The latest proposal to address the most segregated and largest public school system—eliminate all “gifted” programs. Why now?
For the last twenty years the liberal politicians in New York City have sanctioned the segregation of the school system at the expense of Black and Latin youth in favor of relying on a few elite high schools to directly serve the needs of the ruling class. Public schools today are more segregated than they were in 1954, when the U.S. Supreme Court, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, acknowledge that “separate” could never be equal.
However, now, with greater competition internationally and domestically the bosses need to reverse that trend in order to have a united working class in preparation for future wars.
How do you spell racist? DoE
The Department of Education (DoE), and their racist policies consigns the vast majority of Black and Latin children—approximately 75 percent of the city’s 1.1 million public school student population—to a segregated, second class education. These bosses continually expose themselves as the shameless racists they are by subjecting students to daily searches, unequal funding, unsafe drinking water, and unhealthy lunches.
It has to do with war & splits
With war plans always on the burner for the imperialists, they need a more robust multiracial-armed force to take on their biggest rivals, China and Russia. They also need to fight their domestically oriented rivals who have not been won to the Big Fascists’ long-term outlook, “Rising inequality also is straining the health of liberal democracy. The idea of ‘we the people’ is fading because, in this era of yawning inequality, there is less we share in common. As a result, it is harder to build support for the kinds of policies necessary to deliver broad-based prosperity in the long term, like public investment in education and infrastructure” (NYT 8/24). These Big Fascists understand that president Donald Trump, and the domestic-oriented bosses whom he represents, is bad for a liberal world order. The Democrats are corralling supporting for a top-down reform movement that will be used to crush the opposition. In other words, this fake anti-racism will be used as leverage against the subordinate wing.
For the main wing bosses, there is a need for them to win the allegiance of the most disaffected youth and their families into believing the system can work for them. In New York City, that is the role of the fairly newly appointed chancellor of schools, Richard Carranza—he is the latest person that has been chosen to break up the old status quo and attempt to put in place a new face on the racist school system.
Many progressive educators and youth, tired of dealing with and living with the racist conditions of the schools, were excited and encouraged when Carranza came out with guns blazing, claiming he would integrate one of the most segregated school systems in the country. His outward boldness in confronting the racism in schools was a marked difference from his predecessor Carmen Farina. In one of his first public appearances he declared,  “We cannot have excellence, we cannot improve outcomes without tackling the inequities that exist in our system,” (Chalkbeat, 9/4/18).
Unsurprisingly, one year later, Carranza has failed to deliver on his seemingly anti-racist goals and is now in year two of his tenure and trying to tamper down expectations, “If I integrated the system, the next thing I’m going to do is I’m going to walk on water,” (New York Times, 8/23).
We say that good schools are integrated schools, that good schools take the learning of each student seriously, and that it’s impossible for a segregated school to be a good school. We also know that there are no good schools under capitalism.
Real communists led anti-racism
The fight at Park Slope Collegiate (PSC) which began in 2010 around school integration illuminated how the DoE was building segregation by installing “elite” schools into neglected campuses where mainly Black and Latin students attended. Because of the united, militant, multiracial, and anti-racist fightback of students, parents, teachers and community members at the school throughout the years, the liberal bosses needed to ensure that other schools would not follow in PSC’s example.
The bosses only want a showpiece adjustment to school segregation. One of the key lessons learned from the PSC struggle is that multiracial unity is the key to defeating racism and the bosses are incapable of creating a school system that serves the need of the working class.These liberal misleaders will never be able to give working class youth the education they deserve.
Not surprisingly, when faced with real anti-racist fightback, the DoE’s response was to attack the school years later with claims of “Communist organizing” (New York Times, 5/4). This failed attempt at extinguishing the fightback happening at the school is deeply rooted in antiracist history going as far back to the Scottsboro Boys case in the 1930s and through the Civil Rights movement and beyond. Communists have led the multiracial fightback against racism in the streets, the schools and universities, the workplace, and the military.
The liberal bosses in NYC were counting on anti-communism to frighten and silence anyone who stood up against their racist policies. The investigation also laid bare the ugly reality that liberal politicians are the main enemy under capitalism. Even though this attack was initiated from three anti-communist staff members inside of the school, the DoE along with the liberal mayor, de Blasio and then school chancellor Carmen Farina, were silent during this attack on this integrating school while publically paying lip service to school integration.
Fake anti-racism
Lip service is still all the bosses have delivered under Carranza and de Blasio. The liberal duo were unsuccessful in their attempt to increase the enrollment of Black and Latin students at the specialized high schools in what would have been the most prominent forced integration plan since the civil rights movement. The State Legislature killed the plan largely due to opposition from Asian lawmakers and a billionaire’s lobbying push. Carranza and de Blasio have failed to convince them that they have to sacrifice to the cause of winning Black and Latin students into the system.
Carranza has also spent $23 million on instituting mandatory implicit bias training for all 125,000 of NYC’s teachers along with more culturally responsive curriculum. The training essentially removes the blame from the bosses and the racist education system that they have created and supported and places it on individual teachers. We call on teachers to reject this fake anti-racist training and instead unite with their students and their parents and fellow education workers in fightback. We must train our future leaders to fight against the whole capitalist system.
Defeat the bosses and their ideas
Capitalism causes the working class to fight for the scraps from their table. Instead of fighting for a system that meets the needs of the whole working class. Under communism, every school will be a place that meets the needs of its students. Education would be class conscious, anti-imperialist, anti-racist, and anti-sexist. Communism needs the workers to be educated to help to remake the world.  The fight for school integration now is an opportunity to root this education in the struggle against the bosses whom we will have to defeat to win the world we deserve.

INDIANA, August 24—The Gary Police Department took the life of yet another Black worker: 25-year-old Rashad Cunningham. So, the fires of anti-racism and working-class anger were especially bright today. Progressive Labor Party canvassed with CHALLENGE in Rashad’s neighborhood, participated in a local antiracist community cookout, and joined a march in front of the police station. Today showed that the working class needs and are open to communist ideas.  
Rashad was shot while sitting in his car in front of his home in Gary on August 17. Since his murder, there have been demonstrations, vigils, and marches organized on a near-daily basis by his family and supported by the community and families of others in the city who have had their loved ones murdered by the same fascist cop force.
Take CHALLENGE to the neighborhood
Before the cookout, PL’ers went to the neighborhood where Rashad was murdered by the racist GPD and went door-to-door talking to people and selling CHALLENGE, the newspaper that explains that the police force descends from the slave patrols—a militia hired by the enslavers to police and capture runaway enslaved people and punish rebels. No reform that change that basic truth. The ruling class set their sights on destroying the working-class unity by gutting jobs, displacing quality teachers, and terrorizing the working class with kkkops, drugs, and poverty on a massive scale. Along with that, the confidence that the people have in the bosses’ politics has also been diminished. However, without a strong Party presence and revolutionary communism as a viable alternative, these workers will turn to inaction. In the face of all of that, determination of the working class in that city still survives.
The only solution is communist revolution
During the antiracist cookout, fighters who were formerly incarcerated, who led actions in prison and continue to be a source of support and leadership for men and women on both sides of the wall, spoke about the importance of solidarity. They discussed their personal experiences with the racist and sexist prison system, and how they felt these systems existed solely for the benefit of oppressing Black, Latin, and white workers.
More workers spoke about the need for people to be purposefully active and to engage with others to help fight back PLP highlighted that without an understanding of how racism and sexism is rooted in capitalism and class, and without multiracial unity in fighting locally and internationally, then we are giving the bosses space to continue to profit from our misery. Communist revolution under the leadership of PLP, not the bosses’ dead-end reforms, is what will free our class!
After the program ended, we spoke to people present about the PLP’s current work and history. We distributed CHALLENGE and sold our “Black and Red” t-shirts, which feature the pictures of known Black communists in the U.S. We got contacts of those who expressed interest in learning more about PLP.
As always, PLP must continue to be steeped in the mass movement. We build relationships with other members of our class, connecting our various struggles to the failures of capitalism, and the need for communist revolution.
We must continue to put forward communist ideas. Not doing this leaves the working class open to bad politics from reformist groups, or even worse, without a political analysis to tie together these capitalist abuses.
Black workers lead the way
After the cookout, PL’ers joined the family and friends of Rashad Cunningham, and the families of other slain youth—15-year-old Kemonte Cobbs and 38-year-old Thomas Watkins—in a protest at the Gary police station (see photo). Rashad’s two friends who were in the car with him were brutally beaten. His family has yet to receive as much as a statement from the police as to why their family member was killed.
The protesters marched around the station and told their own stories of abuses at the hands of these brutal cops. There are no answers for these families or justice under capitalism. These cops function to terrorize the working class. The only solution is to ultimately dismantle capitalist state power, and to build a world run by workers for workers using communist ideology. Under communism, the police will be abolished. The working class will solve its own problems through the collective.  
Until then, we must fight back together as a class and build class-consciousness. We must take advantage of every chance the bosses and their agents leave for us to learn and grow in our revolutionary politics. We must put forward communist politics lead these working-class struggles because the lives of our class depend on it. Fight Back!

NEWARK, August 28—As the recent protests at the MTV Video Music Awards demonstrate, the racist liberal Ras Baraka administration and this capitalist system continues to poison the working class of Newark.
This month, the Environmental Protection Agency notified Newark that two of three homes tested with PUR filters still have high levels of lead, despite the discovery of lead 3 years ago. The EPA cynically suggested the working class drink bottled water.
These events are a textbook example of how racism wreaks havoc on Black and Latin workers. It also shows how these liberal politicians like Mayor Baraka appear to be “for the people,” but they represent the interests of capitalism.
The health of our class in Newark is in peril. Yet, one thing is clear—this country is moving towards war and fascism. It is not enough to fight for clean water; we must struggle to overthrow the capitalist system that is using its resources towards war with countries like China and Russia rather than water for workers. The revolutionary communist Progressive Labor Party (PLP) unites workers internationally to fight for working-class power: communism.
Echo of Flint
Eighty five percent of Newark is Black or Latin and the working class has been suffering through the blatant racism unsafe drinking water.
Lead is a powerful neurotoxin. It can lead to developmental delays, hearing loss, seizures, learning difficulties, and behavioral disorders in children. Adults can develop mental, nerve, kidney, and cardiovascular problems. Pregnant women are at risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and newborns with irreversible damage to their brain and nervous system.  There is no such thing as a “safe” level of lead consumption.
The Baraka administration knew this in 2016, when over 30 schools had to turn off their water. Newark was out of compliance with federal lead regulations. “Newark reported yet another exceedance of the 15 parts per billion federal action level for lead in drinking water—this time, lead levels are tapping in at 55 parts per billion, more than three times the federal action level” (Natural Resource Defense Council).
Newark politicians stayed silent. In April 2018, the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) and the Newark Education Workers (NEW) Caucus made an announcement: they intend to file a lawsuit. Even then, the City still confused people by announcing on their website, “NEWARK’S WATER IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE TO DRINK.”
Liberal politicians’ racism continues
It wasn’t until October 2018, when the trial was set to begin, that the City admitted to the lead problem. Even then, half of the residents have yet to recieve filters. People were turned away, given the wrong filters, or not taught properly how to install and use them.
The City had to replace lead service lines for each home. The lead service line connects the water main to individual homes. In Flint and Pittsburgh, those lines were replaced for free. In Newark, residents are expected to pay up to $1,000 to replace their line. This was the same City that found money to give Jeff Bezos and Amazon $8 billion in tax credits. Newark has only removed 755 lead service lines out of 18,000 so far (they were supposed to start in July 2018).
Under communism, we would change the entire way this crisis is being dealt with. The problem wouldn’t have been acute, if existent at all, because the society’s resources would be allocated according to need, not profits or wars. With the working class in charge, all homes would be tested rigorously; all lead would be removed immediately because there would be one main determinant: safety. We would train millions to help solve and prevent the problem.
 Trusting Democrats is toxic
While the Republicans and Trump are openly racist and clearly enemies of the working class—particularly Black and Latin workers, trusting the Democrats is clearly toxic. The Baraka administration continues to lie about the extent of the crisis. While those in the Pequannock town continue to struggle with high lead levels and inadequate resources from the City, those in the Wanaque town are getting zero support! City hall continues to lie about the extent of the lead in the East Ward, as well as parts of the North, Central, and South wards. They even refused to give out cheap PUR filters to these residents.
The administration has done little: distributed filters with fast-approaching expiration dates, improper installation. When asked to be more proactive in assisting the residents, the City cries that they don’t have the resources. While these politicians don’t have the resources for Black and Latin workers, they have resources for war and fascism.  
This crisis shows us how capitalism is a democracy for the bosses and a dictatorship for the working class. Even after all of this, Newark still refuses to give out relief to the eastern part of the City because their water comes from a different reservoir. There is evidence that lead problems exist in this area as well but the bosses don’t care! (NRDC, Olson, 4/30).
When money is needed for war, or to give to their allies like Saudi Arabia or Israel, or when banks need billions to get bailed out—money is never a problem. When the working class needs basic drinking water—the burden is on us to fight for it.
Money for war & police state but not for water
Time and time again, the ruling class will present us with wolves in sheeps’ clothing. Democratic Party politicians like Congressman Alibo Sires and Donald Payne Jr. voted for a $1.4 trillion war budget but have done nothing for relief in this City. Their interests lie with JP Morgan Chase, Exxon Mobil, and the rest of the corporations that rule the US. That is why they can put trillions towards building the war machine while not even discussing the poisoning of Black and Latin workers and youth in Newark.
Senators Cory Booker (the first Black senator from New Jersey and campaigner for the 2020 presidential election) and Robert Menendez have also been silent. As then-mayor, Booker’s mismanagement of the now-defunct Newark Watershed had led to today’s many problems. And while Booker voted “no” on the current military spending, he has approved it 16 of the 19 times since being a Senator. It is clear that these Democratic politicians know whom they serve—and it isn’t the Black and Latin working class of Newark.
While the country prepares for war on a national scale, the Newark government is building a police state to keep the working class in line. The City claims that they don’t have the resources for clean water; the Mayor Baraka has just put aside $23 million to hire more cops for this coming year (Tapinto.com, 7/2).
Newark workers keep fighting
The Newark Water Coalition, a multiracial and multi-generational organization led by honest, energetic, and creative youth and elders. They have organized forums, open mics, and protests around these issues. They have also worked to distribute filters and water to residents in need. Not only are they fighting back but also they are serving the working class and making sure they get what they need. This past week, the Newark Water Coalition organized a demonstration at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA’s), hosted at Newark’s Prudential Center. Fascist bosses sent every cop in the City along with state pigs to lock down the perimeter and block out protestors. Some cops were saddled up on horses and would form a formation along the barricades, ready to defend property over people.
While many are still focused on getting Baraka out, PLP is in the fight, advocating for our energy to be put towards fighting for clean water now and communism in the future. Some members have been receptive to our ideas.
Fight for communism
While we fight for filters and clean water, we must win the working class to a bigger idea— one of no more capitalists using the earth’s resources for profit and power. An idea that the working class will rule over our own resources. PLP fights for communism. That means that the working class will run society.
We will continue fighting so that our health will not be compromised by the ruling class and their drive towards war. Under capitalism, mostly Black and Latin workers continued to be poisoned by lead. Under communism, they will be the decision makers of their own lives. We urge all to join Progressive Labor Party study and action groups. Subscribe to our newspaper CHALLENGE, and fight for a communist world!

MARYLAND, August 27— “La Lucha Obrera no Tiene Frontera” and “Racism Means We Have to Fight Back” rang out in Hyattsville, Maryland to protest raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Workers demanded solidarity with immigrants and formerly incarcerated persons in this sanctuary city.
   This rally was called at a forum on immigration the previous week where Progressive Labor Party and friends joined to plan a response against the rising deportations. Participants concluded that capitalism creates borders to divide and scare workers, when in fact no worker should be considered “illegal,” and no barriers to movement should exist since the working class is global by definition. Communists insist on smashing all borders, a goal that can only be achieved by waging a worldwide working-class revolution.
Workers embrace red ideas
We distributed over 200 flyers at the rally, with contact information for building a rapid response network to ICE raids in Hyattsville. Workers in the neighborhood received 40 copies of CHALLENGE newspaper; seven signed up for further contact.
Two workers related their struggles with ICE, and we pledged our solidarity with them. Two local residents spontaneously brought us Gatorade and snacks as a token of solidarity and appreciation for this antiracist demonstration. This shows that the working class is looking for leadership and fightback. It is up to communists to give that leadership.
ICE + PD: state terrorists collaborate
The protest was organized following a petition campaign in which PLP participated to demand an end to local police collaboration with ICE. CASA, an immigrant rights organization, documented nine instances over the preceding months in which local police called in ICE, despite assurances that they would not do so.
When the Assistant Chief of Police Hector Velez was confronted with the irrefutable facts, he denied them as impossible because such actions would have violated police policy. This shows how the bosses’ laws are abided to the extent that it serves them.
The police chief himself was forced to admit to one case, but claimed that the cop was acting in good faith; the cop was “confused” over the difference between a civil and a criminal ICE warrant. Such hypocrisy is standard police operating procedure! Meanwhile, it is too late for the people deported as a result of this cop’s “confusion.” The police here exposed themselves as the ruling-class agents that they are. They serve and protect the rulers—their banks, property, and interests.
Reform is about bosses’ infighting
The petition drive was highlighted by the vocal presence of petitioners at several political events, which ultimately forced the County Executive Angela Alsobrooks to issue an official statement confirming that the police were not to cooperate with ICE for noncriminal deportations. She further announced that the General Orders of the police department would be changed to include an explicit statement to that effect, and that the policy would be presented at roll call in all police districts.
The liberal politicians would like to play themselves as the good guys. This defiance to ICE is not about protecting working-class lives; it’s about their own infighting. While Trump’s deportation sweeps represent the isolationist America-first faction of the U.S. ruling class, the Democratic-led politicians and government represent the dominant finance imperialist wing of the U.S. ruling class. This main wing is spearheaded by the Rockefellers, JP Morgan, and ExxonMobil. While the main wing needs immigration and a multiracial army for world war, the subordinate wing’s interests are primarily national. These domestically oriented capitalists, spearheaded by the Koch and Mercer families, are contesting the main wing’s control. They have forged an opportunistic alliance with the unpredictable U.S. President Donald Trump and his white supremacist base. They are out to try to tear down the post-World War II liberal world order and multinational institutions like NATO. His domestic and foreign policy directives are tailored to benefit his wealthy, self-interested benefactors more than the long-term strategic interests of global U.S. imperialism.
Given that context, county executive Alsobrooks’s decision is part of a broader effort of the liberal rulers trying to inject their ideology into top-down reform movements.
This modest reform will not reverse the anti-immigrant attacks of U.S. capitalists on our brothers and sisters from around the world. The vicious ICE raids against this month’s Mississippi poultry workers alone demonstrate their determination to terrorize our class. In Maryland, we must maintain momentum in building a rapid response team to oppose ICE on the streets and in the courthouse, demand jobs for returning residents, and continue to work with our friends to support new immigrants arriving in the city and county.
These class struggles will serve as a training ground for a mass communist revolution that obliterates the bosses and their borders and unifies our class on a global scale.