for the benefit of capitalists. From their speech: “The exploitation of domestic labor, the attacks on reproductive rights, and unequal pay for equal work are all necessary to sustain [capitalism].” They continued that feminism is not the answer to sexism because it does not push for a multi-gendered working-class movement to end capitalism. Workers’ liberation must be won by force, with a mass communist revolution organized by workers worldwide!

The game created a lively atmosphere that challenged team members to use their previous knowledge or context for the various topics. With each question, participants cheered at their correct choices or playfully groaned about incorrect ones. The three presenters encouraged discussion, which allowed everyone to give and learn more context. In creating the questions, we were careful to show an expansive and internationalist depiction of working women’s struggles and achievements. Our movement for full working-class fightback is impossible without learning from the lessons of workers everywhere.

Attendees stayed long after the game finished to share reflections and to socialize. Base members from areas that usually wouldn’t meet mingled and connected on the Party’s areas of work and analysis, including a comrade’s recent talk on the implications of inter-imperialist rivalry through the U.S.’s war with Iran.

The Party’s younger leadership in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) boldly represented our organization’s commitment to putting youth at the forefront of working-class thought and collective action. Our two lead comrades and base members frequently met and planned the event’s presentation, the Party table of literature and merchandise, and the game itself. As we build for another fiery May Day and summer of fightback, we use these events to celebrate our creativity, history, and multi-gendered proof that workers are the answer to ending the sexist system of capitalism.

In a working-class community in the northern Valley of Mexico, a group of 25 friends and Progressive Labor Party (PLP) militants gathered to commemorate March 8th—International Working Women’s Day. The majority of those in attendance were women, and one-third were teachers.

Sexism means we gotta fight back!

The meeting took place eight days after the U.S. and Israel launched a missile attack on a girls’ school in Iran, killing at least 170 people—most of them children. In Mexico, five days earlier, the femicide of Kimberly—a student at the University of Morelos—had occurred. This took place just weeks after the femicide of Karol, another student at the same institution. Under the capitalist system, the sexist oppression of women entails not only wage inequality, the double shift (working a full-time job followed by domestic labor), and sexist practices, but also social, cultural, and ideological degradation—the most extreme manifestation of which is femicide.

The discussion was led by two women comrades and one man comrade. The history of Working Women’s Day was presented—tracing its origins to the struggles of working women and its promotion by communist leaders—and the nature of sexism was explained. The current situation of women under capitalism was also discussed, and the stories of various female social activists and revolutionaries were highlighted.

A woman’s place is in fightback

The attendees—particularly the women—shared their experiences in confronting oppression within their homes (with their parents and partners) and in their workplaces (with their bosses). One account was particularly inspiring, demonstrating how a comrade’s steadfast refusal to accept the gender roles imposed by the system brought about changes within her family, helping to break with certain sexist practices. However, it was acknowledged that much work remains to be done, and that there is a pressing need to struggle to destroy the very system that perpetuates these practices for the sake of bosses’ profits.

Another comrade expressed her satisfaction that her family has developed political consciousness, noting that this awareness has helped them make better life decisions and adopt a class-based perspective.

The meeting concluded with a brief analysis of the international situation—the war in the Middle East, the struggle over critical minerals, and the implications for workers worldwide. Attendees were invited to hold further meetings to delve deeper into some of the topics discussed, and an invitation was extended to participate in the May Day march. At the conclusion of the event, a meal was held, providing an opportunity for friendship, basebuilding, and for strengthening bonds.

The struggle continues 

That same day, in a community located in the eastern part of the Valley of Mexico, other comrades also commemorated March 8th with a meeting and a meal attended by around fifteen neighbors—particularly women—who have historically organized themselves to fight for essential services, such as transportation, water, and electricity, for their neighborhoods.

For this event, they organized collectively to bring various dishes to share with their fellow fighters. Discussions were also held regarding International Working Women’s Day, sexism, and the global situation.

Both of these activities demonstrate that, even as imperialist war and fascism loom menacingly, our class will answer the call to struggle. Ultimately—through a communist revolution and the conscious participation of millions of women and men—we will sweep away capitalism and the sexist, racist refuse it generates.

KOLKATA, India, March 9—Students from various colleges and universities in the city organized a grassroots anti-imperialist demonstration today. Key demands of these included an immediate end to the ongoing slaughter from the U.S. imperialists and Israeli zionists on Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon, while calling on the national government of India to sever military and economic ties with Israel.

The international communist Progressive Labor Party (PLP) salutes these bold anti-imperialist demonstrations happening at the grassroots level led by students and workers. PLP fights to connect and organize movements from here in South Asia and everywhere into a mass revolutionary movement to overthrow capitalism with communist revolution. 

Calling out imperialism

The rally combined sloganeering with cultural resistance: protest songs, street theatre, and poetry about Gaza and global wars drew attention from bystanders, shopkeepers, and bookstall owners along College Street. Pamphlets were distributed explaining Zionism and imperialism in simple terms and calling on ordinary working people in Kolkata to oppose profit wars, communal hatred, and corporate profiteering.

Participants situated the protest within a wider wave of demonstrations across India and the world against the Israel–U.S. imperialist axis and ongoing war against Iran and genocide in Palestine. The rally reaffirmed Kolkata students’ commitment to  internationalist, anti-war politics and signaled that College Street remains a symbolic ground for resistance to imperialism, Zionism, and domestic authoritarianism.

Internationalist and anti-imperialist sentiment and actions present opportunities to grow the class consciousness of the masses into a unified communist movement and party that transcends the bosses’ artificial borders. From Kolkata to Minneapolis to Kinshasa, workers of the world unite to crush capitalism!

No internationalism at No Kings protest

There were several No Kings Day protests in North Carolina ‘s Raleigh-Durham, and Chapel Hill metro areas. There was a small Progressive Labor Party (PLP) presence  at suburban Apex’s Beaver Creek Commons Shopping Center. There were 1,500 workers and students total!

Protestors were on both sides of the street outside the shopping center. It was multiracial, but it had glaring political weaknesses. The chant about “Democracy” was reformist, and had no class content. There were many protestors waving American flags. It was the American capitalist system that made Trump possible, so the bosses’  capitalist “democracy” is rotten! Only CHALLENGE and PLP can help workers, students, and soldiers understand the class nature of the bosses’ flag which symbolizes all class unity with the bosses. The rulers, while claiming the reformist Democratic Party (who helped organize No Kings protests) as the workers’ ‘friends’, push  misleaders like Bernie Sanders on the working class. 

The other problem with the Apex protest was that there was a lack of political understanding  that U.S. violence against brown workers domestically (an increasing number of white workers are being hurt and killed like Renee Good and Alex Pretti as American fascism expands) is linked to killing brown workers and students globally, in the name of oil profits. Not one sign was about the Iranian school mass murder by the U.S. Tomahawk missiles of the students and teachers. That was a serious weakness. PLP has a small presence in North Carolina, but we will try to make inroads because only a collective communist revolution can free the working class!  In addition to No Kings Day  where a modest number of CHALLENGEs and Party leaflets  were handed out,  the following weekend, CHALLENGE was also distributed at the North Hills Neighborhood in Raleigh to Black and Latin workers. One Black worker said he ‘’appreciated people opposing the war.’’ CHALLENGE’s opposition to fascist ICE was mentioned to workers who took papers. Self critically, more work needs to be done organizing better  distribution. 
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Students learn: fear divides, unity wins

I went to an event led by Progressive Labor Party (PLP) members. In truth, I was there to support a friend. I was there to listen. I heard a friend discuss the time I went to Minneapolis with her and other PL’ers during the general strike. We went to not just support but also spread the word of what our fellow class siblings and friends and fighters are doing here, learning about communism, when our shackles are broken, we are no longer ruled by capitalism. I listened as she went on to say that the people in Minneapolis protected each other as we saw an understanding that there was no (us vs. them) mindset in the community but (us vs. ICE) as they stood together. There was solidarity that would need to be shown more here in New York, which I agreed with while listening.  Another person at the event shared an interesting point, which was that we have a fear, a fear that makes our enemies comfortable, as they turn a blind eye to our suffering while they fill their bellies with our blood and the blood of our children. When we strike and create minor uproar, we are nothing more than flies. But if we put aside that fear that makes us content and slaves to the feeling, we can truly come together and start a revolution that they truly fear. After all, they’re justflesh and bone as us. The only difference is that they made themselves out of “reach”, but they are not because we put them there with their so-called power and we can take that power back. We can be that power. 
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Need to learn AND fight genocide system

Three members from the PLP club joined about two dozen members and friends of Al-Aqsa Swim Club (AASC). We listened, shared, and discussed ongoing campaigns and actions accomplished in the past year, as well as proposed operations designed to eventually permanently eliminate genocidal companies operating in Maryland.

AASC presented insights into ELTA North America, a subsidiary of the Israeli military. ELTA is headquartered in Maryland, where they design and produce weapons tech, surveillance tools, and radar for the U.S. government and Israel, which are used in occupied Palestine and at the U.S.-Mexico border.

One of the presenters started the event with three questions for the attendees to discuss. I do not remember the exact wording of the questions but according to my notes, my answers to the questions were about collecting as much information as possible, educating ourselves, and a revolution.

The presentation gave us basic info about ELTA and some more specific information, such as bosses’ names and addresses. The speakers pinpointed Merritt Properties and Capital One, which work closely with ELTA, by renting out their properties and financing the subsidiary. There was also a short talk about the BDS movement (boycott, divestment and sanctions), to discourage workers in Maryland from buying products and services from companies that do business with Israel and instead find a product or service which is not related to the genocidal regime. The next speaker talked about Elbit systems (Advanced Defence Technology), but failed to directly explain actions and circumstances, which happened back in Britain in August 2024 by the “Filton 6” group or Palestine action.

The information shared was surface level, strictly focusing on the business aspect. Politics, the capitalist system, the military industry and how we can combat them were either ignored or intentionally left out of the discussion.

We ended by sharing ideas on how to combat these weapons-producing companies. The group consensus was to agitate and disrupt anyone who is closely associated with ELTA and Merritt properties. We also agreed that capitalism needs to be destroyed, but one of the participants at my table did not quite agree to transition directly into communism.
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