Minneapolis, MN – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization Fund Drive has now surpassed $70,000 and more money is coming in every day.

FRSO Organizational Secretary Tom Burke states, “The FRSO online fundraiser was a grand success. Now we need a push to achieve our final goal. The money we spend will make us bigger, badder and bolder in advancing the cause of the American working class.”

Burke also urged local FRSO groups to follow up on folks who have made pledges.

To contribute to the fundraising drive, go to FRSO.org and hit the donate button. You can also donate by mailing a check made out to “Lucy Parsons Institute” to 2942 Oakland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407.

#MinneapolisMN #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

The Spanish translation of the political program of Freedom Road Socialist Organization is now available as a paperback book. We hope that this new translation will help to bring revolutionary ideas to a wider audience, including the Chicano liberation and immigrant rights movement.

FRSO is an organization that recognizes the existence of the Chicano nation of Aztlán and sees its struggle for liberation as an important part of our strategy for revolution in the United States. The introduction to our program states,

“In 1846, the U.S. launched a war that resulted in the theft of northern Mexico and the extension of slavery into Texas. A result was the development of the Chicano nation. Located in what is now the U.S. Southwest, the Chicano people were robbed of their land, denied equal rights, including the right to equality of languages, and faced brutal national oppression. The Chicano nation has always resisted. This powerful record of struggle is a bright point in U.S. history.”

Many immigrants to the U.S. face super-exploitation and have a proud history of fighting back against oppression. It was through the massive marches to defend the rights of immigrant workers in 2006 that the labor movement again embraced International Workers Day in the United States. FRSO members are active across the country in building the immigrant rights movement

People's struggle and organization

The program deals in a forthright manner with the enemy we are up against, the conditions we face, and most importantly what is to be done to move forward. FRSO is an organization that gets things done. We work hard to build the people’s struggle. Our experience leading struggle in workplaces and the communities, as well major mass mobilizations – including many of the mass protests during the George Floyd Rebellion – have given us a keen appreciation of the need for a crisp and clear statement of our views.

We are about building the people’s struggle. But we are also about building the kind of rganization that can overthrow capitalism.

The section of the program dealing with our strategy for revolution makes these points,

“For revolutionary change to take place in the United States, three conditions need to be in place. First, the broad masses of people – workers, the oppressed nationalities, and others who are held down by the monopoly capitalists – need to arrive at the conclusion that they are unable to live in the old way and need to be willing to fight to bring the old order to an end. Second, the ruling class needs to be in real crisis, where it is divided against itself and unable to continue with business as usual. And, finally, there needs to be a strong revolutionary organization, a communist party that is capable of navigating complex political situations and that can lead the fight to establish working class political power.”

Our strategy

The long-term plan for change in the U.S. is summarized in the program like this,

“Our basic strategy for revolution and socialism is building a united front against the monopoly capitalist class, under the leadership of the working class and its political party, with a strategic alliance between the multinational working class and the oppressed nationalities at the core of this united front.

“Identifying our real friends and our real enemies is a first step towards building a united front against monopoly capitalism. To carry out this analysis we need to understand the different classes, nationalities, and social groups in U.S. society, identify those forces whose interests are in the main opposed to the monopoly capitalists, and take a look at the specific features of our society.

“Of paramount importance is grasping the fact that the United States is a country where entire nationalities—African Americans, Chicanos and Latinos, Asian Americans, Native peoples including native Hawaiians, Arab Americans, and others within U.S borders—are bound by the chains of national oppression. Real and full equality, liberation, and self-determination become possible with the destruction of monopoly capitalism.”

The socialist goal

We have goals. We look at capitalism and say we can do better than this. Capitalism is a failed system.

The program talks about these goals, stating,

“Socialism is working class political power, and that power is the hammer to remake society from top to bottom. First and foremost, it is needed to break the resistance of the capitalists and their supporters. Over the long run, power is needed to guarantee that society continues to advance and develop, and that the working class can meet those who might challenge it—at home or abroad. We will continue the class struggle until there are no more classes.”

Let’s spread the word

The rapid growth of FRSO confirms the fact that we are in a period where many are looking for a serious revolutionary organization. We are exactly that. When we talk about revolution, we mean it. We are talking about our class overthrowing the exploiters and oppressors.

Our program is worth considering and we should get it into the hands of those who are fighting alongside us. Working and oppressed people have a bright future. This new Spanish translation of the FRSO political program is an important step in building a revolutionary movement in this country.

To get the program go to https://tinyurl.com/programaoscl

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Minneapolis, MN – A major online fundraising event featuring Frank Chapman – of the FRSO Central Committee and Executive Director of National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression – will take place on the evening of May 25. The event, which will also feature Labor Commission Chair Cherrene Horazuk and Standing Committee member Fern Figueroa is part of the $130,000 fund drive that will help FRSO expand its national office and put more full-time organizers in the field.

The event is set for Thursday May 25, 5 p.m. Pacific, 6 p.m. Mountain, 7 p.m. Central and 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Register for Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/frsofund2023

#MinneapolisMN #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Minneapolis, MN – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization Spring Fund Drive hit the $35,000 mark May 11, with more money coming in daily. The fund drive aims at raising $130,000, allowing for an expansion of our national office, more publications and putting more full-time organizers in the field.

The fund drive comes at time when FRSO is experiencing a period of rapid expansion, which includes establishing many new local organizations.

Mick Kelly, the political secretary of FRSO states, “We are building a large, nationwide organization that is capable of building large-scale struggles. We are building a revolutionary movement and our aim is socialism. The success of the Spring Fund Drive is decisive for our future.”

A major online fundraising event has been set for May 25.

#MinneapolisMN #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Minneapolis, MN – In less than a week, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s (FRSO) Spring Fundraising Drive has netted more than $17,000. FRSO aims to raise over $130,000 to hire more full-time organizers to work in our national office, grow our fund to purchase a building, and publish more revolutionary literature.

Anti-war activist Sarah Martin states, “Now is the time to dig deep and contribute to FRSO so we can continue to grow and expand our work as we build towards a new world. The future is bright!”

Local FRSO groups will be going out to members and supporters to make the Spring Fundraising Drive a success.

To contribute to the fundraising drive, go to FRSO.org and hit the donate button.

#MinneapolisMN #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Times have changed and change is coming. Capitalism is a failed system. It needs to go, the sooner the better. A revolutionary solution is needed, and for that we need organization. Revolutionary organization – the kind of organization that Freedom Road Socialist Organization is all about building. To do this, we need you to step up and contribute. We have set of goal of raising $130,000 this year. Together we can make this happen.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization has grown rapidly over the past year. And the rate of growth is picking up. Every six to eight weeks, we are developing work in a new city. Our organizers have been traveling to cities across the county. We are becoming stronger with every passing day. We want to accelerate the process of building revolutionary organization and that cannot happen without additional resources. That’s where you come in.

Last year’s successful funding drive allowed us to open a national office and hire full time staff. As a result, our ability to do things in the real world has increased in a big way. Last year many supporters contributed $1000 or more. We need the same thing to happen this year. It is like Mao Zedong said, “We must crave greatness and success.”

When the attack on Roe v. Wade came down from the reactionary Supreme Court, FRSO mobilized tens of thousands of people in opposition. We had a real and meaningful role in the uprising after the murder of George Floyd, and we are fighting hard for community control of police. And we are proud of our work in building the labor movement. We successfully resisted a multiyear FBI campaign that aimed to destroy our organization. We are activists and fighters, and we will do whatever it takes to bring this system down. Your contributions will allow us to achieve so much more.

So, do what needs to be done. Dig deep and make a serious contribution to the FRSO Spring Fundraising Drive. Our future is bright!

Contribute today by going to FRSO.org and hitting donate.

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Seattle, WA – On January 20 and 21, over 30 people turned out to Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s events to promote the recently released print edition of FRSO’s political program. These events were held at the Khalsa Gurmat Center in Federal Way and the University of Washington-Seattle’s campus.

The room was full of vigor and excitement in light of the ongoing struggle within the Pacific Northwest and the country as a whole. “We have to have a clear eyed view of our enemy, monopoly capitalism. This system exploits and kills workers here and is part of global empire that exploits and kills around the world. It must be brought to an end!” said Zane Smith while speaking on the capitalism section of the program.

Presenting on the program were leading organizers involved with the labor, anti-police crimes, student, and other movements. Their talks connected the FRSO program to their respective struggles and the need for revolutionary organization. The presentations were followed by a brief question-and-answer section.

#SeattleWA #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

In the 18 months since Chicago reached a turning point with the passage of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance, the coalition that won the ordinance has fought against the obstruction of the mayor and pro-police members of the city council to implement it. The current stage in the fight against police tyranny is the elections for the local office of police district council coming up on February 28.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization calls on all progressives to be a part of the next step forward in the history of liberation struggles for Black people and other oppressed nationalities by getting out the vote for pro accountability candidates.

ECPS was won by a broad coalition of progressive organizations representing diverse sectors of the working-class and oppressed communities. The ordinance established a citywide Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) with the power to set Chicago Police Department (CPD) policy, give input into the budget and the hiring and firing of CPD leadership.

The current CCPSA is an interim Commission nominated by the city council and selected by the mayor. Future Commissions will be nominated by the district councils, who will also have the task of gathering the ideas and experiences of the people in their districts regarding the police. Throughout 2022, the ECPS coalition searched for district council candidates interested in holding the police accountable. Over 100 candidates, mostly Black, brown and working class, stepped forward to run. The coalition helped them gather petition signatures to get on the ballot, and now over 60 pro-accountability candidates are on the ballot for February.

Candidates who are running to expand democracy and hold police accountable are up against those backed by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), who want to protect the status quo of police killing and torturing oppressed people with impunity. Fortunately, the FOP-backed candidates are vastly outnumbered by pro-accountability candidates. However, the FOP represents the white supremacist ruling class, which has far more money to put into elections than progressive organizations do. In order for our advantage in numbers to overcome the FOP’s war chest, we need the active participation of as many people as possible in the upcoming elections.

The passage of ECPS was a massive step towards Black and indigenous people, Chicanos, immigrants and other oppressed people being able to democratically govern their own communities. We encourage all people who want an end to police tyranny to get involved in this fight.

We call on the people not only to vote for pro-accountability candidates on February 28, but also to help mobilize voters whether or not they themselves are eligible to vote. We all have a part to play in determining who polices our communities and how our communities are policed. We have a world to win and nothing to lose but our chains.

Go to http://chicagoecps.com to find out who's running in your district.

Go to https://www.caarpr.org/volunteer to get involved in mobilizing people to vote.

#Chicago #PoliceBrutality #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #CommunityControlOfThePolice

As the curtain comes down on 2022, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) wishes you a Happy New Year! We look forward to a new year of struggle, and victories, that raise us to new heights. Conditions show we are in an exciting period for revolutionaries who are connecting with workers and the oppressed – making practical plans with a long-term vision. 2023 promises many opportunities to organize, build the united front against imperialism, and advance towards an American revolution. Freedom Road Socialist Organization is determined to play a part in that process. You should consider joining us today!

The United States is an empire in decline, struggling to maintain its dominance of other countries and their markets. The Biden White House is desperate, ramping up wars, threatening other countries, and makes enemies of people around the world from Palestine to the Philippines, China and Venezuela. Billions upon billions of dollars are being spent on the military while housing, healthcare and education face cutbacks.

Here at home this crisis of U.S. imperialism is deepening divisions everywhere, from political rallies to family holiday dinners. Bigots are louder than ever and free to express it on television and in social media. People don’t just feel threatened, they are being shot and killed by racist reactionaries in grocery stores and churches, on the street and at work, and in schools and night clubs. The crisis is here, and it is ugly, but it also means people are more and more ready to act, and to be bold. People are in motion, and they want solutions. Conditions for revolutionaries to organize and fight back are good.

2022 was a year of continuing the George Floyd rebellion. Remember, more than 27 million people took part in the 2020 uprising against police murders. People across the country in cities like Dallas, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Jacksonville continue organizing and building the Black Liberation movement. The National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) continues to protest police killings and abuses in more than two dozen cities and the list is growing.

Local chapters of NAARPR lead campaigns that put police on trial, convict them and sentence them to prison. This is a first for many cities. It is a result of the rebellion, but also due to the campaign work by groups of determined activists. NAARPR will host a conference in 2023 that promises to be a big event.

Chicago stands out because the demand for community control of the police is advancing and about to be implemented. This reform originates with Fred Hampton of the Black Panther Party. The campaign for community control attracts the families of loved ones murdered or mistreated by police, as well as droves of new activists. This is getting real as Chicago activists canvass for district council elections taking place in February. These councils can implement new reforms that take control over local police policies and spending.

As we all know, 2022 wasn’t all bread and roses. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned abortion rights, the FRSO put a lot of time and energy into fightbacks across the country to restore abortion and demand reproductive justice for all. We helped build the movement for reproductive rights in many states during the November elections, and now there is momentum towards International Women’s Day. FRSO will lead and participate in protests and events around March 8, 2023. Even if your state won, the fight is not over. You should consider joining or starting an International Women’s Day event.

Then on May 1 we commemorate International Workers Day, remembering the great sacrifice of the Haymarket Martyrs of Chicago, and the struggle for the eight-hour day and unions. Where the FRSO is organized, we will participate in mass marches and rallies, as well as FRSO-hosted forums to advance the revolutionary demands of the workers of the world.

This year promises to be historic for unions and the working class. The new leadership of the Teamsters Union, O’Brien and Zuckerman, promise a showdown with the shipping giant UPS. Rank-and-file workers’ organization and militancy on the shop floor in the UPS can build power, raise standards across the shipping industry, and fire up the entire working class. It will require a Teamster strike and a victory against UPS. With this, we will see a surge in union organizing drives, like the ones at Amazon, Starbucks, restaurant chains, and even banks.

The FRSO is already calling for the March on the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 15, 2024. It is only 2023 now, but we are preparing a broad united front for a national march and protest in the streets that goes right up to the front doors of the RNC. We will let the Republicans know exactly why we oppose them with our every breath. Keep a lookout for an organizing conference.

FRSO is working to build a new revolutionary communist party. We are building a party capable of uniting all who can be united to wage a decisive struggle against monopoly capitalism, and to build socialism. That is why It is important to join the FRSO now!

A new year is upon us! Our future is bright!

#UnitedStates #Editorials #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO

Minneapolis, MN – About 70 activists packed Mayday Bookstore, November 20, for the release of the print edition of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s (FRSO) political program.

FRSO Political Secretary Mick Kelly told the excited crowd, “Our program amounts to a declaration war against the existing order things. It is a clear statement that analyzes the conditions we face, lays bare the laws of capitalism, the need for revolution and socialism – and defines a clear strategy getting from here to there.”

The room was filled with many of the movers and shakers in the Twin Cites people’s struggles. Kelly hailed their presence stating, “It is an honor to be among so many outstanding fighters in the Twin Cities people’s movements. You have led large demonstrations and strikes. Those of us here in this room have organized many large, and at times extremely militant, battles. And it is this activity that gives meaning to this program. Its power can be measured by the degree that people take up the ideas, demands and goals contained within – making it a material force in our struggle and in society.”

Leaders from the labor, anti-police crimes, student, immigrant rights, anti-war, climate justice and other movements spoke about the relevance of the FRSO Program to their struggles.

The event was concluded with a champagne toast.

#MinneapolisMN #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

To obtain a copy of the new FRSO Program book, reach out to your local FRSO organizers. If you are not in an area where FRSO has an organized district, you can order a copy at tinyurl.com/buyfrsoprogram

Comrades and friends,

The political program of Freedom Road Socialist Organization is being printed in book form. It is something that all revolutionaries will want to read and consider. It deals in a forthright manner with the enemy we are up against, the conditions we face, and most importantly what is to be done to move forward.

Members and supporters of FRSO should do everything possible and practical to promote it among the advanced activists we work side by side with, in the many movements we are working to build. We welcome feedback from anyone who is serious about change in this country.

Large sections of the program were adopted at the 9th Congress of FRSO which was held several months ago – including an up-to-date analysis of declining monopoly capitalism and our socialist future. Other portions of the program we adopted some time ago, and it can be added that we are still developing additional portions of program that deal with immediate demands of the people. As more of the program is completed, new editions will be published.

FRSO is an organization that gets things done. We work hard to build the people’s struggle. Our experience leading struggle in workplaces and the communities, as well major mass mobilizations – including many of the mass protests during the George Floyd Rebellion – have given us a keen appreciation of the need for a crisp and clear statement of our views.

This experience of collectively applying the science of Marxism-Leninism in the context of a real sharpening of the basic contradictions in U.S. informed the writing of the program. As we note in the program’s introduction, “The political program of Freedom Road Socialist Organization has grown out of a long process of waging struggle against the class enemy, building the people’s movements, and conducting study and analysis of the conditions we live under. The point of knowing the world is to change the world, and this program is a declaration of what this country’s working and oppressed peoples want and need, along with what it will take to get there.”

The tasks of revolutionaries

The program also addresses the relationship between reform and revolution, stating,

“This system of exploitation and injustice cannot be reformed out of existence. We want better lives – so we fight for exactly that. Every step of the way we try to win everything that can be won, raise the level of struggle, and organize our collective movement. But we are also doing something else: we are building an organization of revolutionaries to bring this monster down. The capitalists give with an eye dropper and take with an earth mover. We cannot reform our way to a better way of life. We need to take the sledgehammer of revolution to the chains of oppression.”

We are about building the people’s struggle. But we are also about building the kind of organization that can overthrow capitalism.

The section of the program dealing with our strategy for revolution makes these points,

“For revolutionary change to take place in the United States, three conditions need to be in place. First, the broad masses of people – workers, the oppressed nationalities, and others who are held down by the monopoly capitalists – need to arrive at the conclusion that they are unable to live in the old way and need to be willing to fight to bring the old order to an end. Second, the ruling class needs to be in real crisis, where it is divided against itself and unable to continue with business as usual. And, finally, there needs to be a strong revolutionary organization, a communist party that is capable of navigating complex political situations and that can lead the fight to establish working class political power.”

Our strategy

The long term plan for change in the U.S. is summarized in the program like this,

“Our basic strategy for revolution and socialism is building a united front against the monopoly capitalist class, under the leadership of the working class and its political party, with a strategic alliance between the multinational working class and the oppressed nationalities at the core of this united front.

“Identifying our real friends and our real enemies is a first step towards building a united front against monopoly capitalism. To carry out this analysis we need to understand the different classes, nationalities, and social groups in U.S. society, identify those forces whose interests are in the main opposed to the monopoly capitalists, and take a look at the specific features of our society.

“Of paramount importance is grasping the fact that the United States is a country where entire nationalities—African Americans, Chicanos and Latinos, Asian Americans, Native peoples including native Hawaiians, Arab Americans, and others within U.S borders—are bound by the chains of national oppression. Real and full equality, liberation, and self-determination become possible with the destruction of monopoly capitalism.”

The socialist goal

We have goals. We look at capitalism and say we can do better than this. Capitalism is a failed system.

The program talks about these goals, stating, “Socialism is working class political power, and that power is the hammer to remake society from top to bottom. First and foremost, it is needed to break the resistance of the capitalists and their supporters. Over the long run, power is needed to guarantee that society continues to advance and develop, and that the working class can meet those who might challenge it—at home or abroad. We will continue the class struggle until there are no more classes.”

Let’s spread the word

The rapid growth of FRSO confirms the fact that we are in a period where many are looking for a serious revolutionary organization. We are exactly that. When we talk about revolution, we mean it. We are talking about our class overthrowing the exploiters and oppressors.

Our program is worth considering and we should get into the hands of those we are fighting alongside of. Working and oppressed people have a bright future. The political program of FRSO helps to illuminate the path to arrive there. Let’s promote it!

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

The past has shown that the stance we take on elections can either prepare us for future struggles or leave us on the sidelines of history. There are four major questions we can ask about elections. Is there a special danger present? Is the election a referendum of sort on a key issue – such as a war or economic crisis? Is the election important to the oppressed nationality movements and the struggle against national oppression? Is there a significant political option besides the two parties of the ruling class, the Republicans or Democrats?

Different forces may have different answers to those questions. Freedom Road Socialist Organization believes that this November, it is important to defeat the most reactionary and backwards candidates whether they are running for the House or Senate, for governor or for local office.

There are several criteria we can use during the upcoming elections to determine who the most backwards candidates are. Politicians running for office have different stances on democratic struggles like reproductive rights, voting rights, the police and the crimes they commit in oppressed communities, policies on immigration and other important issues.

We must defeat any politicians running for office this November who hold a favorable view of Trump. It is likely that the Republican candidate for president in 2024 will be someone like or very similar to Trump and his terrible politics. Defeating reactionary politicians at the ballot box is also important because we want to see the most favorable conditions for organizing in the streets and in our workplaces after the elections.

We want the people’s movements to focus on winning demands and advancing struggles to new heights. We want to avoid a situation where people are led astray into thinking that the solution to our problems is replacing one ruling class politician for another. We can promote a real people’s agenda as we prepare to protest the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in the summer of 2024. We will also demonstrate at the Democrat National Convention.

Our approach regarding the elections will take different forms in different places. Often, this will mean that those who are working in swing states must work to defeat Republican candidates. In places where the Republicans are very unlikely to win, organizers should vote against right-wing or centrist Democrats in favor of candidates with more progressive stances. Elections do matter and it would be a mistake to ignore them, even when both of the major parties represent the interests of the ruling class. Ultimately, Freedom Road Socialist Organization believes that our hope belongs with the people’s struggles and real change will be won on the streets.

The United States has seen a high level of political struggle this past decade. Many have been drawn into the streets for the first time, and that is wonderful. It is our duty to continue fighting for peace, justice and equality. In the final analysis, both the Republican and Democrat parties serve the 1%. Neither of those parties represent the interests of working and oppressed people. This November, let’s defeat the worst enemies on the ballot and continue our work among the people.

Struggles and organizations are blossoming, and we have a world to win. We are building revolutionary organization and understand that only a revolution and socialism can bring about a new world.

#UnitedStates #Elections #Editorials #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #DonaldTrump #midtermElections2022

We, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, hold the United States and NATO squarely responsible for the conflict in Ukraine. Since the disintegration of the socialist bloc in Europe, NATO has pursued a policy of expansion and military aggression that has brought instability to the region and beyond. In Ukraine, NATO and its de facto leader, the United States, created the conditions for the war that is now unfolding between the Russian Federation and the Ukrainian state.

The U.S. has encouraged a reactionary, ultranationalist tendency in Ukraine since during the Cold War when it sought to cultivate an anticommunist fifth column within the Soviet Union. In 2014, organized ultranationalists embedded in the Euromaidan movement executed a coup with U.S. support and afterwards were quickly integrated into the Ukrainian national guard and police. When ethnic Russians in the Donbas region demanded autonomy, these newly empowered forces initiated a brutal eight-year war against them. We stand in solidarity with the peoples of Donbas, along with communists and other progressive forces in Ukraine who have faced state repression and violence under the regime installed by the Euromaidan coup.

U.S. meddling in Ukraine has been military, political, and economic in nature, and bears a strong resemblance to U.S. meddling in Latin America. The 2014 Euromaidan coup was sparked by then-president Viktor Yanukovich’s refusal of International Monetary Fund loan terms in 2013. Only a few months after Yanukovich rejected the IMF’s terms and pursued friendly trade relations with the Russian Federation, he was overthrown by U.S.-backed ultra-nationalists and neo-nazis and forced to flee the country. The new post-coup government immediately re-initiated IMF negotiations and acceded to the loan deal. The resulting neoliberal reforms further opened Ukraine to penetration by Western capital and resulted in the mass privatization of Ukrainian industry, the elimination of state subsidies of consumer utilities, and the imposition of widespread austerity measures. It also led to the repeal of land protection laws that had prevented Ukrainian farmland from being gobbled up by the big bourgeoisie. This U.S.-installed government wrote a new constitution that enshrines the pursuit of NATO membership in the foundational document of the Ukrainian state, making it difficult for Ukraine to back away from direct confrontation with Russia.

We believe it’s vital that the U.S./NATO designs for Ukraine are defeated. This is a matter of importance not only for Ukrainians themselves but for all nations around the world who seek to uphold their independence. The U.S. has stated openly that its goal in the Ukraine conflict is to “weaken Russia” – Ukrainians are mere proxies to this end – and has used the conflict as an excuse to escalate sanctions and attacks against the progressive nations of Latin America and non-aligned countries like Pakistan and India. It’s also using the conflict to ram through massive new military expenditures, and implement an unprecedented domestic regime of censorship and propaganda. These actions ultimately lay groundwork for a confrontation with Russia’s southern neighbor, socialist China, which the U.S. sees as the main threat to the imperialist status quo.

We denounce the hypocrisy of the U.S. and its allies’ repeated accusations that Russia has weakened “international norms” and/or the “European security architecture.” It was NATO itself that first opened the Pandora’s box of unending inter-ethnic violence and lawless intervention when it waged a war of aggression on Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

We stand in solidarity with the masses in the former socialist republics who have faced political instability and a devastating decline in living conditions since the fall of socialism. We support the masses of the Russian Federation who have borne witness to the barbarity and ruthlessness of the imperialist destruction of their country, reject the neoliberal plunder of their economy, and wish to see the defeat of NATO’s plots and the destruction of its reactionary proxies such as the Azov Battalion.

We find it notable that many of those who show support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine do so by flying not the Russian flag but the Victory Flag of the Soviet Union. Since the disintegration of the USSR and the privatization of the Soviet economy, the Russian Federation has vied to dominate the regional economies of the former Soviet republics. Lacking the proletarian internationalist basis of the USSR, and with a monopoly capitalist economy rather than a socialist one, the Russian Federation is emerging as an imperialist power; the conflict in Ukraine is an inter-imperialist conflict between the U.S. and Russia.

However, the U.S.-led imperialist order is the main enemy of working-class and oppressed people everywhere, and its power is declining and has been for decades. This is a good thing. We uphold the right of nations to self-determination and welcome the advent of a so-called “multipolar” world order. However, we also recognize that these shifts in the global balance of power will change the nature of existing contradictions and introduce new ones. As socialist revolutionaries, we know that multipolarity is not the end goal of the struggle, but a necessary stop on the road toward a bright future of a world united by socialism.

We call on anti-war activists to organize protests demanding an end to U.S. and NATO material support to Ukraine, the lifting of sanctions and unilateral coercive measures imposed on the Russian population, and the immediate dissolution of NATO.

#UnitedStates #AntiwarMovement #NATO #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Ukraine

Join FRSO leaders for a report back on the organization's recent 9th Congress. We will also discuss the importance of mobilizing to defend Roe v. Wade. Hosted by Tom Burke, FRSO Organization Secretary and Standing Committee, Chrisley Carpio of the Standing Committee, and Andy Koch, FRSO National Organizer.

Sign up here to to get the Zoom link sent to you: https://tinyurl.com/FRSOMtgJune

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Donate now by the following methods:

• At frso.org by clicking the red “donate” button on the bottom right corner of the page
• Paypal — @LucyParsonsInstitute
• Cash App — $FRSOorg
• Checks can be made out to “Lucy Parsons Institute” and mailed to 2942 Oakland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Freedom Road Socialist Organization is serious about building for revolution in this country, and we need your help to continue building. We have some serious momentum. Our membership has grown rapidly over the past three years. Last year, we successfully raised over $100,000, which allowed us to open up a national office and hire a full-time national organizer. We recently concluded our 9th Congress, which was larger than ever before.

We are an organization that has proven time and again that we are able to make things happen, score victories for the people, and land blows against the enemy – from the fight against police crimes, to union struggles, and more. In the next period, we will use the increased capacity brought about by our national office and staff to expand and grow in even more cities across the country. People write to us every day asking how to join and get involved. The masses are hungry for revolutionary organization.

We need your help to continue in the promising direction in which we are headed – building a revolutionary organization which can and will contend for power.

We urge you to donate, and to share this fundraising message as broadly as you can so others have an opportunity to donate as well.

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

• Liberation Party (Argentina)

• Workers Party of Belgium (PTB-PVDA)

• Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD)

• New Communist Party of Britain

• Communist Party of Greece (KKE)

• Fronte Popolare (Italy)

• Communist Party of the Philippines

• International League of Peoples' Struggles – Jose Maria Sison

• Communist Party, Sweden

• The Labour Party of Turkey (EMEP)

• Socialist Unity Party (USA)

• Workers World Party (USA)

• United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)

Liberation Party (Argentina)

Buenos Aires, May 23, 2022

Liberation Party of Argentina (PL)

To the comrades of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO)

From Argentina, the Liberation Party sends revolutionary fraternal greetings to the comrades of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) in celebration of your 9th National Congress.

Our Marxist-Leninist and San Martin-ist party has watched for many years as your excellent political work has won over more and more people, especially through the large protests following the assassination of George Floyd. We also know, through your newspaper, of your activity in the movement of the working class, and your solidarity shown to all those throughout the world who fight against Imperialism.

We take advantage of this time to show fraternal solidarity with your Marxist-Leninst organization. In these difficult times which face the working class and the peoples of the world, it’s important for revolutionary organizations to strengthen our anti-imperialist unity, alongside other friendly parties and organizations.

Our party urges that we all remain vigilant against Imperialist atrocities and the advance of fascism against the peoples of the world.

The comrades of the Liberation Party (PL) of Argentina express our decision to continue strengthening our relationship. We greet the comrades of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) who hold high their fighting banner, and urge you maintain your communist principles. This is important now more than ever, as we face the crisis of capitalism and Imperialism, and during the war in which NATO, the US, and neonazis are fighting alongside one another in the Ukraine. There is much inequality and poverty in the world.

It has only been a few days since we signed, along with with 26 others, a declaration commemorating the victory of the USSR against the Third Reich.

LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-IMPERIALIST UNITY! IN DEFENSE OF WORLD PEACE! SOCIALISM OR BARBARISM!

Secretariat of International Relations of the Liberation Party (PL) of Argentina

www.partidodelaliberacion.com.ar

Workers’ Party of Belgium (PTB-PVDA)

To the delegates of the 9th Congress of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization

Brussels, 21 May 2022

Dear comrades,

On behalf of the Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB-PVDA), we congratulate the Freedom Road Socialist Organization with the holding of its 9th Congress.

Your Congress takes place even as the war in Ukraine is still raging and the US, NATO, the EU and European states are intensifying its militarist and imperialist approach, refusing to take an alternative path of dialogue, international understanding and cooperation.

Indeed, we are living times of intensifying conflict and political instability, resulting from the deep and multiple crisis of world capitalism, with a catastrophic economic, social, democratic and ecological impact.

For the broad working class and its political representatives to meet these enormous challenges, a sustained struggle for social and democratic rights, for peace, people's rights and climate justice is needed more than ever.

The FRSO has been very active in organizing mass protests following the murder of George Floyd and your organisation has also played an active role in the growing workers’ movement. This should indeed constitute a fertile ground for realizing your objectives of growth and expansion in more cities and areas. Parties like ours also consciously try to be harbingers of hope, placing our activity in the perspective of a radically different society, a society that takes the needs of the working class and the common people at heart, a socialist society.

We wish you success with your Congress, and we are eager to learn more about its results.

Comradely greetings,

Bert De Belder

Head, Department of International Relations

Workers’ Party of Belgium (PTB-PVDA)

171 bd. M. Lemonnier, 1000 Brussels

+32 (0)2 50 40 114

international@ptb.be

https://international.ptb-pvda.be/

Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD)

MLPD | SCHMALHORSTSTRASSE 1C | 45899 GELSENKIRCHEN I GERMANY

MPD

Member of ICOR

Central Committee

Department for Internationalism

Schmalhorststrße 1c

45899 Gelsenkirchen

Germany

PHONE

+49 (0) 209 95194-63

TELEFAX

+49 (0) 209 9519460

WEB

www.mlpd.de

Dear comrades of Freedom Road Socialist Organisation,

The Central Committee of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD) and its youth league Rebell send you warmest revolutionary greetings to your 9th Congress. We congratulate you for your growing role in the struggle against racism, in the struggle of the workers, and especially for the successful building of your organization. You have fought courageously and successfully against anti-communism and state oppression. It is of utmost significance for the victory of socialism that revolutionary parties and organizations in the entire world are strengthened.

We are now experiencing developments of a new quality. With the begin of the war in Ukraine, an economic, political, military and ecological world crisis has developed. The imperialist world system is destabilizing at an accelerated pace. In this phase the question is: either there will be a 3rd World War – or the working class and the popular masses actively resist and overcome imperialism in an international socialist revolution. The MLPD strongly supports the building of the international antifascist and anti-imperialist united front. We would very much welcome your participating in building this united front, as you are struggling in the country which is the main warmonger in the world.

In the course of many years, MLPD and Freedom Road Socialist Organization have developed friendly relations and have organized mutual support. It was very important that we organized mutual visits. Even in questions in which we have differences of opinion, the discussion was always led in solidarity and objectively. You contributed a lot to developing our knowledge and evaluation of the development of class struggle in the USA and to reports in our publications. In Germany there is great interest in the development of the working-class movement in the USA and the continuation of its revolutionary tradition.

We hope that we will extend, deepen and consolidate our relations in future, and we are looking forward to your visit to Germany at the end of August to the celebrations on the 40th anniversary of the MLPD.

We wish your Congress great success!

Workers of all countries, unite!

Workers of all countries and all oppressed, unite!

Onward to the international socialist revolution!

Anton Weil

International Department of the MLPD

New Communist Party of Britain

PO Box 73 London SW11 2PQ tel; 0207 223 4052 email:party@ncp.clara.net

Standing Committee

Freedom Road Socialist Organization Dear Comrades,

The New Communist Party of Britain sends its warmest greetings to our comrades readying for the 9th Congress of the Freedom Road Socialist Organisation this summer. As the storm clouds gather across the globe communists join the forces of national liberation closing ranks behind the people of the Donbas fighting with their Russian allies to drive the Ukrainian fascists out of their land while struggling to build the resistance to the austerity regimes that have been imposed on the working class throughout the imperialist heartlands.

Getting the communist answer to the capitalist crisis heard on the street is a major task for all communists in the West. Putting the socialist alternative back on the labour movement agenda is another. Fighting for peace and an end to imperialist wars is the third.

In the United States your comrades have played an important role in the mass struggle against racism and creeping fascism and we are sure you will play an even greater one in the future. Your congress will chart the way forward for the future and we look forward to its conclusions in the near future.

All the best, Andy Brooks General Secretary New Communist Party of Britain

Communist Party of Greece (KKE)

May 25, 2022 Dear comrades,

The KKE would like to convey to you its comradely greetings on the occasion of your 9th Congress.

Our Party is following with great interest the action you develop on a wide range of issues that concern the working class in the United States, your efforts in the labor movement and the movements for the political and social rights of the oppressed strata, for the rights of immigrants, the youth, and students. We appreciate your express of solidarity with all the peoples of the world who are struggling against imperialist crimes, interventions, and wars.

30 years after the overthrow of socialism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, all those who celebrated and promised a world of peace, security, freedom, and justice have been roundly refuted. Today, a new barbaric imperialist war has broken out. For at least a decade now, the people of Ukraine have been paying for the competition and interventions for the division of markets and spheres of influence between, on the one hand, the US, NATO, the EU, and the Euro-Atlantic enlargement strategy and, on the other hand, the strategy of the bourgeoisie and the capitalist state of the Russian Federation, which is pursuing its own exploitative plans at the expense of the peoples to strengthen its own coalition in the former USSR region.

The myth of governments that would supposedly provide an alternative for the peoples within the framework of the capitalist system is today being debunked once again in history. In the USA, the Biden administration has been portrayed as supposedly progressive against the reactionary Trump and, today, is leading the anti-popular policies against the US people, escalates dangerous imperialist plans in competition with Russia and capitalist China, continues the unacceptable blockade against Cuba and its people, undermining the conquests of the Cuban revolution.

The overall developments underscore even more strongly the historically outdated character of capitalism —which has nothing to provide to the peoples but wars, poverty, and misery— and the necessity of Marxist-Leninist Communist Parties rooted in the working class, which will graft the contemporary strategy for the overthrow of capitalism, for socialism, onto the daily struggles.

With these thoughts, we would like to wish you success in the works of your Congress for the further development of class struggle and internationalist solidarity, under the conditions of the intensification of capital's offensive and the sharpening of inter-imperialist antagonisms internationally..

Comradely,

International Relations Section of the Central Committee of the KKE

Fronte Popolare (Italy)

Milan, 23 May 2022

Freedom Road Socialist Organization

Standing Committee of the Central Committee

Dear Comrades,

Fronte Popolare (Italy) hereby sends the most fraternal greetings to the 9th Congress of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. The relations between our organizations are intense and long-standing. We are connected with you by a deep sharing of analysis and political culture. We are confident that the results of your congressional work will enrich our reflections.

The historical moment we are living is dramatic and fraught with danger. The decline of U.S. imperialism's planetary hegemony has increased its aggressiveness. The Biden administration has not hesitated to provoke a war on European soil, that between Russia and Ukraine, endangering the survival of all humankind: it has done so to sever the concatenations of interests between the major players on the Eurasian chessboard. The goal is clear: to achieve a “new American century,” once again sacrificing the prosperity and security of peoples around the world, but also of the American people.

Your country's internal circumstances are changing, however. The growing poverty undermines the hegemonic control of the oligarchies of financial capital over the working classes. The repressive brutality of the state machinery arouses outrage and prompts many to question the status quo. More and more Americans are opening their eyes, are willing to struggle, and are questioning the role of the United States worldwide and how to reconcile it with their own material interests and a renewed and widespread aspiration for peace.

In this context, the role of a vanguard organization like FRSO is strengthened. The growth of your organization is a symptom of your increasing ability to act as an interpreter of your role in this difficult historical phase.

We witness with interest and enthusiasm the general growth of the left in the U.S. This is a fact of extraordinary importance to all sincere democrats everywhere. FRSO is in a position and duty to play an important role in stabilizing this trend. On the depth of your analysis and the correctness of your strategy will depend your ability to offer a concrete, coherent and revolutionary political perspective to the sentiments and aspirations maturing among the working classes.

Leftists, socialists and communists on both sides of the Atlantic have long common work and common responsibilities ahead of them. In recent years, Europeans have been inspired by episodes of struggle such as the Amazon workers' strike and movements such as the anti-racist wave that followed the murder of George Floyd by a policeman. These are just two examples of how phenomena born within American society can have an immediate influence on the maturation of a more advanced consciousness in Europe as well.

This is why your 9th Congress draws our keenest attention. We feel a responsibility to continue the vital exchange of experience and joint work with your organization. This is not just a matter of reaffirming our adherence to Marxist internationalism: it is a practical urgency imposed by a world that has never before been as interconnected as it is now. On our common ability to give birth to a vibrant and dynamic internationalism depends, now more than ever, our ability to be what we aim to be and what we must be.

We are confident that, after the conclusion of your congressional work, we will soon be able to discuss how we can together continue to carry out our duty as revolutionaries. For this reason we have been, are and will always be at your side.

In solidarity,

Alessio Arena

Head of International Commission

Fronte Popolare (Italy)

Communist Party of the Philippines

Solidarity with the 9th Congress of the

Freedom Road Socialist Organization

Communist Party of the Philippines

May 23, 2022

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) extends its revolutionary greetings to the 9th Congress of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). We are confident that the leaders and members of the FRSO will steer the congress to success and make it serve as inspiration and guide for the working class and toiling people of the USA in waging resistance against class exploitation and all other forms of oppression.

The CPP congratulates the FRSO for its steadfast promotion of Marxism-Leninism and the continued growth of its organization. We look forward to your plans to establish a national office as an important step towards establishing FRSO branches in more cities across the United States.

The CPP and revolutionary forces in the Philippines deeply appreciate the important role being played by the FRSO in the rising mass struggles across the United States, including the widespread protest movement that followed the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and in the growing workers' movement.

In the United States, as well as in the Philippines and across the world, the monopoly capitalist banks and corporations are intensifying the exploitation of workers and other toiling classes, and aggravating the oppression of peoples and entire nations. In the face of heightening rivalry with other rising imperialist powers, the US is intensifying armed conflicts and instigating wars which cause widespread destruction to lives, livelihood and the environment.

While the US and other imperialist countries resort to increasingly protectionist policies, neocolonial economic measures are imposed on backward neocolonial countries. These are subjugated and subjected to wholesale imperialist plunder of resources, exploitation of workers, dumping of surplus commodities and unmitigated export of capital in the form of loans.

The CPP celebrates every achievement and victory of the FRSO as we collectively resist against our common enemy. In the same way, the achievements and victories of the CPP and the Philippine revolution are its own contributions to the general effort of the oppressed and exploited peoples to advance the cause socialist and national democratic revolutions.

International League of Peoples’ Struggles – Jose Maria Sison

MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY TO FRSO

ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 9TH CONGRESS

By Jose Maria Sison, Chairperson Emeritus

International League of Peoples’ Struggle

May 23, 2022

Dear Comrades,

As Chairperson Emeritus of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (FRSO), I wish to convey warmest greetings of solidarity to the Central Committee and entirety of Freedom Road Socialist Organization on the occasion of its 9th Congress.

I salute you and congratulate you for all your efforts, sacrifices and achievements in arousing, organizing and mobilizing the American proletariat and people in anti-imperialist and and democratic mass struggles in the direction of socialism.

You have played a major role in building the worker’s movement and becoming the largest Marxist-Leninist organization in the US. We share your joy in opening a national office in the next few months. We hope that this will inspire the expansion and consolidation of your socialist organization in many more cities.

We are ever grateful to FRSO for consistently supporting the proletariat and people of the world in their struggles for national liberation, democracy and socialism against imperialism and all reaction. We are bound together by the principles of anti-imperialist solidarity and proletarian internationalism.

We wish you the utmost success in summing up and learning lessons from your experience, building further on your strengths and overcoming weaknesses and shortcomings, setting forth the correct ideological, political and organizational tasks and aiming for ever greater victories and for a new and higher level of development.

Jose Maria Sison

Chairperson Emeritus

International League of Peoples’ Struggle

Communist Party, Sweden

Kommunistiska Partiet

Box 311 87

400 32 Göteborg

international@kommunisterna.org

Gothenburg, 220525

To the 9th congress of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization From the Communist Party, Sweden, we send warm greetings to the delegates of the 9th congress of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

We follow with interest the work of the FRSO and welcome the good news that you’re growing as an organization and that you’re about to open a national office soon. We know that your party is actively involved in the ongoing struggles of the working class, and we also follow with interest the wave of strikes and trade union organization in the US; not least at Amazon, a modern symbol of monopoly capitalism.

I will also take this opportunity to tell you a little about our struggles here in Sweden. As you will be well aware the Swedish social democratic government, together with the capitalist class it represents, not least the arms industry, is pulling Sweden even further in under US imperialism with its application to join Nato.

The war in Ukraine is being used as the pretext, but the Swedish defense department has already for years been taking its orders from the White House and the Pentagon, with the Host Nation Support agreement with Nato and the refusal to ratify the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons – after pressure from then US secretary of defense James ”Mad Dog” Mattis – are only two examples.

The social democratic party only officially changed their view on Nato membership as late as two weeks ago, and over the last few weeks our party has helped organizing demonstrations all over the country against Nato, with the largest being held here in Gothenburg.

It’s a difficult struggle, with very intense pro-Nato propaganda in the media, but we are doing what we can to counter the propaganda war, and our weekly newspaper Proletären is growing slowly but surely.

We hope you will have good discussions and a good congress, which strengthens the FRSO in your struggles to advance the positions of the working class in the US. We also look forward to receive information about the results of the congress.

Comradely greetings

Marcus Jönsson, international secretary Communist Party, Sweden

The Labour Party of Turkey (EMEP)

Esteemed comrades,

We congratulate you are holding the 9th Congress of your organization, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). We are following the struggles of the working class and the oppressed peoples of the United States closely. The new wave of peoples' rebellions began with France and Sudan and manifested itself as a rage of peoples of the United States against racist police terror and weakening socio-economic conditions. As a reply, the Biden administration, organized reactionarism, and US capitalism are strangling workers with more inflation rates, threats against women's rights, and more spending on police forces and the military. Their propaganda of “green capitalism” fell so quickly.

However, this new wave of struggles and the pandemic capitalism pushed the working classes' struggles forward. This reality demonstrates itself currently as bread rebellions in Sri Lanka and Iran and strikes across European countries, Canada, and the United States. These struggles show us that as the working class unites, as we cooperate under its roof, we can gain success and advance our struggles for socialism.

It is empowering news for us that your organization is playing a role in the US working-class struggle. As a working-class party from Turkey, it is our wish that our friends and comrades from the USA unite within the working class struggle and throw this barbaric system into the dustbin of history once and for all.

Down with capitalism and imperialism!

Long live revolution and socialism!

Long live the unity, solidarity, and struggle of the world's working class and oppressed peoples!

Long live working-class internationalism!

International Bureau – The Labour Party of Turkey (EMEP)

Socialist Unity Party (USA)

May 23, 2022

Dear Comrades of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization,

The Socialist Unity Party and Struggle for Socialism/La Lucha por el Socialismo send you warm greetings of solidarity on the occasion of your Ninth Congress. We congratulate you on your work and growth and wish you a productive and successful gathering.

For decades, FRSO has played an exemplary role in the class struggle in the United States. You have fought in the streets and communities against racism and police terror and for community control of police and organized on the for union rights on the shop floor. You have defended the rights of immigrants and fought against imperialist war. We salute your role in helping rebuild the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and in the Black Lives Matter uprising following the murder of George Floyd.

Our organizations share the Leninist understanding that the fight against national oppression and for the right of oppressed nations to self-determination is fundamental to the liberation of the working class. We share that same view on the importance of the struggle for women’s and LGBT rights and against gender oppression. We have a common outlook on the need to defend all actually existing socialist states as well as all oppressed nations seeking to free themselves from the stranglehold of imperialism. We stand together in solidarity with liberation struggles from Palestine to Colombia to the Philippines.

We are writing at a dangerous time for humanity and our planet. The outmoded system of

capitalist class rule is in a death spiral and threatens to take humanity with it. Public health disaster, looming climate catastrophe, shortages, inflation, economic collapse and imperialist war are ultimately manifestations of the fundamental contradiction of capitalism-the intensifying conflict between the explosive growth of the productivity of labor and the limits of the limits of capitalist ownership of the means of production.

The apparent victory of US imperialism in the “Cold War” 30 years ago-hailed by our class

enemy as the triumph of their vile racist system and even the “end of history”-only intensified that contradiction. The monopoly capitalist class and its political and military servants have no answer to their crisis but war and destruction. The past three decades have seen them move from the genocidal war against Iraq to a proxy war against Russia that threatens to escalate to nuclear confrontation. And now they openly threaten war with the Peoples Republic of China.

The crisis facing humanity calls for the revolutionary intervention of the working class in our own class interest, which requires revolutionary leadership. The need for revolutionary organizations of Leninist orientation to cooperate has never been greater, and we look forward to our organizations’ working together ever more closely to that end.

In the immortal words of Che Guevara, “The present is struggle, the future is ours!”

Workers and oppressed people of all countries unite! We have a world to win!

National Coordinating Committee

Socialist Unity Party

Workers World Party (USA)

Solidarity message to Ninth Congress from WWP

Dear Comrades of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization

Workers World Party sends our solidarity greetings to the Ninth Congress of FRSO. We know, from our own efforts, how difficult it is to build a revolutionary workers' party in the center of world imperialism, and we congratulate FRSO for its consistent pro-working-class and anti-imperialist positions, which it has maintained throughout the decades, despite the direct repression from the class enemy. We value our relations of mutual support and solidarity to resist that repression and for joining in the support of worker organizing drives, anti-racist actions and anti-war actions that have provided evidence of that solidarity.

Long live the unity of the working class and of all oppressed nationalities! Defend the rights of all sectors of the population experiencing special oppressions! Down with U.S. imperialism and its imperialist allies!

We both know the enemy is at home. But we also know we have friends at home. Long live the friendly relations of FRSO and WWP!

Comradely,

Central Committee, WWP

May 22, 2022

United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)

Freedom Road Socialist Organization Caracas, April, 26 2022

Standing Committee of the Central Committee

Dear Comrades:

I am writing to you to extend a fraternal revolutionary greeting on behalf of the working class of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and at the same time congratulate you for holding the 9th Congress of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

In this regard, as a member of the Venezuelan trade union movement, on behalf of our working class and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, I would like to thank you for the support you have always shown to the Venezuelan people and to our government, which is led by our brother Nicolás Maduro Moros, a worker-leader who is in charge of directing our people’s emancipatory process, after our Commander Hugo Chávez.

I would also like to recognize the leadership that the FSRO has had over the years, maintaining an important presence in the labor movement and in the liberation movement of Afro-descendants in USA and abroad.

Likewise, I would like to emphasize the Venezuelan people recognize themselves as friends of the US people and also as friends of peoples all around the world who struggle peacefully to prove that another model is possible – one where human beings come before wealth accumulation.

Finally, I would like to ratify you the invitation to attend to THE WORKERS’ SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS – TIJUANA 2022, between June 10 and 12. This initiative aims to counteract the Summit of the Americas organized by the US state department from June 6 to 10 in Los Angeles, California, where the sovereign governments of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were excluded.

In closing, accept the assurance of my highest consideration.

Francisco A. Torrealba

Vice President of the Working Class

United Socialist Party of Venezuela

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism #9thCongress

With the successful conclusion of the 9th Congress of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), a real leap has been made in our efforts to build a serious, revolutionary organization that can make meaningful contributions to the people’s struggle. It is also clear that we are continuing to make progress in our efforts to construct a new communist party, one that can stand at the forefront of the fight for socialism.

Beneath a brilliant red banner reading, “Freedom Road Socialist Organization 9th Congress: Seize the time, the future is bright!” a packed hall of delegates and members of came together to adopt major sections of our political program, to set goals and make plans for strengthening organization, and to elect leadership.

Delegates hailed from all regions of the country. Reflecting the rapid growth of FRSO over the last four years, this was the first congress for most attendees. While some of the participants were veterans of the communist movement with many decades of experience, the overwhelming majority were under 35 years old. Many attending were leaders and activists in the labor movement. Over a third of those present were oppressed nationalities, including a sizable number of African Americans. About half of those present were women and LGBTQ people.

The 9th Congress of FRSO came at a critical juncture in the development of the people’s struggle and the accelerating decline of monopoly capitalism in the U.S.  As the call to the congress states, in the recent period “we have seen a level of struggle that is unprecedented since the 1960s. The great rebellion following the murder of George Floyd, which was both broad and militant, signals the shape of things to come. It can be said the burning police stations helped illuminate the road to freedom. The fight against police crimes led to a resurgence of the African American national movement.”

The congress adopted political resolutions on the economy, the political situation, and the international situation that provide materialist analyses of the conditions we are facing, and that help us understand the terrain of struggle ahead. After a widely participated-in debate and discussion, the congress also adopted sections of our political program on socialism and capitalism. Participants both new and old navigated the democratic process to reach unity on our line.

The congress discussed and adopted several resolutions on our work to build a new communist party in the U.S., including one that lays the groundwork to establish an African American Commission to help further develop our work in the Black Liberation movement. Another resolution, blasting the U.S. role in the inter-imperialist war in the Ukraine was adopted.

The congress elected a new central committee to lead our organization.  The central committee elected longtime communist Mick Kelly to serve as the organization’s political secretary. Outgoing Political Secretary Steff Yorek will continue serve in the central committee, where she will help provide leadership to the organization.

Messages of greetings from communist and workers’ parties, national liberation movements, and anti-imperialist organizations were read to the delegates, including messages from the Liberation Party of Argentina (PL), Workers Party of Belgium, Communist Party of Greece, New Communist Party of Britain, Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD), Fronte Popolare (Italy), Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), International League of Peoples´ Struggle – Jose Maria Sison, Communist Party, Sweden, Labor Party of Turkey, and the  United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

Messages from revolutionary organizations in the U.S., including the Workers World Party and the Socialist Unity Party, were read to the delegates

A message from the Communist Party of the Philippines states, “The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) extends its revolutionary greetings to the 9th Congress of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). We are confident that the leaders and members of the FRSO will steer the congress to success and make it serve as inspiration and guide for the working class and toiling people of the USA in waging resistance against class exploitation and all other forms of oppression.”

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism #9thCongress

La Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad convoca a los trabajadores de todos los Estados Unidos para conmemorar el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores con marchas y programas.

¿A qué nos enfrentamos en este país capitalista en crisis?

Las vidas de los trabajadores han sido cambiadas para siempre por el fracaso del sistema capitalista para protegernos de la pandemia del COVID-19. Algunos de nosotros fuimos forzados a trabajar en condiciones inseguras, mirando a nuestros compañeros, amigos, y seres queridos sufrir y morir del COVID. Otros vimos que nuestros lugares de trabajo hacían recortes de personal o cerraban mientras el gobierno nos daba una miseria. Al mismo tiempo, los inversionistas se beneficiaban mientras el mercado de valores ganaba más de 10 trillones en valor.

Los capitalistas siguen con su agresión contra los sindicatos, especialmente en el sector público, ya que la sindicalización en el sector privado fue diezmada hace una generación. Solo el 6% de los obreros en industria están sindicalizados. Los que todavía tienen sindicatos pueden tener cargas de trabajo aplastantes, dos niveles (o tres niveles) de tarifa salarial, o las horas extras obligatorias. Los multimillonarios no quieren sindicatos porque son la principal organización de defensa para la clase obrera.

El terror racista de la policía continua. El numero de gente asesinada por la policia aumentó en el 2021, aún depués del historico levantamiento tras el linchamiento de George Floyd en 2020. 1134 personas murieron; 27% de ellos eran personas negras a pesar de que la gente negra solo representa el 13% en todo el país. Las comunidades latinas también sufren bajo la ocupación policial.

Las mujeres en Tejas ya tienen el derecho al control sobre sus cuerpos severamente restringido por los políticos reaccionarios. Los políticos en otros estados, como en Florida, pretenden hacer lo mismo. Y las mismas fuerzas reaccionarias están atacando a las comunidades LGBTQ también.

Aún antes de la pandemia, los propietarios estaban presentando alrededor de 3.7 millones de desalojos cada año. Mientras la suspensión temporal de desalojos prevenía muchos desalojos, los propietarios, desde que la suspensión terminó, están tratando de desalojar más inquilinos que nunca.

Casi un millón de personas de México y Centroamérica fueron rechazadas por la administración de Biden en la frontera con México durante el año pasado. Biden prometió una vía para la legalización para 11 millones de personas indocumentadas en los Estados Unidos. Pero los racistas como el Senador Joe Manchin rechazaron aceptar el plan y Biden no lo enfrentó.

Como resultado, los trabajadores inmigrantes indocumentados siguen experimentado el miedo constante de ser arrestados por la policía o el ICE, llevándolos a la deportación.

De igual modo, Biden prometió defender los derechos de los votantes y reformar la policía. En lugar de esto, los racistas del Partido Demócrata se unieron con los Republicanos para bloquear ambas propuestas.

Biden también prometió trillones de trabajos verdes, guarderías, universidades gratis, y salud asequible. Ninguno se ha cumplido.

Pero casi un trillón de dólares para el Departamento de la Defensa fue aprobado con una adición de 35.000 millones más y más para la guerra en Ucrania.

Mientras tanto, los titulares de la prensa capitalista el año pasado nos dijeron que un puñado de multimillonarios estadounidenses son 1.7 trillones más ricos después de dos años de COVID.

Nosotros resistimos

Hemos sido oprimidos, manipulados, y traicionados.

Los obreros – sindicalizados o no – están resistiendo. “Striketober” (Octubre de Huelgas) fue llamado después de que 10.000 de obreros de John Deere en el Medio Oeste se unieron con las enfermeras y los trabajadores de los supermercados a la huelga. En el 2021 también se vio crecer la cantidad de paros no sindicalizados. Los obreros por todos los Estados Unidos están enojados – sus vidas siguen estando en peligro mientras están trabajando durante la pandemia y ellos se dan cuenta que están muriendo por los beneficios de los ricos. Los maestros en Minneapolis continúan la Ola Roja que empezó con huelgas “Wildcat” (salvajes) en 2019.

El movimiento de Liberación Negra está avanzado, como se ha visto especialmente en Chicago, donde una coalición liderado por la Alianza Chicago contra la Represión Racista y Política, con el apoyo de los sindicatos públicos liderados por Afroamericanos, aprobó un proyecto de ley amplio que le dará a las comunidades que viven bajo el terror policial, la primera posibilidad de determinar quienes serán los policías en sus comunidades y cómo serán vigiladas. Un movimiento nacional está formándose por todo el país, inspirado por estos avances.

La historia del Día Internacional de los Trabajadores

Este es un día de lucha – nacido del gran movimiento obrero de los Estados Unidos que luchó por la jornada de ocho horas hace más de 100 años. Comenzó aquí, pero el Primero de Mayo será conmemorado en todo el mundo – por los trabajadores de Filipinas, de Palestina, de Puerto Rico y de Pretoria, Sudáfrica – que hoy luchan por un mundo mejor.

Nos reunimos el Primero de Mayo para conmemorar nuestra historia, nuestra lucha y para mirar hacia un mundo mejor.

También nos reunimos sabiendo que nuestra clase gobernante odia este día festivo.En 1886, cuando la Huelga General por la jornada de ocho horas avanzó por todas las ciudades industriales de los Estados Unidos, los capitalistas trataron de aplastar el movimiento en sus inicios. Agarraron a los líderes del movimiento y los colgaron por atreverse a luchar por una sociedad en la que no gobiernen los ricos.

Tenemos una deuda de gratitud con el movimiento por los derechos de los inmigrantes, que devolvió el Primero de Mayo a la clase trabajadora estadounidense. Fue a través de las masivas marchas para defender los derechos de los trabajadores inmigrantes en 2006 que el movimiento laboral volvió a abrazar el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores. Este año volveremos a marchar con los trabajadores inmigrantes el Primero de Mayo.

El capitalismo es un fracaso

La crisis económica de 2008 acabó con cualquier esperanza de la mayoría de la clase trabajadora en todo el mundo de mejorar nuestras vidas a través del trabajo duro y el ahorro de dinero. La pandemia del COVID mató a casi un millón de personas en los Estados Unidos y a más de 6 millones en todo el mundo.

Los países más ricos – los Estados Unidos, el Reino Unido, Italia y otros – estuvieron entre los mayores fracasos. Fallaron en proteger a los trabajadores porque nuestras vidas son prescindibles al servicio de las ganancias y porque incluso sus sistemas de atención médica tienen fines de lucro.

Los países socialistas – China, Cuba, Vietnam – mostraron al mundo lo que puede ocurrir cuando la salud no tiene fines de lucro, sino que se basa en las necesidades de los trabajadores y campesinos. En China, un país con 1.400 millones de habitantes, han muerto menos de 10.000 personas.

¡Necesitamos la revolución y el socialismo!

El movimiento Black Lives Matter (las vidas negras importan) siempre dice, “¡Es nuestro deber luchar por nuestra libertad!” Por los trabajadores revolucionarios, nos unimos a la lucha por la libertad de la opresión nacional racista, y también nos comprometemos a luchar por la libertad de las dificultades impuestas a todas las personas trabajadoras cuyos sueldos no cubren sus facturas – la mayoría de la clase trabajadora que está perdiendo terreno mientras el costo de nuestra renta, gasolina y alimentos continúa aumentando aún más rápido.

El Primero de Mayo es para aquellos de nosotros que vemos la necesidad de luchar, que entendemos que entre nuestra clase de trabajadores y la clase de multimillonarios, el único futuro es el del combate constante; un futuro en el que luchemos contra ellos por trabajos decentes con salarios y beneficios decentes.

Esa lucha continuará hasta que los trabajadores tomemos el poder en nuestras propias manos. Eso se llama revolución. Y la nueva sociedad donde los trabajadores están en el poder se llama socialismo.

#UnitedStates #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO

Freedom Road Socialist Organization calls on working people across the U.S. to celebrate International Workers Day in marches and programs.

What are we up against in this crisis-ridden capitalist country?

The lives of working people have been forever changed by the failure of the capitalist system to protect us from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of us we were forced to work in unsafe conditions, watching our co-workers, friends and loved ones suffer and die from COVID. Others saw our workplaces downsized or shuttered as the government gave a pittance. Meanwhile investors profited as the stock market gained more than $10 trillion in value.

The capitalists continue their assault on labor unions, especially in the public sector, as private sector unionization was decimated a generation ago. Only 6% of workers in industry are unionized. Those who still have unions may have crushing workloads, two-tier (or three-tier) wage rates, or mandatory overtime. The billionaires don’t want unions because they are the main defense organization of the working class.

Racist police terror continues. The number of people murdered by the police rose in 2021, even after the historic uprising after the lynching of George Floyd in 2020. 1134 people died, with 27% of them being Black, despite Black people being only 13% of the country. Latino communities also suffer under police occupation.

Women in Texas have already had their right to control their bodies severely curtailed by reactionary politicians. Politicians in other states, like Florida, aim to do the same. And the same reactionary forces are attacking LGBTQ communities as well.

Even before the pandemic, landlords were filing about 3.7 million evictions per year. While eviction moratoriums prevented many evictions, with the moratoriums gone, landlords are playing catch-up to evict more renters than ever.

Almost a million people from Mexico and Central America were turned away by the Biden administration at the border with Mexico in the last year. Biden promised a pathway to legalization for 11 million undocumented in the U.S. But racists like Senator Joe Manchin refused to go along with the plan, and Biden wouldn’t take him on.

As a result, undocumented immigrant workers still face the constant fear of arrests by the police or ICE, leading them to deportation.

Similarly, Biden promised to defend voting rights and reform of the police. Instead, racists in the Democratic Party joined with the Republicans to block both.

Biden also promised trillions for green jobs, childcare, tuition free college and affordable healthcare. None have been delivered.

But almost $1 trillion for the Defense Department was passed, with an addition of $35 billion more – and more for the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, headlines in the capitalist press this past year told us that the handful of U.S. billionaires are $1.7 trillion richer after two years of COVID.

We fight back

We’ve been driven down, pushed around and sold out!

Workers – whether unionized or not – are fighting back. “Striketober” was named after 10,000 John Deere workers in the Midwest joined nurses and grocery store workers on strike. 2021 also saw a growing number of non-union walkouts. Workers across the U.S. are mad – their lives continue to be in danger working during a pandemic, and they realize they are dying for the profits of the rich. Teachers like in Minneapolis continue the Red Wave that began in wildcat strikes in 2019.

The Black Liberation movement is making strides, as seen especially in Chicago, where a coalition led by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, with the support of Black-led public sector labor unions, passed a sweeping bill that will give the communities living under police terror the first ability to determine who polices their communities and how they are policed. And a national movement is building across the country, inspired by these advances.

The history of International Workers Day

This is a day of struggle – born out of the great labor movement in the U.S. that fought for an eight-hour day over 100 years ago. It started here, but May Day will be celebrated around the world – by the workers in the Philippines, in Palestine, in Puerto Rico, and in Pretoria, South Africa – who today are fighting for a better world.

We gather on May Day to celebrate our history, our struggle, and to look forward to a better world.

We also gather knowing that our ruling class hates this holiday. In 1886 when the General Strike for the Eight-hour Day swept the industrial cities of the U.S., the capitalists tried to crush the movement in its infancy. They rounded up the leaders of the movement and hung them for daring to fight for a society in which the rich don’t rule.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the immigrant rights movement, which returned the first of May to the U.S. working class. It was through the massive marches to defend the rights of immigrant workers in 2006 that the labor movement again embraced International Workers Day. We will march with immigrant workers this year again on May 1!

Capitalism is a failure

The 2008 economic crisis ended any hope for the majority of the working class around the world to improve our lives through hard work and saving money. The COVID pandemic killed almost a million people in the U.S., and over 6 million around the world. Among the greatest failures were the richest countries – the U.S., UK, Italy and others. They failed to protect workers because our lives are expendable in the service of profit, and because even their healthcare systems are for profit.

The socialist countries – China, Cuba, Vietnam – showed the world what can happen when healthcare isn’t for profit but based on the needs of the workers and farmers. In China, a country with 1.4 billion people, fewer than 10,000 have died.

We need revolution and socialism!

The Black Lives Matter movement always says, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom!” For revolutionary workers, we join in the fight for freedom from racist national oppression, and also commit to fight for freedom from the hardship forced on all working people whose paychecks don’t cover their bills – the majority of the working class who are losing ground as the cost of our rent, gas and food continue to rise even faster.

May Day is for those of us who see the need to fight, who understand that between our class of working people and the class of billionaires, the only future is one of constant combat; a future in which we battle them for decent jobs at decent wages and benefits.

That fight will go on until working people take power into our own hands. That is called revolution. And the new society where working people are in power is called socialism.

#UnitedStates #ImmigrantRights #MayDay #internationalWorkersDay #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO

Gustavo Zuniga, the deputy chair of SDS, initiated the rally by reading an official statement that delineated SDS’s stance on the Palestinian struggle: “Appleton SDS condemns the U.S.-backed, Israeli occupation of Palestine. We – an organization that stands in solidarity with all oppressed peoples – vehemently support the Palestinian national liberation struggle for self-determination against the settler colonial government of Israel. The nation of Israel exists on an expanse of stolen land, which must rightfully be returned to the Palestinian people by any means necessary.”

Terrence Freeman, the chairman of SDS and a member of FRSO, added, “The ongoing liberation struggle in Palestine has been forgotten. It is time that we bring attention back to Palestine’s fight for freedom, and if you are truly progressive and anti-war, you must care about this fight.”

The rally organizers emphasized the West’s complicity in the oppression of Palestinian people, with Audari Tamayo, a member of both FRSO and SDS, proclaiming, “Israel’s crimes have always been supported by the Western world – with the missiles and bullets that kill and wound Palestinians simply defending their homes having the damn names of weapons manufacturers based in the U.S., France, Britain and other imperialist states.”

Freeman furthered this sentiment, saying, “Freeing Palestine will undoubtedly be a difficult task because the imperialist United States provides Israel with $146 billion in bilateral assistance and missile defense funding.”

The event included criticisms of a recent report released by the Amnesty International, which said Israel is an apartheid state.

“This report condemns certain features of the Zionist state like apartheid, while explicitly limiting itself to that legal framework,” said Freeman. “But, the report does not recognize Palestinian people’s right to oppose settler colonialism with armed struggle. It does not advocate for Palestinians to regain their stolen land by any means necessary. No, it operates within the narrow confines of Western law, and it is designed to suit the interests of the imperial West.”

In a similar vein of thought, Tamayo posed the following inquiry to the audience, “Why did Amnesty wait so long to go against the status quo and say what we already knew for years?” Tamayo put Amnesty’s report in a larger context, asserting, “NGOs and so-called human rights organizations like Amnesty were created to neutralize liberation movements and often helped Western states carry out the same oppressive agenda they are supposedly against.”

Freeman concluded the rally by attempting to bridge the struggles of Black and brown Americans with those of the Palestinian people: “Black and brown people in America, we must begin to see the Palestinian struggle as our own! We must realize that we are all fighting against white supremacy, racism and colonialism.”

He continued, “This is an international struggle, and we need some international solidarity! Did you know that Israel trains the NYPD cops that brutalize our people in New York City? It is clear that our struggle is one, and it must be united!”

#AppletonWI #Palestine #StudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #MiddleEast