This summer project has only confirmed and amplified what I have come to love about PLP in my short time attending its gatherings and events which is  the overwhelming sense of community and support for one another. I am always so taken aback by how welcoming and caring everyone is towards each other, and I felt that tenfold over this weekend. I got to meet and speak with comrades from places like Kentucky, Virginia, and Wisconsin, and it was so inspiring to hear their stories and experiences, as well as the reasons they joined the Party. I loved connecting with others at community events such as the RPH Community Care Event and also learned about how to give speeches and sell CHALLENGE within my community.

It was also so inspiring to hear firsthand about the history of the Party from comrades who lived through the experiences themselves and brought real change during the Antiracist History Tour. It helped me realize that I too can and must be part of the fight in order to actually make a difference. Overall, it was such a great weekend full of community and learning, and it has motivated me to take the step into officially joining the Party! We have so much work to do to fight for others around the world but being part of this group of strong and dedicated people helps me realize that I am not alone in the fight. We can and will continue to fight together until all workers around the world are free from the chains of the bosses!
*

At this years’ summer project Chicago successfully hosted  comrades from the Midwest and even as far as the East Coast. I enjoyed my second time communing and organizing with others, since 2024 was my first Chicago trip. This year’s shorter project, in a way, made the experience feel more precious, since I intended to make the most of each day’s activities and engage with comrades whom I see less often. The initial workshop on selling CHALLENGE and giving speeches reminded me of how important it is to consistently practice how we represent the Party in mass scenarios. We always leave an impression, even if we feel like there aren’t many people noticing.

My favorite moments included the extensive conversations I had with local workers: my first being a young post-graduate in the medical district—who even joined our collective during lunch after our first sale. They shared our understanding that many feel trapped between Democrats and Republicans and that speaking against capitalist injustice feels intimidating when done individually.

During the historical Bud Billiken parade in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, I chatted with a Black mother who recently moved to the city with her seven-year-old daughter. She also understood that the U.S. education system limits students’ ability to explore multiple aspects of working-class history and lessons—one of many reasons why she has been homeschooling her. Despite the popular assumption that homeschooled students are less competent as people and potential college students, the mother understood that her daughter is actually enjoying an education that encourages her exploration of human connection and experiences beyond memorization and exams.

I even discussed the uses of artificial intelligence (AI) with a Black worker in the U.S. Air Force. She was among the many campaign workers at the parade who were attempting to collect signatures for politicians trying to get on the mayoral ballot. She hasn’t experienced an expansive use of AI through her work since humans are still necessary for maneuvering the processes. She did assert that too much of anything, AI especially, isn’t a good thing. I pushed that thought even further to the clear insistence of the capitalists that workers integrate many forms of AI into our daily lives. Their drive to automate so many parts of our lives is in preparation for greater fascist actions and deadlier warfare.

I gave CHALLENGE to each worker and connected them with a veteran comrade so that our local collective can begin potentially strong ties with them in the near future.
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It was a great experience, learning about the history of PLP activity in Chicago. It was surprising how involved the Party was in direct action against white supremacists in the city and speaks to the working class’s need to realize our collective power. I feel as though it demonstrates groups of people don’t need to be gigantic in order to make a large impact, but well organized and committed.

Outside of that, getting to talk to Party members and simply learning more about communism was definitely a plus. It’s nice having access to a group that truly believes communism is possible to work towards in the present day.
*

Myself and another comrade from northern Virginia had the privilege of attending the Chicago chapter’s Summer Project this past month. I am happy to report that the Project was a great success and that the workers and masses of Chicago are open to revolutionary alternatives to the dead-ends the reformists have provided them.

Each day we participated in activities that helped develop our skills, sharpened our political consciousness and got us out at community events to make further connections. The Chicago chapter shows a strong commitment to upholding the Party line of building a base in the working class and fighting against racist divisions in the working class. This commitment convinced new members to join the Party.
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I was invited to participate in Chicago’s Summer Project, 2026. It was great, beyond my expectations! I got to stay with Chicago comrades and was able to get to know younger Party members  from Maryland  and Virginia since we all are on the East coast. The Saturday CHALLENGE distribution at the Bud Billiken Parade was great! We all got out a substantial amount of papers. We were able to talk to Black workers during the event. Sunday was a trip down a ‘Red memory lane’ as comrades had a bus tour, and talked about fighting the Neo nazi fascists in Marquette Park. I grew up in Chicago and was still in high school in 1978. (It was thrilling to hear Party comrades talk about storming Frank Collins’ fascist headquarters.) In 1986, I joined the Party while in Minnesota, and the Marquette Park attack at the baseball field was my first big action. My mom begged me not to go, but I had to. I was slightly injured in the melee. Another comrade and myself drove around collecting bail money for jailed International Committee Against Racism (INCAR) antiracists. The Sunday planned ICE protest was canceled due to rain, but there were two Party members who had access to a dance studio, and we all learned a popular Latin American dance. It was fun! 40 years of class struggle, and I’m ready for more!
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I had a wonderful time during PLP’s 2026 Chicago Summer Project. This would be my sixth summer project and my second time visiting Chicago (the first time I visited was the 2024 Chicago Summer Project). It would be hard for me to choose between which Chicago summer project I enjoyed more. While I enjoyed the discussions and rallies and marches, I enjoyed the social gatherings and communal aspects of this year’s summer project.

My favorite part of this summer project was the Bud Billiken Parade CHALLENGE sale. It was a lively event with plenty of people. There were even groups of children walking around with costumes of cartoon characters on, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Minions from Despicable Me. The only downside was that it was co-opted by local politicians, even though the parade was historically working class oriented. Despite this, I had three memorable instances at the event. First, when our group started to walk to where the parade was held, one worker wearing a lime-green vest walked up to me and asked if he could get two copies of CHALLENGE. This left me pleasantly surprised. You rarely get workers who enthusiastically ask for the paper, especially when it’s someone new. Second, I met a worker for DoorDash and his sweet dog that was sitting in his truck. We had a good conversation about the Mayor of Chicago and the current Illinois Secretary of State, Alexi Giannoulias. If I recall correctly, I think he received a copy of CHALLENGE. Third, there was this mother and daughter walking around the parade. A small group of comrades I was with gave her a copy as well as discussing the failures and shortcomings of the school system and the anti-human nature of capitalism. The mother also talked about a wholesome reason for bringing her daughter to events like this, saying she wanted her to experience what these events had to offer and open her perspectives. That was easily my favorite conversation of the whole summer project.

Overall, this was a great summer project for our Chicago comrades. I’m looking forward to next year’s summer project!
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My first summer project was in 2021, and I joined the party during that same summer project. Midwest Summer Project will be my fourth summer project, and my fifth year in the party. I often heard that the summer project was a good opportunity for newer and younger friends of the party to get to know the party, and on my first two summer projects I really felt a profound feeling of freedom and comradeship. Outside the summer project one is under a lot of peer pressure to reproduce capitalist ideology be it cynicism, individualism, racism, sexism, or reformism. This time, I was transfixed when I saw a newer comrade radiating enthusiasm to be in an environment where communist ideas are taken seriously and there is an demonstrated commitment to putting these ideas into practice. I must have looked like that to others that summer I was moved to join PLP, and it was really inspiring to witness someone else so moved. There are of course still many things we can improve. However we should remember that being in a communist community is a part of the struggle we are fighting, and we should recognize eachother.

The most enthusiasm was for the discussions and exchange of ideas. As Mao said in His address to the Yan’an Forum on arts and literature this real life action is the highest form of art. However intentional art is also necessary to concentrate ideas and experiences that reflect life. I feel combining theater and film screenings stimulated us to reach a higher energy and provided good material for a political discussion. A number of comrades also mentioned that they first met the party online on semi-private forums like Discord Marxist reading groups. Online discussions of Marxist theory led to in-person meetings and eventually PLP clubs in new areas. This could work internationally.

We really illustrated the theory and practice of our line during the school bus history tour of Marquette Park. Our party has a demonstrated history of anti-racist anti-sexist fightback and confrontation that continues today. Comrades from Kentucky discussed the present day fightback to prevent proud boys from organizing openly. We can find creative ways of spreading this story, which will lead to more forces for the coming confrontation with the rising forces of fascism across the competing empires where capitalists freely send weapons and money to kill workers as they see fit ignoring national borders. Our revolutionary line against nationalism, racism, and sexism is the reason our party not only survived but also continued provided leadership to the 60s rebellions and unlike many revolutionary groups from that time exists today as a continuous entity. 

There is an enthusiasm for the reviving groups that fought imperialism and rising fascism during the Vietnam war from Science for the People to SDS and the Young Lords Party. We have a great opportunity to grow rapidly, however we should also remember that what we are doing now is really important. Seeing my comrade’s joy for the summer project reminded me that we can grow and appreciate the moment.
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Washington DC, July 16-20 -The struggle against genocide in Gaza continued at this year’s convention as a small group from AFT for Palestine grew from five to more than 60 members and raised issues about torture of medical personnel in Gaza and attacks on teachers in the U.S. who speak up. A Progressive Labor Party member shared literature from our “Solidarity not Silence” campaign in Maryland and spoke about U.S. imperialism and the control of oil in discussions with the caucus. As has been usual at these conferences the union president, Randi Weingarten, and her “microphone goon squad” worked hard to squelch speakers calling for justice. Even getting to the mic to offer amendments was difficult but several sharp statements were made. One graduate student from a New England University, who was determined to make it to the mic, spoke and spoke  passionately about the genocide of Palestineans in Gaza. He chanted “Workers of the World, Unite!" Weingarten was forced to tell him “We have to talk.” 

The overarching theme of the conference leadership was to build support for the Democratic Party. Going beyond just asking delegates to VOTE, Weingarten urged teachers to spend their time canvassing for candidates.  Meanwhile resolutions seeking even mild improvements in curriculum and even environmental issues like “clean air in classrooms” were marginalized. Getting more dues paying members is also a priority for the AFT which is seeking to organize hospital nurses even as the union support for school nurse issues is weak. 

Progressive Labor Party has led work among teachers in New York City, Chicago, Maryland, New Jersey and Boston. We will continue to build our leadership as we prepare for the next convention in Portland Oregon in 2028.

NYC: neighbors vs. ICE raids

ICE Activity surged in New York City the week following July 27th. Key targets included Inwood, Washington Heights, and Crotona. In uptown Manhattan, ICE agents targeted neighborhoods with key access to the Major Deegan and West Highway, major  arteries that connect to the George Washington bridge that lead back to New Jersey and Delaney Hall, where immigrant workers are being illegally detained. Workers and other residents of Inwood and the Bronx, including members of Progressive Labor Party, have been extremely impactful in protecting their neighborhood since I.C.E. presence in New York increased three months ago.

ICE agents spotted between Van Cortlandt Park and Washington Heights were monitored and tailed down by Bronx and Upper Manhattan neighbors. On Tuesday, July 28th, several watchful eyes uncovered an ICE hangout spot usually designated as a police hangout in the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course Parking lots on both the Jerome Avenue and Bailey Avenue sides. Inwood neighbors helped to protect the Bronx, chasing down ICE vehicles in their cars and away from the Bronx. They were soon chased into Queens where ICE continued activity in Crotona. 

A known ICE vehicle was spotted at Inwood Hill Park on Seaman Avenue and Isham Street and continued to remain parked with little activity until the next day, when it had moved from its spot. The following Thursday, the vehicle returned and parked before it was joined by several other vehicles waiting for a police officer to hand a victim over to them. After the officer handed over the detained worker to the agents, Inwood residents confronted them as they documented the scene. One woman was sprayed with bear mace, demonstrating the cowardice of these federal thugs. 

Several more neighbors appeared on the scene after their departure with a few reactionary hecklers hurling vitriol in support of the bosses. A neighborhood-wide demonstration wrapped up the week of activity as protestors demanded an end to ICE presence in Inwood and to abolish ICE. The work of Inwood residents shows the potential of working class power. A handful of concerned neighbors are able to chase away federal agents and stand up for the working class when the going gets tough. They are the tough that gets going that is the spirit necessary for true working class power, not to demand a negative peace, but for taking control of our lives and our affairs. 

The demand of the bosses to be rid of our neighbors to continue to sow fear amongst the working masses, drive up housing and living costs, and bleed every penny of the working class until we wrestle over the remaining scraps will not be won. But their loss must come with the victory of the working masses over their capitalist overlords, and more work must be done to secure that victory. 

ICE activity has surged in recent weeks in the most vulnerable neighborhoods of New York City, namely Crotona, Belmont, Washington Heights, Jackson Heights, and Bed-Stuy among others. The rampant surge in activity is one we cannot ignore, something that requires much greater precision and greater force to deal with than whistles and sighting reports. It’s going to take an effort of millions to end this capitalist aggression. \

It’s going to take a communist revolution.
*****

Worker-rider unity need to smash transit bosses 

Shortly after the transit workers in Washington DC rallied for safety with the slogan “Don’t Quote the Fare” (CHALLENGE 7/15), a passenger assaulted a bus operator, striking him several times with a heavy object after the driver mentioned the fare and asked the rider to step behind the line. The partial plastic shield was not enough to keep the operator from being punched and doused in some liquid and being punched some more. Another rider stepped up to tell the rider to get off the bus, and he ran away. What did the bosses do about this video they had on tape? They sent the driver for a drug test and hid the video for several days. Management also had a separate event where they talked about how safe the Metro system is, but never mentioned this event or the risk to operators. Ten years ago, the bosses decided to have drivers refrain from asking riders for the fare because of such assaults, but recently, desperate for funding, they changed the policy, making it more dangerous. 

Today, the leadership and staff of the ATU 689 transit union held a press conference to protest this dangerous policy. They did not, however, mobilize workers to join the event that was covered by several news stations. The union also did not call for free fares, which would benefit riders and operators, but called for more transit police on the buses. One rider pointed out that connecting bus lines are free, so some riders get upset when they are suddenly asked to pay. He agreed that this should be a free public service. Some of the workers also mentioned that a complete plastic cage should be on each bus so that such assaults can’t happen – but that project hasn’t moved forward through the Metro system. Safety projects are simply not prioritized. Progressive Labor Party members shared the issue of CHALLENGE that reported on the earlier rally with the riders and drivers listening to the press conference. We explained that more police are not the answer to this safety problem, but spending money to make the buses safer and eliminating the fare are the next steps in the fight to build unity between riders and operators. DC area capitalists make big profits from the transit system that brings customers to their doors and workers to their jobs, and then expect us to pay for their profits in fares and income taxes. PLP members will continue to reach out to workers and riders to demand no layoffs, no fares, and safety first, while explaining about the need for mass working class organizing and militant action. The capitalists are not bothered by press conferences when union leaders are not willing to intensify the struggle with labor action. The bosses’ press, like the bosses’ politicians, are not going to help in the struggle. We need to shed the illusion that the press or supposedly progressive politicians will work for us, and take direct action into our own hands.
*****

Baltimore Project an opportunity to lead 

I’m writing  about my experience during the Baltimore Summer Project. When I heard from my lead comrade that each area was doing their own summer project, I was curious about what ours would entail. We discussed this in our club and decided that me and a comrade of ours (whom I regularly do mass work with at Baltimore City Community College) would be the main organizers of the event. Personally, I felt nervous about being in a leadership role, since this would be the first time being in one since I joined last year. Our local club would meet with the surrounding clubs in the DMV online to discuss the logistics and agendas for each area’s summer project. Our agenda included meeting up at Mondawmin Mall to sell CHALLENGE, give speeches and chants, and distribute fruits, granola bars, and water at the metro station.

During the first day of the summer project, ten people showed up. We also had 47 CHALLENGE newspapers in our inventory. We set up at the entrance to the metro station to start shouting chants. While we were chanting, a worker interrupted us. He said that our bullhorn was interfering with his radio and told us to move away from the subway entrance. We moved our materials a few feet away from the entrance. In the midst of our comrade’s speech, an officer came up to them and said that we have to move our bullhorn across the street. To keep this brief, every time we started to speak or chant with our bullhorn, the police would interfere with our rally minutes later. Those moments were annoying. At the very least, I read a speech about police terror around the world. And we distributed all 47 copies of CHALLENGE!

Since the police clearly didn’t want us to make some noise there, we marched our way to the local stores at the mall. As we were chanting in front of the Dunkin Donuts, a disruptor with a black fez started to yell at us —even calling one of our comrades a “cracker.” As he tried getting closer to the speaker, me and a few other comrades shielded our speaker. It was our club leader comrade who gave two speeches at that point, leading the disruptor away from the crowd. I happened to overhear the man say that [Zorhan] “Mamdani is a communist.” He sounded a bit confused, if you ask me. Eventually, the director of security at the mall said we couldn’t chant here because it’s “private property.” When asked by my co-organizer for the project who owns the property, the director couldn’t give us a straight answer. As we marched to the far end of the station, the heckler went inside the mall. In the midst of our marching, the director followed us into the parking lot; where we were chanting in front of him.

After our rally at Mondawmin Mall, we took the subway to The Peale Museum. The museum showcased Tyrone West’s artwork alongside other pieces of artwork from victims of police brutality. There were many beautiful and inspiring works on display. The exhibit carried a heavy atmosphere, with one comrade saying that they could cry. After the heaviness from The Peale, we took the subway back to Mondawmin Mall to travel down to Hyattsville for some dinner. 

Overall, I enjoyed the summer project more than I thought. Even though I felt a little nervous about co-leading it, I felt energized and ready, despite the less than stellar conditions from the air quality. Maybe there should be an anti-communist heckler on May Day as well!
*****

NYC: straight to communism?

One highlight of the New Jersey and New York summer project in July was selling CHALLENGE outside of a group of apartment buildings in New Jersey. What distinguished the sale from other ones I’ve done was the high level of interest from middle and older elementary school students. Lots of students paused while we were selling the paper to read the headline and ask for a copy. One middle schooler stopped for several minutes to listen to our comrade giving a speech on the bullhorn. She said “This is IT!” and “My mom needs to hear this!” One of her friends tried to hurry her away, “Let’s go!” and she replied, “Wait, I want to hear this!” I went over to speak to her and her friends. The student shared that she wanted to speak out about issues she notices. The group of us had a conversation about segregated schools and racism at school. 

When I was closing out my speech on the bullhorn, a high school student came over to me and asked, “socialism or communism?” I said, “communism.” He replied, “straight to communism?” Those of us on the corner had a discussion with him for a while. He told us that he had seen  CHALLENGE newspaper before— eight years prior on his door step! After our discussion, he met some of our comrades that live in the neighborhood and even gave a speech at end-of-day closing share-out. It was a reminder that everything we do counts, and that even a small impression at a young age can stick in someone’s mind. Workers and students alike are looking for a solution to the bleak future capitalism has to offer. We must be there to raise communist ideas wherever we go. 
*****

Capitalists seek oil opportunities in Venezuela

The Guardian, 8/14–BP [British Petroleum] has…new plans to develop a large offshore gasfield. BP will partner with two oil firms with close links to the Trump administration to develop the second phase of the Loran gasfield in one of the first large-scale foreign investments in Venezuela since the US ousted its leader Nicolás Maduro in January. The London-listed oil company holds a licence to develop the field alongside a Qatari company owned by the Al-Khayyat brothers… BP will also work alongside the overseas investment arm of UAE’s national oil company…The deal makes BP one of the first large-scale international oil firms to return to Venezuela after rival Shell secured a licence to develop the first phase of the Loran field earlier this summer. 

Apologists for capitalism discuss anger and resentment at the system

Wall Street Journal, 8/10–Inequality is a feature of capitalism and a sign of its health. It isn’t only functionally efficient but morally proper…it is that very inequality and the incentives it produces that make capitalism so uniquely good at generating the resources and opportunity…But it’s also empirically obvious that the wider the inequality, the more social solidarity diminishes. At some point disintegrating cohesion produces costs—social, economic and political—that undermine the benefits of inequality and erode support for the system itself…

Vietnam enters the race to build capitalist war machine

Reuters, 8/10–Vietnam has begun construction on what it describes as the country’s largest and most advanced domestically made anti-submarine frigate, a military-owned newspaper reported. The vessel…will also have most of its weapons and military equipment developed or assembled in the country…Vietnam…has been seeking to expand its domestic defence manufacturing capabilities while reducing reliance on imported military hardware sourced largely from Russia. The project underscores Vietnam’s policy of developing a defence industry that is “autonomous, self-reliant, self-strengthening, dual-use and modern”, according to a government statement…

Mamdani needs bosses’ Tisch run the racist NYPD show

HellgateNYC, 8/21–Since Zohran Mamdani announced in November that he planned to keep NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on as his police commissioner, she has resisted his agenda. She declined to make good on the mayor’s campaign promises to dismantle the Strategic Response Group or defang the NYPD’s controversial gang database. Mamdani’s campaign vision for a total overhaul to public safety, moving many social services responsibilities away from police…has not materialized. Low level arrests for things like fare evasion have continued apace, if not increased. Despite these betrayals of his progressive base, the mayor has very little incentive to change the leadership of the NYPD, because he’s getting exactly what he needs from Tisch, and he has repeatedly said as much…the mayor, who once called the NYPD “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety,” did not hesitate. “Yes,” he said. “I would not have someone serving our City if I was not confident in what they were doing.”

As U.S. economy sinks, military recruitment expands

Military.com, 8/11–After several years of the Army and Navy publicly missing their recruiting targets by thousands of people, the Defense Department’s five military branches had hit or exceeded their fiscal year 2026 recruiting goal…part of what’s driving record enlistment numbers is…a civilian job market that isn’t offering young Americans as many good options as it used to…An official for Army Recruiting Command described the dynamic…using what economists call the Beveridge Curve, which compares the unemployment rate against the number of available job openings. Historically, low unemployment paired with a high number of job openings signals a healthy, growing labor market that competes hard with military recruiters for young talent. 

Kidnapped workers sent to Haiti 

APNews, 8/20–The U.S. deported more than 160 people to Haiti on Thursday for the first time since the Trump administration won a legal battle to end Temporary Protected Status for some 350,000 Haitians. The plane landed in the northern Haitian city of Cap-Haitien because the main international airport in Port-au-Prince is considered too dangerous. The U.S. government currently has a ban on U.S. commercial flights to Haiti’s capital through early September because of ongoing gang violence.