Brooklyn, December 20 — When Ismayaail Brinsley killed New York Police Department cops Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos in Bedford-Stuyvesant, he did nothing for the mass movement against racist police terror. He was a man with a long history of mental illness who had earlier shot his girlfriend. Minutes later, according to the cops, he shot himself.
Before the bodies were even cold, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Police Commissioner William Bratton, Police Union Chief Patrick Lynch (fitting name), and a host of media talking heads and scribblers found their common talking point. They all linked the murder of the two cops to the mass outrage against racist police terror and the failure of two grand juries to indict the killers of Eric Garner and Mike Brown. No one even mentioned the racist carnival by the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association the night before the shootings, when cops spat in the face of the Garner family and supporters by wearing “I Can Breathe” t-shirts at a City Hall rally.
Terrorism Only Serves the Bosses
The openly racist Lynch and Bratton directly blamed the anti-racist mass marches and rallies that have swept the country since the Ferguson rebellion. Liberal de Blasio used the occasion to call for a “suspension” of antiracist demonstrations. The recent falling out between Lynch and de Blasio is little more than political theater. Both agree that the anti-racist movement should get off the streets.
The capitalist bosses will exploit the killing of the two cops on many levels. The politicians and their Klan in blue will use them to blunt a growing anti-racist movement and retake the offensive. We may see a renewed wave of police terror against Black youth and sharper attacks on political groups who are part of the antiracist movement. The bosses may try to make an example of the anarchists who tried to throw trash cans on the Brooklyn Bridge two weeks ago.
Their real aim is to terrorize and scare the masses of workers, many of them getting active for the first time. No doubt, the police will use these murders to increase their surveillance of groups like Progressive Labor Party. They now have the perfect excuse to spy on and disrupt the “first responders” to the latest siege of police terror.
The revolutionary communist PLP rejects all acts of individual terror or anarchist street theater. We are organizing on our jobs and in our schools, churches, unions, military and many other places where workers are present. We are building a mass movement to combat police terror, imperialist wars and their root cause, capitalism, with strikes, rebellions and walkouts. In the process, we are winning workers and youth to see that racist terror will end only when the working class takes power with communist revolution. Our strategy is to build a Party of millions leading millions more, across all borders. Terror and terrorism only serve the bosses.

Brooklyn, NY, December 6 — “These cops really made me mad. They arrested my teachers for no reason.” This among other quotes plastered the Facebook walls of students at a Brooklyn high school. Students, parents and staff found out that over the Thanksgiving weekend, two of their teachers, along with 14 others, were arrested in Ferguson, MO during a protest against the racist murder of Michael Brown and subsequent non-indictment of kkkop Darren Wilson.
Returning to work, the arrested teachers were met with applause, hugs and lots of questions. The sentiment throughout the school was a sense of pride in knowing someone who took a stand against these racist attacks. So when “Tales from Ferguson” was hosted during students’ lunch time, it was standing room only. About 100 students, parents and teachers packed a classroom to watch a video of the protest, hear stories and ask questions. Everyone left with a better understanding of growing fascism and a sense of how powerful the working class can be when united in class struggle.
The next day brought news that another killer cop would not be indicted for the racist murder of Eric Garner. Inspired by the recent fight back in Ferguson, students, parents and teachers sprung into action.
Students led the way, planning a militant walkout for Thursday afternoon. In just six hours, word spread throughout the building. During the day, some teachers stopped classes to discuss the details of the case, the role of police under capitalism and what students can do to organize and fight back. In the course of these discussions, students realized “there are more of us than there are of them” so we can defeat the police and the ruling class they serve.
While one student expressed concern that protesting wouldn’t change anything, others struggled with him — any action is better than standing by silently. They noted the history of strong movements that have produced change. These discussions and the student organizing led to 30 students walking out before the last period and rallying in front of the building. Although a small group, their chanting could be heard throughout the building. Their message was clear: racism means we got to fight back.
As the students mobilized for their action, teachers and parents planned an assembly and rally for the next day. The history department put together a presentation highlighting examples of anti-racist movements in this country. The assembly was followed by a rousing rally after school when over one hundred students, parents and teachers participated.
Moving forward we want to win students and co-workers to join the Progressive Labor Party because we’re the only fighting organization that defines and confronts capitalism as the source of racist terror in the classroom and in the streets.

Brooklyn, December 22 — “No justice, no peace, no racist police!” rang out loud and clear on the corner of Church and Nostrand Avenues in Flatbush tonight. Members and friends of Progressive Labor Party broke mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD commissioner William Bratton’s “ban” on antiracist protests. The City bosses want to honor the cops shot on December 20 by shutting down protests. As speakers pointed out time and again, where was the bosses’ time of mourning and concern for the children of Eric Garner and so many other victims of racist police terror? Passing cars honked in support of the protest. People passing by joined the picket line for a time or two around, chanting and raising their fists in unity against racist murders by the police.

BOSTON, December 23 — The PLP college conference in November advanced the work at one college here. Several students from Roxbury Community College found it to be an “awesome experience” when they discovered that their opinions and values were shared by a diverse, sincere and interesting group of people who called themselves communists. Since then they have been meeting with the Party, getting to know each other better and learning more about capitalism, racism, fascism and communism. 
The experience they had at the bold and disciplined antiracist march and rally in East Harlem opened them to the idea of holding a rally after the Grand Jury decision in Ferguson. Even though they weren’t able to carry it out, just making the plan got them to consider what it means to be leaders of the working class. 
One student attended a recent Boston demonstration demanding justice for Eric Garner. She found it inspiring to see others fighting back against racist police terror. As part of the Pizza and Politics Steering Committee, they are planning to bring a class analysis of racism and fascism into the upcoming college discussion: “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot! I can’t Breathe! Taking a Stand Against Racial Injustice.” They are looking forward to the next opportunity to meet and rally with PLP students from around the country. Currently two of the students are meeting in a PLP study group on political economy.