Over 100 people filled the house at Revolution Books on February 20. Teachers, artists, revolutionaries, pro-Palestinian activists, musicians, Harlem residents—all came together to experience an amazing array of poets, writers, and musicians. The audience came out of concern and anger, many looking for hope and direction, in the face of this MAGA fascism-on-a-rampage. And through the evening there was a palpable sense of people's spirits, understanding, and determination being lifted by the music, the readings, by a video clip of the revolutionary leader Bob Avakian, and by host Andy Zee’s commentary. 

The art was unfolding in real time. And so this was also a wild ride of words and sounds, as urgent as they were beautiful...at times a kind of “creative chaos,” as one of the poets put it.

Andy Zee, national spokesperson for Revolution Books, also on the Editorial Board of RefuseFascism.org, and co-host of the RNL—Revolution, Nothing Less!—Show welcomed people to Revolution Books, the political, intellectual, and cultural center for a real revolution. And he welcomed people into the program: “In the name of humanity, we refuse to accept a fascist America. This slogan must animate this country in the coming days, the coming weeks, before it’s too late.” He called on everyone to become a member of Refuse Fascism, to get involved in the Revolution Books community, and to be part of building a culture of resistance in many different ways. 

The musical performances ranged from the experimental, soul-jazz-hip hop of Rebellum/Burnt Sugar...to revolutionary rock band Outernational...to Grammy winning Arturo O’Farrill with his Afro-Latin ensemble...and closing with eminent jazz bassist William Parker and the Rise Up Ensemble. Each artist brought their own outrage at the world as it is, and uplifting energy, determination for a better world. 

Rebellum/Burnt Sugar kicked off the musical proceedings with an homage to culture writer-critic Greg Tate, a set of deep groove and other-worldly lyrics. Outernational did a rousing rendition of their song “Todos Somos Ilegales” (We Are All Illegals), proclaiming that as long as any human being is deemed “illegal,” we will stand with them.

Brad Walrond, poet and conceptual artist, and Kay Bell, Poet Laureate of the Bronx, brought a richness and depth to the evening. They read poems about the horrors of the deaths of Breonna Taylor and Kalief Browder, calling forth rage against what is coming down on the people from the Trump fascist regime. Colum McCann, a National Book Award winner for fiction, sent a video: a stirring reading of a poem by the great Irish poet Seamus Heaney that gazes out at plunder and death but sees “hope for a great sea-change on the far side of revenge.” 

Author and activist Frederick Joseph wrote a special poem for the evening: “Instructions for the Fire.” It is a powerful invocation to resist fascism and injustice, with such force that “ICE can't hold us...the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] can't hold us... the NYPD can't hold us.” 

Andy Zee told the audience: “This is a bookstore where you find the work and the application of the work of Bob Avakian, who is the most important thinker in the world today... He has developed a way to understand the world, a more scientific approach, and has developed the framework through which we can liberate humanity. And when I say ‘we,’ I’m not just talking about Revolution Books, I’m talking about all of you, and the masses of people here and around the world.” He pointed out that “artists have a particular role to play in the movement against fascism, and in the movement for a whole new world—to inspire people, to break people into a place where they can imagine what could be. And here at Revolution Books you find that poetic spirit and what that’s grounded in: an understanding of the world as it actually is...and [how it] could be radically transformed.”

In introducing a clip from Bob Avakian's New Year's 2025 Message 2025: A New Year—Profound New Challenges—And a Profoundly Positive Way Forward in the Face of Very Real Horror, Andy spoke about the import of people engaging the new communism developed by Bob Avakian (BA), which is a breakthrough in charting the road to a truly liberating society and world. And that this is not about revenge and “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last,” but about a world where “there are no firsts and lasts.” The audience watched the BA clip with rapt attention.

Arturo O'Farrill, the Grammy-winning leader of the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, brought a special ensemble. He declared: “These are monsters. The president and all his advisors think that owning things and controlling others somehow is the purpose of life… We must call them out as fascists. And truth tell, every step of the way, it will cost us in deep and abiding ways... We must name the liars, and act against the lie.” 

Arturo O’Farrill called Cornel West to the stage from the audience. They launched into a collaboration, from a rebellious suite (“4 Questions With Dr. Cornel West”) that Cornel and Arturo have performed before (including at the Kennedy Center). Cornel then segued into an inspired improvised rap about the evening—giving props to the courageous musicians and performers, and to Carl Dix, to Andy Zee, and Bob Avakian. Cornel called Reggie Workman, the legendary jazz bassist and a friend of Revolution Books, to join him; they sang and danced. It was an unscripted moment of joy, and the audience loved it.

The finale was given over to William Parker and the Rise Up Ensemble. They all crowded the stage and space in front, creating a music at once dissonant and beautiful, unruly and organized, “rising up” as it attained new levels of intensity, then offering some reprieve...only to come back more intense, finally crescendo-ing to a musical call to resist and take to the streets. A fitting close.

This was a very special evening, a living expression, and summoning to others, of an urgently needed “culture of resistance.” Creative voices mounting the political-cultural stage, inspiring and challenging people to STOP Trump/MAGA fascism.

And these artists didn't simply perform. They helped build, promote, and shape the program. There were discussions going into this, on the nature of the situation we're facing, how Bob Avakian has been analyzing the roots of and existential dangers posed by this fascism—and the way to defeat this fascism and the revolutionary way out of all this madness. Many in the audience and among the performers expressed their thanks to Revolution Books for hosting this event, feeling the kind of community being forged.

Yes, a powerful cultural evening of defiance: a launching pad to be built on. As we go forward, uniting with and calling forth the millions, to defeat the nightmare of Trump/MAGA fascism.