revcom.us, November 9, 2020 through November 15, 2020 (#673)

Voice of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/672/the-crossroads-we-face-en.html

The Crossroads We Face and the Struggle to Drive Out the Fascist Regime

Some Points of Orientation for This Juncture

| revcom.us

 

Editors’ Note, November 13:  Joe Biden has won the election—in the popular vote and in Electoral College votes. He IS the legitimate “president-elect.” This is recognized by many world leaders and by major news sources including the Associated Press (AP), NBC NewsCNNNew York Times, and Fox NewsRighteous celebrations broke out across the country among those who hate this regime and want to see an end to this nightmare. We should not cede any ground to the fascists in this hard-fought victory on these terms—Biden WON, Trump LOST, let’s MOVE ON! 

As Bob Avakian stated on August 1 in his historic statement, ON THE IMMEDIATE CRITICAL SITUATION, THE URGENT NEED TO DRIVE OUT THE FASCIST TRUMP/PENCE REGIME, VOTING IN THIS ELECTION, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR REVOLUTION, a Biden victory in the elections “would create far better conditions for continuing to wage the struggle against everything represented by the Trump/Pence regime and all the oppression and injustices of this system, and would be a great gift to the people of the world.”

As per U.S. electoral law, the Biden victory is pending various levels of certification, of Electoral College appointees (“electors”) from various states who confirm their votes, and a number of other procedures in the maze of U.S. election processes.1 Trump has repeatedly questioned, disputed, and threatened to contest these results, with a currently unfolding quasi-legal-political strategy to pervert the process, delegitimize the results, and trying to overturn the results of the election. These charges, claims and lawsuits are utterly specious, and have no basis in reality, but Trump and his fascist thugs—in and out of government—nevertheless continue to pursue them at this moment. If there were any issues in “officially” certifying Biden, this would be a major travesty.

Following are orientation points published on Saturday, November 7 that have been slightly revised since, and which still offer extremely relevant guidance.

November 7, 2020

* The Immediate Juncture and Struggle Ahead:

As we go to press, Joe Biden is leading the popular vote by a very wide margin of over four million votes, and has won the Electoral College vote, as called by the major news outlets. While a few key “battle-ground” states like Georgia and Arizona remain to be called, if this were a normal election, absent major twists of events, Biden would be on track to be the victor.

First, IF Biden were to actually be “officially” certified as the winner of the Electoral College, this would be a significant and very positive development, given what the continuation of the fascist Trump/Pence regime would mean for the people of the world and in this country. As Bob Avakian stated on August 1 in his historic statement, ON THE IMMEDIATE CRITICAL SITUATION, THE URGENT NEED TO DRIVE OUT THE FASCIST TRUMP/PENCE REGIME, VOTING IN THIS ELECTION, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR REVOLUTION, a Biden victory in the elections “would create far better conditions for continuing to wage the struggle against everything represented by the Trump/Pence regime and all the oppression and injustices of this system, and would be a great gift to the people of the world.”

Even if the Electoral College margins are razor thin and right now contested, and even with the fact that 70+ million voted for a genocidal racist, the terms, context, and framework are different and better with a Biden victory for the struggle needed going forward. The struggle to defeat Trump was and is a struggle against fascism, a qualitatively different form of rule, one that relies openly on terror and violence against those who oppose this regime and everyone this regime regards as a threat, without the pretense of allowing dissent and protest. The consequences for humanity of a consolidated fascist regime in the most powerful country in the world are horrific and even potentially irreversible.

A legitimate electoral victory for Biden creates far more favorable conditions for mass political resistance, for exposing and mobilizing against the illegitimacy of the fascist regime going forward. This illegitimacy stems from both the fascists’ stealing the election, their continuing threats and use of violence to back that up, and even more, the horrors of the fascist program.

Not a Normal Election—and NOT a Normal Transition

Second, this is not a normal election, with a “normal transition”—the peaceful transfer of power that has been a staple of American democracy in the last century. “Trump has told people he has no plans to concede.” So announced a major CNN-site headline, with this being echoed by his close followers, and as we go to press, continues to be the case.

This is not a surprise. Trump repeatedly refused to promise, when asked, a “peaceful transfer of power.” Trump has already announced in many ways that he will not recognize the integrity of this vote and intends to fight this, using every legal, quasi-legal, and illegal means. This includes tying up the courts with bogus lawsuits, rousing his fascist thug followers, and perhaps other things which we have not anticipated yet.

From the “bully pulpit” rhetoric of lies and disinformation, to court battles and summoning fascist thugs to harass and threaten people who volunteer to work to make the elections happen, Trump is aiming at de-legitimizing the election verdicts and results. He has forged a much harder and fighting fascist social base than he had in 2016, around the triad of white supremacy, misogyny, and America First. They feel this election is being “snatched” away before they have had a chance to implement their full fascist program. Trump advisers and longtime fascists like Newt Gingrich have gone on Fox News to rally Trump’s fanatical followers, promising (and in essence calling for) an “explosion of rage.” At many levels and in different ways, the fascists plan to fight to retain power with the Trump/Pence regime—at this moment.

Simply relying on the “normal” channels, workings, and institutions may well be disastrous.

So, for all those who want to see an end to the nightmare of the Trump/Pence regime, there is a struggle to be waged, of mass, nonviolent protests that continue until this regime is ousted! This is what is needed! The fascists must NOT be allowed to dominate the “public square” and public discourse. Combined with the fascist domination of the courts and some key state legislatures that already exists, that could be deadly. The coalition of the decent cannot now retire from the field of political battle—instead, we must pull together, organize and show up to follow through on and complete the main job before us: driving out this fascist regime.

* A More Strategic Perspective:

Even if Trump is forced out, this fascism is not going away. Fascism is not only a deeply dug-in and well-organized trend in this country, it has metastasized and made “advances” in this past period, growing and hardening its ranks. It will almost certainly attempt to come back harder. The roots and texture of this fascist phenomenon, movement, and ideology have been scientifically excavated and exposed by Bob Avakian (BA) in a series of works, unmatched by anyone else currently commenting on the topic.

This election has raised profound questions about this society. Righteous, sincere people are agonizing about how more than 70 million people voted for Trump, including not a few Black and Latino people. People are confronting the specter of civil war; they are asking WHY the Democrats keep playing by the “rule book” while Trump and the fascists shred it; and they are searching for answers.

There ARE answers, but they are not easy ones. What are the roots of white supremacy, of male supremacy and toxic masculinity, of American chauvinism, of the “hustler-ism” and wallowing in ignorance that affects people up and down the social structure... all of which stand as barriers to a world where people freely and consciously interact with each other and nature? How do we get beyond a system and society that can spawn a Donald Trump and shape people and social groups so that such a vicious person can gain a following of mindless fanatics?

All these questions have been addressed by Bob Avakian, and leadership provided, in seminal works like the film THE TRUMP/PENCE REGIME MUST GO, In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE to Accept a Fascist America—A Better World IS Possible, as well as in the recent spate of works. BA drills down scientifically to the roots of the problem and to the solution: a real revolution, and the struggle to oust this fascist regime and defeat this fascist movement as part of making that revolution. If you have agonized in this last year over this madness, if you have fought in the streets for justice—this is where you need to go, this is who you need to check out.2

* Returning to the Immediate Political Battle Ahead:

There is a fierce and ferocious struggle shaping up in society—near, intermediate, and long-term. At one level, consistent with the dynamics of fascist advance and consolidation, there may be calls for further conciliation with the fascists, “reaching across the aisle,” seeking to “understand them and their economic ‘anxiety’,” not “inciting” them, etc.

NO!

As Bob Avakian has said,

there can be no “reconciliation” with these fascists—whose “grievances” are based on fanatical resentment against any limitation on white supremacy, male supremacy, xenophobia (hatred of foreigners), rabid American chauvinism, and the unrestrained plundering of the environment, and are increasingly expressed in literally lunatic terms. There can be no “reconciliation” with this, other than on the terms of these fascists, with all the terrible implications and consequences of that!3

While the impulse and pull to follow the Democrats and their orientation are spontaneously strong in society, that will only lead to a further reinforcement, and final consolidation, of fascism. As a plain and simple fact, recognizing “the humanity of people” who got caught and are caught up in this fascist white-supremacist misogynist framework must mean struggling sharply with them to break with that fascism, NOT to “understand” them or “reach out” in some idealistic “one-on-one” conversation. We have to proceed from the most scientific understanding of a deep divide in society, between the fascist and the non-fascist sections, worldview, and program, in contrast to the Democrats’ program to try and gloss over it in the name of “unity,” “healing,” and other such notions, especially when the fascist thugs are ideologically and otherwise prepared to mobilize for something far different. It means polarizing and re-polarizing society with sharp nonviolent political and ideological struggle against the fascist juggernaut, its white supremacy, its misogyny, its America First, and its Christian fascism.

Again, what is needed, as Refuse Fascism has called for: It is urgent—it is more important than ever—that we reject this fascist regime, powerfully and in our masses, by taking the streets in nonviolent, creative, and determined action, continuing until this regime is gone and this nightmare is ended.

 


1. By federal statute, the electors in each state meet on “the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December”—which this year is December 14—to cast their votes. Then on January 6, the House and Senate meet jointly for a formal count of the votes. Although most people believe that these votes must automatically match the popular vote in each state, in reality there are many legal ways to attempt to get around this.  [back]

2. In this context, we would particularly highlight the following works: 

3. From Voting Will Not Be Enough—We Need to Take to the Streets, and Stay in the Streets Demanding Trump/Pence Out Now! Part 2.  [back]

An Invitation

From Bob Avakian

Let's go on a crucial journey together—full of unity against oppression and lively struggle about the source of the problem and the solution. Pursue your own convictions—that the outrages that move you are intolerable—to their logical conclusion, and be determined not to stop until those outrages have been eliminated. And if this, as well as learning about other outrages, and ideas about how this all fits together and flows from a common source—and how it could all be ended, and something much better brought into being—leads in the direction of seeing not only the need for bold and determined resistance, but also the need for revolution and ultimately communism, then don't turn away from that because it moves you beyond your comfort zone, challenges what had been your cherished beliefs, or because of prejudices and slanders. Instead, actively seek to learn more about this revolution and its goal of communism and to determine whether it is in fact the necessary, and possible, solution. And then act accordingly.

Trump's Trying to Stay in Power? Oh HELL NO!
Read article HERE

Bob Avakian on:
The Need to Drive Out the Fascist Trump/Pence Regime and the Fundamental Need for Revolution

Videos and articles

See the full film, excerpts and Q&A of this film

 

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Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

 

Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/trump-regime-legal-strategy-to-stealing-the-election-en.html

The Trump-Pence Regime Continues to Try and Steal the Election

A "Legal" Strategy Consistent with their Fascist Politics, Program and Mobilization

| revcom.us

 

Letter from a reader:

In recently reading Refuse Fascism’s slogans that the fascist Trump/Pence regime is still trying to steal the election, I was struck by the truth of this statement—even while we do not fully know how Trump and the fascist forces, such as the core Christian fascists, are assessing their various options and strategy. Especially in light of Biden’s Electoral College victory being called by major news outlets, including Fox News, there is both unity and struggle in their ranks.

Here to help readers, I briefly lay out some key features of their “legal” strategy and options as of this moment, the dangers and what is to be done. I use the word “legal” in quotes to indicate that were this to be a “normal” election where the votes are counted and that determines who will be elected—there would be little basis for this strategy to get anywhere. But this seems to be consistent with the fascists’ overall strategy and goals to “pervert” the election, de-legitimize the results among their social base, and ultimately even possibly steal it in an outright “coup.” These outcomes are clearly not certain, or even most likely, but given their moves, quite possible, dangers to be aware of, and most importantly, thwarted and prevented! Through mass, sustained, nonviolent resistance with the demand that this regime be ousted, Trump/Pence Out Now!

First and foremost, Trump repeatedly claimed through the last months of the campaign that “the only way we can lose is if the election is rigged,” laying the basis and framework for public opinion among his fascist social base. So ergo, the logic goes: now that major news media have declared Biden the winner, based on the actual counting of the votes, the election must have been “rigged.” His attorney general Bill Barr, a stone-cold Christian fascist, has also repeatedly gone on record saying mail-in ballots are susceptible to fraud. Trump in the wake of the election has repeatedly claimed he “won,” that there was massive “fraud,” and he is going to contest the elections in the courts, pending actual official certifications and confirmations.1

This is the context of fascist public opinion within which the initial “legal-political” strategy is unfolding. On Saturday, right after the announcement that Joe Biden won the Electoral College, Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, alleged that the electoral system in Philadelphia—crucial to Biden’s victory—was riddled with fraud, and threatened a “massive nationwide lawsuit” that Giuliani claimed “could be to set aside an election.”

And this was not just “crazy Rudy.” Trump himself insists that he is the legal winner, that “This election is not over,” and “Legal proceedings are just now beginning!” David Bossie, head of Trump’s election legal team, said on Friday, “We’re going to fight for every single legal vote, and we’re going to make sure we fight for those illegal votes to be thrown out.” House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted they would “not back down from this battle.” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted on Thursday that his father should “go to total war over this election.” As we go to press, no major Republican leader has “defected” from this to call on Trump to concede the election to Biden, except for Mitt Romney and George W. Bush, both not supporters of Trump.

Using Lawsuits to De-Legitimize and Spread the Lie of a “Stolen Election”

The Trump forces have filed over a dozen lawsuits in battleground states since the election. But as the New York Times notes, “none ... appeared to be gaining any traction in the courts.” And the reason for that is that either they have no evidence to back up their claims of fraud, or the issues they are raising would affect tiny numbers of ballots, not nearly enough to influence the election.

For instance, in Nevada the GOP claimed in federal court that the automated signature verification system for mail-in ballots was defective, had led to “over 3,000 instances of ineligible individuals casting ballots,” and should not be used. But they only had evidence of a single voter who was told when she went to vote that she had already cast a mail-in ballot. This was quickly rejected by the court. (For more detail on election court cases, go here and here.)

The most significant case was filed in federal court before the election, objecting to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that mail-in ballots postmarked by 7 pm Election Day should be counted if they arrived by Friday night. This was twice appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear it, but several of the fascist justices indicated they would likely review it after the election, and the Court ordered those “late” ballots to be “segregated” from the rest and not included in the count (Pennsylvania complied). Since there is now a 6-3 right-wing majority on the Court, the GOP may win this case, but there are only about 3,000 ballots in the contested category, and Biden is ahead by more than 43,000 votes, even without the “segregated” ballots.

A lot of people may conclude from this that the Republican legal effort is going nowhere and unlikely to succeed. But that is missing the point: These particular cases may not succeed, but through an avalanche of such cases and claims, the fascist allegation that the election was “stolen” from them, and that Trump is the legitimate winner may well gain traction, creating a fog of confusion, uncertainty, and doubt about the veracity and legitimacy of the outcome. It whips up millions of Trump’s fanatical followers—some of whom are disoriented by a defeat they believed was impossible—and reactivate them as shock troops for Trump. Bill Stepian—Trump’s campaign manager—said in a message to supporters, “Just be at the ready at a moment’s notice. We may need your help and support on the ground, waving the flag and yelling the president’s name...” [Emphasis added.] And we know what that looks like from previous experience with the MAGA-thugs, like the Proud Boys who were told by Trump to “stand by” during the first presidential debate.

As the Times put it: “Mr. Trump and his surrogates seemed less focused on substantive legal arguments that could hold up in court than on bolstering the president’s political narrativeunsupported by the facts, that he was somehow being robbed of a second term.” [Emphasis added.]

How Trump Could Potentially Flip the Election

But if these court cases themselves may not be able to flip the election, what is the plan to do that—what battle plan are these Trump followers supposed to “support”?

The U.S. election system is incredibly complicated, governed by 50 different state laws, the U.S. Constitution, countless court precedents, carried out by thousands of counties... and all of this subject to interpretation and debate. Which means there are plenty of loopholes big enough to drive an election-stealing truck through, if you have enough momentum behind it. (“Momentum” in this case means a whipped up social base in the streets, some armed, and fascists embedded in the courts, congress, state legislatures, governorships, and fascist media, ready to wield their power with flagrant disregard for democratic norms—and the truth!). Among the “legal” strategies currently being openly advocated by fascist forces are:

Take This Seriously and Take Action to Prevent It

As Bob Avakian stated on August 1 in his historic statement, ON THE IMMEDIATE CRITICAL SITUATION, THE URGENT NEED TO DRIVE OUT THE FASCIST TRUMP/PENCE REGIME, VOTING IN THIS ELECTION, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR REVOLUTION, a Biden victory in the elections “would create far better conditions for continuing to wage the struggle against everything represented by the Trump/Pence regime and all the oppression and injustices of this system, and would be a great gift to the people of the world.” This is very positive.

But as we said in The Crossroads We Face and the Struggle to Drive Out the Fascist Regime; Some Points of Orientation for This Juncture, “for all those who want to see an end to the nightmare of the Trump/Pence regime, there is a struggle to be waged, of mass nonviolent protests that continue until this regime is ousted! This is what is needed! The fascists must NOT be allowed to dominate the “public square” and public discourse. Combined with the fascist domination of the courts and some key state legislatures that already exists, that could be deadly. The coalition of the decent cannot now retire from the field of political battle—instead, we must pull together, organize and show up to follow through on and complete the main job before us: driving out this fascist regime.”

 


1. By federal statute, the electors in each state meet on “the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December”—which this year is December 14—to cast their votes. Then on January 6, the House and Senate meet jointly for a formal count of the votes. Although most people believe that these votes must automatically match the popular vote in each state, in reality there are many legal ways to attempt to get around this.  [back]

Read the short version of this article here


Rudy Giuliani at the November 7 Press Conference in Philadelphia.


Trump's is using the legal arena to spread the lie of a "stolen election," backed up with armed MAGA forces in the street. Bill Stepian, Trump's campaign manager, told Trump supporters: "Just be at the ready at a moment's notice. We may need your help and support on the ground, waving the flag and yelling the president's name..." Armed Trump supporters outside Pennsylvania State Capitol, November 7. (Photo: AP)


Trump and Attorney General William Barr

 

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Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

 

Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



 


 

Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/trump-is-continuing-to-try-and-steal-the-election-seriously-en.html

Trump Is Continuing to Try and Steal the Election—Seriously

| revcom.us

 

Mainstream media and Democratic Party leaders treat the fight to drive Trump/Pence out as a done deal. They dismiss Trump’s multiple lawsuits in battleground states, many of which are specious and may be thrown out due to lack of evidence, and which wouldn’t affect enough votes to flip the election even if they won. They say that when Trump declares the election will be settled by (“his”) Supreme Court, he’s just blustering—that there is no way that the clear results of the election could be overturned by the Court or other institutions.

This is dangerous “happy talk.”

First and foremost, Trump repeatedly claimed before the election that the only way he could lose is if the election is “rigged.” And his attorney general, Bill Bar, asserted—without evidence—that mail-in ballots were susceptible to massive fraud. All this set the stage and provided the framework for Trump’s fascist social base to view Biden’s clear-cut victory as “proof” that the election was “rigged”!

And now influential Republi-fascists are driving this home: Trump insists he is the legal winner, claims massive fraud with mail-in ballots, and says that “This election is not over.” Don Jr. tweets that his dad should “go to total war over this election.” House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy says Republicans will “not back down from this battle.” And so far, no major Republican leader has called for Trump to concede (other than a few people like Romney and George W. Bush who were not pro-Trump to begin with).

So yes, the election was a big setback for the fascists, but they are scrambling to get back on the offensive and even may flip the election if possible.

The GOP’s “fraud” claims and weak-ass lawsuits serve a crucial political purpose:

The avalanche of fraud charges gain credibility by being heard in court. This helps create broad confusion, and further delegitimizes the election in the eyes of Trump supporters—many of whom were disoriented by a defeat they believed was impossible. And there are millions of fanatics living in a Q-Anon/Facebook/Fox News bubble, who only come up for air to fight off imaginary “antifa invasions,” lay siege to statehouses to defend their “right” to spread COVID, or intimidate poll workers.

Republi-fascists still control much of the institutional power in the U.S., and now they aim to reactivate their mass base to serve as shock troops and political cover for their moves.

Check out what Trump’s campaign manager said to supporters: “Just be at the ready at a moment’s notice. We may need your help and support on the ground, waving the flag and yelling the president’s name...” Ask yourself: “Be at the ready...” for WHAT?

If they can get this “Trump train” rolling again, there are enough loopholes in the U.S. electoral system to drive an election-stealing truck through.

Here are some avenues that are being advocated by influential fascists:

Take This Seriously—and Take Action to Prevent It

It is not certain that the fascists will attempt any of these moves, and not certain that they will succeed if they do. But what is certain is that they have a lot of power, and they are determined to hold onto it and bring to fruition their nightmarish vision of America and the world.

It is therefore also certain that the “coalition of the decent” cannot leave the field of political battle—of mass nonviolent protests, of the public square and the public discourse—until the fascists are driven from power.

Read the long version of this article here

 

Follow: @TheRevcoms
Read: www.revcom.us
Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

 

Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

 

Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



 


 

Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/three-questions-en.html

Three Questions

| revcom.us

 

Why did 70+ million people vote for this genocidal racist, male supremacist, "America First" fascist, Trump? “Is there hope for white people?”

Where did the American fascist movement behind
Trump and Pence come from?

“We should make no mistake about what is at stake in this battle with the religious right. It is not happenstance that it is a movement that draws its strength and finds its support principally in the so-called heartland of the nation and especially in its southern precincts. This is the portion of the United States that has never been comfortable with post‑WWII America. The brief period of normalcy after the war was followed within a decade by a pent-up and long overdue racial revolution that overturned centuries of culture and tradition, especially in the South. The disillusionment, two decades later, with an unpopular war in southeast Asia shook the foundations of traditional/conventional patriotism in American life; it was followed in the next decade by a sexual revolution that upset deeply entrenched views among this portion of the American populace about the subordinate place of women in society and the non-place of gay and lesbian persons in American life. These political and social and cultural defeats have now erupted into a pitched battle to turn back the clock on the last half-century and return America to its pre-war purity. It is not without significance that teaching creationism in the schools, for example, is such a prominent part of the religious right agenda. That was a battle the right lost in the mid-1920s but it is not one that the right ever acknowledged losing—just as some die-hards have never acknowledged losing the Civil War. Consequently, the restoration the religious right seeks is one that would recapture a way of life that disappeared in this nation a half‑century ago.”*

*“Reflections on Pacific School of Religion's Response to the Religious Right,” by Dr. Hubert Locke, also available at revcom.us.

What do people who yearn for a better world
need to do in the current situation?

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH — WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS, AND STAY IN THE STREETS
DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!

by Bob Avakian

Part 3:

TRUMP’S FASCISM — MORE BLATANT AND DANGEROUS EVERY DAY:
HOW A DETERMINED FIGHT AND MASSIVE MOBILIZATION COULD DEFEAT THIS

Part 2:

TRUMP IS ALREADY STEALING THE ELECTION AND THREATENING EVEN MORE VIOLENCE TO STAY IN POWER

Part 1:

THE DEMOCRATS CAN'T FIGHT TRUMP
THE WAY HE NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT

A talk by Bob Avakian

The Problem, the Solution, and the Challenges Before Us

An important talk given by Bob Avakian in the summer of 2017.

Read talk      |        Listen

 

 

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/670/bob-avakian-only-someone-worse-than-a-fool-en.html

| revcom.us

 

Only someone worse than a fool would want that racist Confederacy-loving white supremacist, pussy-grabbing misogynistic male supremacist, LGBT-bashing, rights‑trampling, science-denying, environment-destroying, war-mongering, xenophobic “America first” bloodsucking fascist motherfucker Trump to get re-elected.

Bob Avakian

Read all the articles in Bob Avakian’s new series

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/672/election-week-blog-en.html

Sights and Sounds From Across the Country on the Night of the Election and Beyond

| revcom.us

 

Donald Trump has been defeated.

People feel that a heavy rock has been lifted off their neck. They can breathe, and hope.

Of this there can be no doubt.

But Donald Trump is not admitting defeat. He is rallying his fanatical followers and using the courts that he has packed with fascists to try to steal the election.

WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT!

Of that there can be no doubt.

The Latest

November 9      November 8      November 7      November 6      November 5      November 4      November 3


November 9:

New York City


November 8:

Washington DC


November 7:

Atlanta

Provincetown, MA

Boston

Washington, DC

New York City

Philadelphia

Los Angeles

Colombia, South America

Paris, France

Similar scenes to this are reported in other cities around the world, including in Great Britain, Canada, Belgium and more.


November 6:

Philadelphia


November 5:

Philadelphia

On Thursday, at the Philadelphia Convention Center, where votes in the most contested state in the country are being counted, about 200 people from Refuse Fascism, Count Every Vote and others protested against Trump's attempts to steal the election. There were chants of "Not Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA." They faced off against a smaller group of Trumpite thugs calling for a stop to the vote count.

Chicago

Refuse Fascism marches through downtown streets after Federal Plaza rally to demand #CountAllTheVotes and Trump/Pence #OUTNOW.


Photo: SaharE@rahasesi81


November 4:

New York City

In New York City a wide array of forces march under the slogan #CountEveryVote two miles from the New York Public Library to Washington Square Park, Nov. 4. In the evening, the police "kettled" (surrounded) protesters in the West Village area and arrested about 60 people. The police also attacked a separate group of protesters near Union Square and arrested a number of people.

Washington DC

Protesters in DC Respond to Trump Declaring Victory: Trump Lies, Democracy Dies”

Washington, DC—About 50 activists with Extinction Rebellion DC, ShutDownDC, and Sunrise Movement DC marched in the streets the day after the election, chanting “Trump lies, democracy dies” and demanding that all the votes be counted. This after Trump's late-night declaration that he had won the election and demanding that the vote counting be stopped.

The protesters marched to Fox News and then the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC). They reportedly briefly stopped traffic at an intersection a block away from the RNC, while dozens of police lined up in front of the building. Medea Benjamin from Code Pink spoke, calling the RNC "the most anti-democratic institution we have in this country... That's not to say the DNC is much better, but at least they want to see the votes counted."

Refuse Fascism was in the mix at protests and reached out into the community.


Photo: Alejandro Alvarez @aletweetsnews

Los Angeles

Los Angeles—The LA Daily News reported that there was a rally in downtown Los Angeles called by Refuse Fascism and that "the group had one demand—and that was to remove the president from office." In Long Beach, Black Lives Matter, immigrant rights, and other activists rallied at City Hall.

Houston

About 125 people came out to a rally called by the HTX Election Defenders coalition with the demand #CountEveryVote. It was organized by many of the progressive groups in Houston, youth, environmentalists, Democrats, Refuse Fascism, Womens March, and other activists.

Chicago

Hundreds of people marched through the downtown Loop area, chanting slogans like “Hey, hey, ho, ho—Donald Trump has got to go!”

Minneapolis

Minneapolis--Hundreds of people marched through the streets, at one point shutting down traffic on the interstate I-94. They called for all votes in the presidential election to be counted, and also demanded end to murder by police and end to homelessness.

Philadelphia

Protesters demand that "every vote be counted" at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Nov. 4.


November 3:

Washington DC

Hundreds of people demonstrated near the White House Tuesday night. People gathered at Black Lives Matter Plaza as they waited for election results. After police arrested two protesters, people chanted “fuck the police” and “no justice, no peace,” demanding the two men be released. One protester said, “Trump represents the worst in whiteness—and that’s racism... It’s important I show my son that we must vote against it and we show Trump that we’re all against it.”

Seattle


November 3. Photo: AP


November 3. Photo: AP

Graham, NC

Activists led by Rev. Gregory Drumwright returned on election day to Graham, North Carolina, where their march to promote voting and condemn murder by police last Saturday had been brutally attacked by the pigs. In spite of this attack, people were not deterred. Another march was organized, and Down Home North Carolina, which raises money to help people who can't afford to post bond, organized to protect the march in case cops tried to attack people again. One person tweeted, "Out here in NC two hours into a day full of election defense and voter protection work."

New York City

A lively crew, including Refuse Fascism and the Revolution Club, took off on a march through the streets after gathering in Union Square. People chanted, “The system is outrageous, they put our kids in cages. Trump/Pence Out Now!”

San Francisco

Los Angeles

Philadelphia, PA

Voices of Conscience and Resistance

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/672/actually-we-do-need-to-be-in-the-streets-now-en.html

Actually? We DO Need to Be in the Streets ... NOW!

Trump and MAGA-Thugs Not Backing Down or Going Away.
The Fascist Forces Have a Plan to Steal the Election, and They Are Working It...

| revcom.us

 

Editors’ Note: While this article was published before Biden's Electoral College victory was called by news outlets, we are reposting it because the basic theme remains as relevant as ever in terms of what is urgently needed.

Trump is not quitting. The fascist forces under the command of Trump and Pence—in the government and in the streets—are not quitting. If the election showed anything, it has shown that these forces are deeply dug into this society and will not be vanquished without a huge struggle. Fighting all the way through to drive out this regime is going to be a huge part of that struggle.

They have been stealing, and they are continuing to steal, this election: this is hardly a secret. As it appears, they have a two-pronged plan, and they have been working on it and they are doing it right in front of our faces.

Part one: Suppress the vote. Prevent the votes of hundreds of thousands of people, disproportionately Black and Latino people from the cities, from being counted. Tie up the results in the courts that they have packed, all the way up to the Supreme Court, and the state legislatures that they have gerrymandered... create confusion, doubt, delay, and chaos... and then use holes and ambiguities in the law to overturn the results. (And by the way, this didn’t just start—go here to find out how they have been suppressing the votes of Black, Latino and other people of color for months, and throughout history. See here and here.)

Part two: Dominate the streets and public squares with their fascist-MAGA goons and thugs. Already, they have been mobbing the people who are counting the ballots in Detroit, Philadelphia, and Phoenix—and brandishing automatic rifles to threaten vote-counters in Phoenix. These are the ones who waved around their assault rifles when they came into state legislatures in the spring, and who used those rifles (or their cars) to kill unarmed demonstrators against police murder and racism in the summer... rampaging with escalated brutality since the Republican National Convention. As we go to press, Trump is tweeting “Stop the Count!” He aims to both suppress the vote, and mobilize his thugs who he had earlier ordered to “stand by” in a presidential debate.* Left unopposed, the fascist MAGA forces aided by the police will aim to create so much intimidating violence and chaos that key power centers and institutions decide to back, or go along with, Trump’s theft of the election.

That’s their plan. Totally illegitimate; utterly fascist; and likely to work... if not opposed by massive nonviolent action in the streets.

Think the fascist plan can’t happen? Read some history, and see how George W. Bush became president in 2000, with considerably less threat and mayhem than Trump routinely summons forth. Or more recently, remember how the cops and fascists used violence to suppress the beautiful rising against police terror and white supremacy, redefining terms from the horrors of white supremacy to “law and order,” with Trump using this to come close to actually winning the election outright.

The Idea That We Should NOT Be in the Streets Is Suicidal

Some political forces have told people to stay out of the streets in order not to “play into Trump’s narrative of confusion, chaos and uncertainty.” On that basis, they pulled out of or did not build the already-called-for demonstrations of last night. They had previously called for these protests post-Election Night to prevent Trump from stealing the election.

Reality check: Biden has not assumed the presidency. As of Thursday morning, Biden has not even won the vote. Meanwhile Trump and Pence have not given up, and now they’ve sent their dogs into the streets and lawyers into the courts, aiming to seize the initiative and dictate terms.

NO! Recognizing the dire threat posed by this fascist regime, we cannot afford to play a “waiting game.” We need to come in and stay in the public square NOW, growing every day and night, in massive demonstrations that are nonviolent, sustained, and refuse to back down till this regime is gone. That—massive, sustained, nonviolent demonstrations—is the key way that we can reset the terms of debate, exposing the illegitimacy of the fascists and their moves, winning public opinion to the righteous and legitimate side of driving out the regime. This was done at the beginning of the summer in the beautiful rising against police terror and institutional racism, in a beginning but significant way that showed the potential power of this path; we need to do that again, against this monstrous regime that threatens the future itself.

WE need to be making the case—that the voter suppression, the threats (and carrying out) of violence, and all the rest that Trump, Pence, and the rest of them have already done and  are continuing to do right now is illegitimate ... that the white supremacy, the patriarchal theocracy and the fascism are even more illegitimate... and that this regime must GO.

If you think we should rely on the norms and institutions of this system and not rock the boat, please ask yourself: how did that work when you put your hopes in the Russia investigation? In the blue wave? In the impeachment? It didn’t—and now we really can’t afford not to learn the lesson, especially with the fascists in control of state legislatures and key sections of the judiciary.

We Need Massive, Sustained, Nonviolent Action NOW, Demanding Trump/Pence Out Now!

Can’t work? The civil rights movement of the ’60s did it up against the forerunners of these goons and thugs of today. The moral and political force of the tens of thousands standing up to that inspired people here and worldwide. The process they started raised sharp questions about the legitimacy of this country and its system at home and around the world... and by doing so they changed the terms of debate in society, they forced the institutions and power centers of society—from Congress to the courts—to behave “differently,” to bend and concede to their demands. Something similar is necessary and possible right now, through mass political resistance, with the demand and outcome being the removal of this regime.

Conclusion: If we don’t get rid of this regime NOW, when we can... if they come back stronger and force their way into another term... then shame on us. Some progressive people are already talking about “all the work we can begin after the election.” That rings hollow indeed in the face of this genocidal racist staying in power! The first and crucial step—the work we need to do now—is to finish the job of driving out this regime, with mass sustained non-violent protests.

That is the most pressing and absolutely necessary task right now in the badly needed top-to-bottom transformation of a society so rotten that it could produce a Trump... a dangerous, inhuman fascist who won one election and is too damn close to winning or stealing another.

We’ve got to finish THIS job: removing this fascist regime. Humanity is counting on us.

 


* During the first presidential debate, when asked if he would condemn the white supremacist fascist group the Proud Boys—a group which has been behind violent attacks on protests around the country—Trump directly addressed them from the stage, telling them to “stand back... and stand by.”  [back]


Trump told the Proud Boys to "stand by." Here, Proud Boys in the streets of Portland, Oregon, September 26, 2020. (Photo: AP)

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/672/appearing-in-the-ny-times-a-pledge-to-the-people-of-the-world-en.html

Reposted from RefuseFascism.org:

Appearing in the New York Times on Monday, November 9: A Pledge to the People of the World

| revcom.us

 

On Monday, November 9, “A Pledge to the People of the World: In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE to Accept a Fascist America. The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go!” appears as a full-page ad in the New York Times. The Times originally tried to censor this, but reversed the decision. The ad has a number of signatories, including Cornel West, Noam Chomsky, Lilly Wachowski, Arturo O’Farrill, and Chuck D.

 

Read this pledge, and see the full list of the signers of this pledge, at RefuseFascism.org

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/refuse-fascism-call-for-nov-14-protest-en.html

Reposted from RefuseFascism.org:

Mass Protest Nationwide
Saturday, November 14
Trump Is Still Trying to Steal the Election!
NO!
Trump/Pence OUT NOW!
In the Name of Humanity,
We REFUSE to Accept a Fascist America!

| revcom.us

 

The media has declared Biden is the clear winner of the electoral college and popular vote.

This is a very good thing, but the struggle is far from over.

The Trump/Pence campaign is filing multiple suits in courts that they have packed with reactionary judges up to the Supreme Court. Trump’s MAGA mobs are mobilized. Tens of millions voted for his fascist program that has tortured immigrants, unleashed white supremacist terror, exacerbated the climate crisis, spread lies and COVID, and stacked the courts with theocratic Christian fascists. The Republi-fascist Party is standing by Trump and is in control of the majority of state governments, as well as many of the courts—including the Supreme Court, which Trump has openly called on to support his claim of victory.

As long as Trump and his regime are still in power, as long as their followers are filled with passionate vengeance, they can still prevail through legal and extra-legal means.

We cannot let them dominate the public space and public discourse. Now, our struggle enters a new phase of continuing nonviolent mass protest to drive out the Trump/Pence regime... as the fascist regime and its supporters try to usurp the rule of law.

The people must seize this moment and go all the way to driving this regime out and driving this fascist movement back and its hateful vicious program from every part of society. Our side must unite, organize, and be in the streets, nonviolent but determined to prevail. Fascism is NEVER legitimate.

We must organize and mobilize on a whole other level. Sign up at refusefascism.org and get connected. Find where and when Refuse Fascism gathers in the public square in your town – come and join us and bring your crew.

Stay in the streets and demand Trump/Pence Out Now! We must not stop until they’re gone.

For protest times and locations, go here.

 

 

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Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

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So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/672/quotations-from-bob-avakian-en.html

Quotations From Bob Avakian on the Urgent Need to Drive Out the Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting in This Election, the Need to Take the Streets, and the Fundamental Need for REVOLUTION

| revcom.us

 

Right now, for everyone who is concerned with ending injustice and oppression, and with the question of whether humanity will have a future worth living—or will have a future at all—removing the Trump/Pence fascist regime from power is an immediate, urgent question and truly historic imperative.

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN, August 1, 2020
ON THE IMMEDIATE CRITICAL SITUATION, THE URGENT NEED TO DRIVE OUT THE FASCIST TRUMP/PENCE REGIME, VOTING IN THIS ELECTION, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR REVOLUTION

We can recognize the looming shadow of a situation where not just school children, but everyone in society, will be required to pledge allegiance to a white Christian fascist America.

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN, August 1, 2020

Fascism is: open and aggressive dictatorship, trampling on and perverting the rule of law, relying on violence and terror, on behalf of the predatory capitalist system and as an extreme attempt to deal with profound social division and acute crises (both within the country and in the global arena).

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN, August 1, 2020

Hitler and the NAZIs came to power in Germany in the 1930s through the “normal channels” of the “democratic system” there—including elections—but there was absolutely nothing “legitimate” about their rule and all the truly unspeakable horrors it led to. And the same basic principle applies to the Trump/Pence regime. By its very nature and content, there is no such thing as “legitimate” fascism.

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN, August 1, 2020

If this regime is able to further consolidate its power and make further leaps in implementing its horrific objectives, this will result in a devastating setback for any attempt to resist injustice and oppression, and will very likely lead to the brutal repression, and even annihilation, of defenders of democratic rights and proponents of any meaningful progressive reforms, as well as any organized forces fighting for fundamental revolutionary change.

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN, August 1, 2020

The question is not whether Biden and the Democrats represent something “good,” or whether, in fundamental terms, the Democrats are “better” than the Republicans. Both of these parties are ruling class political parties, and none of their candidates represent anything “good” in the most basic and essential sense. Biden is not “better” than Trump, in any meaningful way—except that he is not Trump and is not part of the move to consolidate and enforce fascist rule, with everything that means.

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN, August 1, 2020

The fact is that there can be one—and only one—“good” that can come out of this election: delivering a decisive defeat to Trump and the whole fascist regime. Doing this would create far better conditions for continuing to wage the struggle against everything represented by the Trump/Pence regime and all the oppression and injustices of this system, and would be a great gift to the people of the world.

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN, August 1, 2020

Our fundamental goal, and guiding star, remains: REVOLUTION—NOTHING LESS! 

In everything we do, including in all the struggles we take part in that are themselves short of revolution, our consistent approach is, and must be, to make all this serve that fundamental goal of revolution and the emancipation of all humanity.

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN, August 1, 2020

Only someone worse than a fool would want that racist Confederacy-loving white supremacist, pussy-grabbing misogynistic male supremacist, LGBT-bashing, rights-trampling, science-denying, environment-destroying, war-mongering, xenophobic “America first” bloodsucking fascist motherfucker Trump to get re-elected.

Genocide means killing off a whole people, or a large part of that people. Genocide is what the Europeans did to the native peoples in America, while stealing their land. Genocide is Hitler and the NAZIs murdering six million Jews. Donald Trump is a genocidal racist.

Donald Trump—GENOCIDAL RACIST

Donald Trump hates Black people and everybody who is not a white, English-speaking, Christian American.” If he could, he would kill off a whole lot of them, and put many of the rest in jail for life, or drive them out of the country.

Donald Trump—GENOCIDAL RACIST

The minds of these fascists will not be changed by “being nice” to them or acting as if their “grievances” are “legitimate.”

The reality is that these “grievances” flow from resentment against any changes that even slightly undermine white supremacy, male supremacy, xenophobia (hatred of foreigners), rabid American chauvinism, and the unrestrained plundering of the environment.

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS, AND STAY IN THE STREETS DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW! Part 1

As truly dangerous as these fascist threats and acts of violence, and preparations to carry out even more violence, are—being cowed by and capitulating to this would lead to a far greater horror.

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS, AND STAY IN THE STREETS DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW! Part 2

Losing one’s ability to be outraged, and to act on that outrage, means losing one’s humanity—and, given the situation we are facing, it amounts to collaborating with the fascism of this regime and the catastrophe toward which it is relentlessly propelling humanity.

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS, AND STAY IN THE STREETS DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW! Part 2

As for vice president Mike Pence: While he might not express things in the same blustering, blatant and vulgar ways as Trump, Pence is a religious fundamentalist fanatic, who represents a powerful force driving the whole fascist program of this regime.

VICE PRESIDENT PENCE—FUNDAMENTALIST FANATIC, CRUCIAL FORCE IN THE FASCIST REGIME

While “old school” NAZIs and armed thugs (like the Proud Boys), are useful as storm troopers for the fascist Trump/Pence regime, it is Christian fundamentalism that is the hard core and driving force of this regime.

VICE PRESIDENT PENCE—FUNDAMENTALIST FANATIC, CRUCIAL FORCE IN THE FASCIST REGIME

Do any of the bourgeois politicians, of either the Democratic or Republican Party, represent anything good?

No. They all represent something very bad: the system of capitalism-imperialism that is based on monstrous, literally murderous exploitation and oppression of masses of people, not just in this country but all over the world.

Are all these politicians—and both of these political parties—“the same”?

No, again. They have real differences over how this system should be governed, and enforced, and how this society should be held together under the rule of this system.

Do these differences actually matter for those who are exploited and oppressed under this system, for all those who aspire to a more just world?

It depends. Most of the time, the differences between these two parties are not significant enough to make it right and necessary to single out one party and focus on opposing it. But, on very rare occasions, these differences do matter that much. This is one of those times.

THE ACUTE FASCIST DANGER—RISING ABOVE PETTY “LEFTISM,” ACTING IN THE INTERESTS OF HUMANITY, Basic Questions, Existential Stakes

Driving out the fascist Trump/Pence regime is urgently necessary. It concentrates the question of whether there will be any favorable basis for continuing the struggle against racist oppression and police terror and every kind of injustice and oppression, as well as the plunder of the environment. It concentrates the question of whether there will be a future—one worth living—for humanity.

Refusing to recognize this reality, saying it does not matter now which group of politicians is in power, and taking up the worse than meaningless stance that “these politicians are all the same”—this is not simply silly pseudo-“left” sectarian nonsense—it amounts to active collaboration with this fascist regime and the very real horrors it is relentlessly moving to hammer into place.

THE ACUTE FASCIST DANGER—RISING ABOVE PETTY “LEFTISM,” ACTING IN THE INTERESTS OF HUMANITY, Basic Questions, Existential Stakes

A one-sided civil war—waged only by the forces of fascism against everyone and everything they hate and are determined to wipe out or beat into submission—would be a disaster. Ignoring the reality that these fascists are definitely prepared to carry out such a civil war, if they see it as necessary to achieve their objectives, will only make such a disaster more likely. And nothing good will come from relying on those, like the leaders of the Democratic Party, who refuse to call out this fascism for what it is and oppose it on that basis, because doing so would call into question the “legitimacy” of their whole system, which has given rise to this fascism.

Bob Avakian on CIVIL WAR AND REVOLUTION

What is urgently needed is a massive struggle against the fascism of the Trump/Pence regime and determined opposition to the “base” it is mobilizing in its support. This struggle needs to be waged in a serious way, in accordance with the actual stakes involved—not seeking or initiating violence but also not cowed into submission by the actions of the fascists.

Bob Avakian on CIVIL WAR AND REVOLUTION

Far too often, people who claim to be “woke” say that, since Black people have always been subjected to horrific oppression in this country, Trump is no different than other politicians, and there is no reason, and no need, to focus on opposing Trump and building mass mobilization to demand the removal of the Trump/Pence regime. This is like arguing that, since this country was founded in slavery, it makes no difference if slavery is brought back now!

People need to understand that Trump is a genocidal racist.  He may not be trying to bring back literal slavery but he is definitely aiming to take this country back to a situation where overt white supremacy is blatantly promoted, codified in law and court decisions, and enforced through systematic, full-blown white supremacist violence.

SLEEPWALKING “WOKENESS” AND THE TRUMP/PENCE NIGHTMARE

There can be no “reconciliation” with these fascists—whose “grievances” are based on fanatical resentment against any limitation on white supremacy, male supremacy, xenophobia (hatred of foreigners), rabid American chauvinism, and the unrestrained plundering of the environment, and are increasingly expressed in literally lunatic terms. There can be no “reconciliation” with this, other than on the terms of these fascists, with all the terrible implications and consequences of that!

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS, AND STAY IN THE STREETS DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW! Part 2

DONALD TRUMP ISN’T “TOUGH,” HE’S A BLOATED BAG OF FASCIST FECES

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/659/bob-avakian_statement-on-the-immediate-critical-situation-en.html

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN
August 1, 2020

ON THE IMMEDIATE CRITICAL SITUATION,
THE URGENT NEED TO DRIVE OUT THE FASCIST TRUMP/PENCE REGIME,
VOTING IN THIS ELECTION,
AND THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR REVOLUTION

| revcom.us

 

1The situation today holds truly unprecedented and momentous challenges, with profound implications not only for the people in this country but for all of humanity. Three years ago, I spoke to this reality—which has become even more pronounced, and even more dangerous, in the time since then:

We are confronted by—we are now being ruled by—a fascist regime: relentlessly assaulting civil rights and liberties and openly promoting bigotry and inequality; acting with callous disregard or cold-blooded malice toward those they consider inferior and a drain or stain on the country; on a mission to deny health care to millions who will suffer and many who will die without it; crudely degrading women, as objects of plunder, breeders of children without the right to abortion or birth control, subordinate to husbands and men in general; defying the science of climate change, attacking the science of evolution, and repudiating the scientific method overall; a regime brandishing an arsenal of mass destruction and threatening nuclear war; intensifying state terror against Muslims, immigrants, and people in the inner cities; unleashing and giving encouragement and support to brutal thugs spewing vile “America First,” white supremacist, male supremacist, and anti-LGBT venom—a regime that boasts of all this and declares its intention to do even worse.

This is a regime headed by “a demented bully” with his finger on the nuclear button. It is a regime that, without exaggeration, threatens not just greatly heightened suffering for the masses of humanity but the very existence of humanity itself, through its intensified moves to further the plunder of the environment and its boasts of unequaled weapons of mass destruction and its blatant declaration of willingness to use those weapons, including its massive nuclear arsenal.

I have also emphasized that it is this system of capitalism-imperialism which, through its “normal workings,” has brought forth this fascism, and that no fundamental change for the better can be brought about under this system, and instead this system must be overthrown and replaced by a radically different and far better system, in order to abolish and uproot all relations of exploitation and oppression, and the violent conflicts they give rise to—all of which is built into the foundations of this system and its ongoing functioning and requirements.

Right now, for everyone who is concerned with ending injustice and oppression, and with the question of whether humanity will have a future worth living—or will have a future at all—removing the Trump/Pence fascist regime from power is an immediate, urgent question and truly historic imperative.

And, for those who understand the need for revolution, for the overthrow of this system, as the fundamental solution to the continuing horrors this system causes for the masses of humanity (whether this system is ruled through an open fascist dictatorship, or the disguised “democratic” dictatorship, of the ruling capitalist class), the immediate struggle to oust the Trump/Pence regime from power must be approached not as a “diversion” from (or “substitute for”) building the movement for the revolution that is needed, but precisely as part—a crucial part and urgent requirement—of the overall work of building for this revolution.

Our fundamental goal, and guiding star, remains: REVOLUTION—NOTHING LESS! 

In everything we do, including in all the struggles we take part in that are themselves short of revolution, our consistent approach is, and must be, to make all this serve that fundamental goal of revolution and the emancipation of all humanity.

***********

Normally, we revolutionary communists argue that people should not vote in bourgeois elections, which serve to reinforce the existing system of capitalism-imperialism and feed popular illusions that exploitation, oppression and injustices can somehow be “reformed away” short of getting rid of the system that gives rise to these horrors in the first place. But is this the right position to take in relation to this particular election?

To answer this, we need to look at the whole picture.  [Read again]

2Already, in the nearly four years it has been in power, we have been forced to witness and endure the horrors already committed, and the grave danger posed, by the Trump/Pence regime. Trump ran his campaign in 2016 on what amounted to a straight-up fascist program, including blatant white supremacy and male supremacy, and xenophobic racism toward immigrants, particularly those from Mexico and other countries which Trump regards as “shit-holes,” as well as open advocacy of torture and thuggery by police and Trump’s “civilian” supporters. And, once in power, Trump has blasted ahead with the implementation of this program, steamrolling over any “institutional norms” that stood in the way of this, even in the face of impeachment—and with heightened arrogance and momentum once his fellow fascists in the Republican Party voted to acquit him in the Senate.

Essentially, everything that is described about this regime at the beginning of this statement is what Trump and those around him have carried out with a vengeance. This has become all the more flagrant and aggressive with the approach of the election scheduled for this November. And imagine what Trump will do if he is given a second-term “mandate” through re-election this coming November.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the response of Trump and Pence to this has also provided another graphic illustration of the anti-scientific nature of this regime and its utter disregard for the suffering of masses of people, especially those most despised by this regime and most vulnerable to and hit hardest by this pandemic.

But, as horrific as all this has been, it is not just a matter of horrific policies but of qualitatively different form of rule, based on brutal repression and violation of what are supposed to be the most basic rights.

Already we have seen Trump, in flagrant violation of Constitutional principles, send occupying storm troopers, from various federal government agencies, to criminalize dissent and suppress people protesting in Portland and other cities, and to add to the reign of terror against masses of people in the inner cities of Chicago and elsewhere.

We have seen Trump’s crude displays of “America First” jingoism, including his repeated calls for severely punishing those who, in his view, have failed to show the appropriate patriotic fervor, or who have dared to raise criticism and protest against some of the more glaring oppression carried out by enforcers of this system, in particular the ongoing brutality and murder of Black, Brown, and Native American people by police. We have witnessed his continual encouragement of white supremacist thuggery, by police and by “Second Amendment people” and other “very fine people.”

All this calls to mind the rise to power and the rule of Hitler and the NAZIs in Germany during the 1930s and early 1940s. As Hitler built his fascist movement, thugs would be mobilized to brutalize and terrorize people who didn’t show support for Hitler and the NAZIs—assaulting them on the street and in other public places. Once the NAZI fascist state had consolidated its power, any opposition was severely punished and crushed. All those who did not openly endorse and proclaim the official NAZI ideology were targeted. Large numbers of people were purged from public institutions—all those, in particular Jews but others as well, who were deemed “alien” to the “pure Germanic race” and an obstacle to the monstrous aims of the NAZIs. Beginning with the communists, but before long encompassing the Jewish population, Roma people, homosexuals, and others, concentration camps were filled with those who were considered a threat to the NAZIs or a “stain” on the German nation. And this led, before long, to the mass genocide of millions of Jews in Germany and countries conquered and occupied by the NAZIs.

All this did not happen all at once—but it took place within a relatively short period of time (a decade or so), and with an increasingly accelerating pace. The rule of law was not openly and formally abandoned altogether, but the “law” and “the rule of law” became the same as what Hitler and the NAZIs said it was. Much of what Hitler and the NAZIs did, during their reign of terror and genocide, was “in accordance with the law”—law that they had reduced to nothing more than their barbaric aims and means, murderously enforced by institutions which had been stripped of any meaning or purpose other than what conformed to and served the NAZI agenda, reduced to nothing more than instruments of NAZI atrocity.

In the whole of what Trump is currently doing—including his open calls to overturn Supreme Court decisions and precedents (for example, to outlaw abortion and punish flag burning), along with his repeated violations of the law and due process of the law and his insistence that he is the law—we can see the looming shadow of even more overt fascist dictatorship. For that is what fascism is: open and aggressive dictatorship, trampling on and perverting the rule of law, relying on violence and terror, on behalf of the predatory capitalist system and as an extreme attempt to deal with profound social division and acute crises (both within the country and in the global arena). And with the moves by Trump’s “Secretary of Education,” Betsy DeVos—who is herself a Christian fascist whose ultimate goal is to replace public, secular education with schools based on Christian fundamentalist indoctrination—we can see the outline of the Trump/Pence regime version of “official (Christian fascist) ideology.” We can recognize the looming shadow of a situation where not just school children, but everyone in society, will be required to pledge allegiance to a white Christian fascist America.

A statement from the organization Refuse Fascism (RefuseFascism.org) argues eloquently and powerfully:

Actual lines are being drawn, with catastrophic consequences for all of humanity. If we lose the right to protest—through legal or extra‑legal means—all bets are off. Fascism is not just the worst of a pendulum swing. It is a qualitative change in how society is governed. Dissent is piece by piece criminalized. The truth is bludgeoned. Group after group is demonized and targeted along a trajectory that leads to real horrors. All this has been happening for more than three years, yet with concentration camps at the border, Trump acquitted in a sham impeachment trial, and an executive order to protect monuments while First Amendment rights are criminalized with actual jail time, too many still want to bask in the comfortable delusions that this is not really happening. This is fascism. It is happening, and time is running out to stop it.

For far too long, those of us, including the diverse voices represented by Refuse Fascism, who have been pointing to the very real immediate danger—and potentially even greater danger—represented by the Trump/Pence regime were far too often met with arrogant dismissal by those who could not, or would not, see the reality and the trajectory of this regime; who dismissed the danger by ignoring or downplaying many of the terrible things this regime had already done; and who then pointed to whatever had not yet been done by this regime as supposed “proof” that it would not do those things. Now, at this late and crucial hour, to treat as “alarmist exaggeration” the fascist nature of this regime and its very real parallels with the horrors perpetrated by previous fascist regimes—this is to ignore not only vital lessons from history, but also the extremely dangerous reality of the current situation, including the significance of the fact that Trump—fulfilling his promise to Christian fascists—has stacked the courts, all the way up to the Supreme Court, with legions of Christian fascists and other extreme right-wing judges, who will move to “legally legitimize” the whole horrific program of the Trump/Pence fascist regime.

If this regime is able to further consolidate its power and make further leaps in implementing its horrific objectives, this will result in a devastating setback for any attempt to resist injustice and oppression, and will very likely lead to the brutal repression, and even annihilation, of defenders of democratic rights and proponents of any meaningful progressive reforms, as well as any organized forces fighting for fundamental revolutionary change.

In the most essential sense, the urgent need to mobilize masses of people around the demand to force the removal of this fascist regime is not in conflict with the mass outpouring against institutionalized white supremacy and police terror, or other mass movements against the outrages of this system, but is in basic unity with and is crucial for all these struggles, and all this can and must be understood, and built, in a powerful mutually reinforcing way.  [Read again]

3Simply relying on voting to oust this regime will almost certainly lead to very bad, even disastrous results. This is especially true given what this regime is already doing, and what Trump is saying, in relation to the election.

Through completely unfounded attacks on voting by mail, and preparation to intimidate and obstruct Black people and Latinos attempting to exercise their right to vote, moves are already underway by the Trump/Pence regime and its supporters to suppress the votes of those who are likely to vote against Trump. As he did in the 2016 election, Trump has already indicated his likely refusal to accept the result of the election this time if he is not the winner. And now Trump has openly “floated” the idea of “delaying” the election.

Given what Trump has already done, and what he has blatantly declared, as much as it is horrifying it is also very realistic to envision this regime stationing storm troopers, loyal to this regime, in cities all across this country—viciously moving to suppress any expression of resistance or opposition—with the approach of the election, and continuing beyond that.

The ongoing pandemic, or executive orders to quell “civil disorder” (i.e., protests) in many parts of the country, could also serve as pretexts to “postpone” the election, perhaps indefinitely.

And it is certainly not unthinkable that Trump would move to create a “national emergency”—for example, by carrying out acts of war, against Iran or possibly even China—in order to further institute even more extreme repressive conditions, with even greater numbers of para-military storm troopers occupying cities, in order either to cancel (or indefinitely “delay”) the election, or to control the voting and the results of the election if it is held.

It is of critical importance to continue to build resistance, right now and in an increasingly powerful way, against any and all repressive moves by Trump, including by building mass opposition to this regime’s attempts at voter suppression and through mass mobilization in support and defense of those who are targets of such suppression.

With the full awareness of what is represented by this fascist regime, and what it means that Trump is not only seeking to suppress the votes of people who will vote against him but is also preparing to utilize forceful, violent repression to remain in office if he is not declared the winner in the election, it is of critical and urgent importance to build now truly massive and sustained mobilization around the unifying demand that this regime must be OUT NOW!—with an orientation of being prepared to continue this even past the election, if the situation requires it.

From the first days of the Trump/Pence regime, Refuse Fascism has been calling out the fascism of this regime and calling for the mass mobilization to drive out this regime that is now, all the more urgently, required. It would have been very good—it could have made a real difference—if all those who hate this regime but failed, or refused, to recognize its actual fascist nature and the great danger to humanity it poses as such, had much earlier responded to and actively taken up this call by Refuse Fascism. Now, finally, there is a growing recognition, and increasing discussion, about the “authoritarian” nature of this regime, and even the use of the term “fascism” to describe it. (As I have pointed out, on the part of many, this is a case of “Oh, now they’re saying” this is fascism, as if that has just become the case. But, with an understanding of the profound stakes involved, it is important to recognize that now is better than never.) The hour is getting late—but it is still not too late to make this mass mobilization a reality. Relying on, and confining actions within, the “norms” and “regular channels” of this system, including the upcoming election, cannot solve this profound and urgent problem, especially when dealing with a fascist regime and its fanatical followers that are determined to trample on and tear up those “norms.”  [Read again]

4At this critical hour, every appropriate means of non-violent action must be utilized to remove this regime from power. And if, in spite of mass protest demanding the removal of the Trump/Pence regime, this regime remains in power when it is time for voting, then—without placing fundamental reliance on this—using all appropriate means to work for the removal of this regime must include voting against Trump (assuming the election is actually held). To be clear, this means not a “protest vote” for some candidate who has no chance of winning, but actually voting for the Democratic Party candidate, Biden, in order to effectively vote against Trump.

This is not because Biden (and the Democratic Party in general) have suddenly become something other than what they are: representatives and instruments of this exploitative, oppressive, and literally murderous system of capitalism-imperialism. The electoral process continues to be what we revcoms have called it—BEB (Bourgeois Electoral Bullshit). It remains the case that no fundamental change for the better can come about through this electoral process, and that, in general and overall, voting under this system serves to reinforce this system, especially if voting is seen as a way—and more so if it is seen as the (only) way—to bring about meaningful change.

But this election is different.

It is true that, with every election, the Democrats run the same basic con game—blackmailing people who hate injustice and oppression to vote for them as the “lesser evil”— insisting in effect that, “You may not agree with everything we say, you may even have serious differences and criticisms regarding what we’re all about—but do you want them to be in power?!” (the openly white supremacist, male supremacist, climate change-denying plunderers of the environment, and all-around reactionary Republican Party). And the Democratic Party has done this, time after time after time, while itself representing and seeking to preside over this system of capitalism-imperialism which has white supremacy, male supremacy, environmental plunder and wars for empire built into it, at the same time as the Democrats make noises about, and take some steps to implement, minor (and ultimately meaningless) reforms to supposedly address these outrages. All this has actually contributed to the development of things toward the terrible situation we are faced with now. It has politically paralyzed many who seek an end to such outrages, reducing them to passive dependents on the Democratic Party and its role in the electoral process, while adding fuel to the fire of the die-hard fascist sections of society that insist on absolutely no mitigation of these outrages—no concession to the struggle against this—and in fact demand the brutal reinforcement of this oppression and outrage, in extreme terms.

But, again, this election is different—in a crucially important way. The question is not whether Biden and the Democrats represent something “good,” or whether, in fundamental terms, the Democrats are “better” than the Republicans. Both of these parties are ruling class political parties, and none of their candidates represent anything “good” in the most basic and essential sense. Biden is not “better” than Trump, in any meaningful way—except that he is not Trump and is not part of the move to consolidate and enforce fascist rule, with everything that means.

To approach this election from the standpoint of which candidate is “better” means failing to understand the truly profound stakes and potential consequences of what is involved. The fact is that there can be one—and only one—“good” that can come out of this election: delivering a decisive defeat to Trump and the whole fascist regime. Doing this would create far better conditions for continuing to wage the struggle against everything represented by the Trump/Pence regime and all the oppression and injustices of this system, and would be a great gift to the people of the world.

Again, in these very particular, extraordinary circumstances, if the Trump/Pence regime is still in power by the time of the election, in spite of mass mobilizations demanding the ouster of this regime, then the struggle against this fascist regime needs to include voting against Trump by voting for Biden, while continuing to build sustained mass mobilization against this regime and everything it represents and concentrates, and being prepared to carry forward this mass mobilization if Trump loses the election but refuses to leave.  [Read again]

5In recognizing this, however, it is extremely important to stress once again, in the strongest terms, that, for the reasons spoken to here, relying on voting—without this mass mobilizationwill very likely lead to disaster.

There is the possibility that Trump could actually win the election—although whether he wins or loses, this election will involve unprecedented moves to suppress the votes of those opposing him and to use other illegal means to enable him to remain in power. And, even more essentially, with the clear understanding of the fascist nature of this regime, and the full implications of that, this regime is illegitimate, regardless of the means by which it has come to power and moves to retain and further consolidate power. Hitler and the NAZIs came to power in Germany in the 1930s through the “normal channels” of the “democratic system” there—including elections—but there was absolutely nothing “legitimate” about their rule and all the truly unspeakable horrors it led to. And the same basic principle applies to the Trump/Pence regime. By its very nature and content, there is no such thing as “legitimate” fascism.

Whatever happens with the election—and even if Biden wins and succeeds in actually taking office—there will be no “return to normalcy.” First of all, the fascists—those still in powerful positions, and the fascist “base” in the wider society—will not allow it. And, in any case, no one should want it. The “normalcy” of this system has always included the barbaric oppression of Black people and other people of color, with systematic terror, brutality and murder to enforce this oppression. It has always included vicious discrimination, bigotry and violence against immigrants, women, LGBTQ people, and any others regarded as inferior and “alien.” It has always included unjust wars for empire, and continuing crimes against humanity. It now poses a threat to the very existence of humanity through its increasing devastation of the environment and the ever present threat of nuclear war.

The many-sided struggle to oust the fascist Trump/Pence regime must be taken up not as a substitute for but as a part—a crucial part—of moving to get beyond all that is represented by and embodied in the “normalcy” of this system.  [Read again]

6Finally, regardless of what happens with this election, it remains profoundly true—and it is vitally important to recognize, and to act on the understanding—that no fundamental change for the better can come under this system. Even as sustained mass mobilization urgently needs to be built around the unifying demand of Trump/Pence OUT NOW!, all those who have come to see that institutionalized white supremacy, male supremacy and the many other outrages and crimes against humanity perpetrated under this system are in fact built into this system of capitalism-imperialism must work together, in an ongoing way, to build a continually growing movement and to strengthen the organized forces for an actual revolution to overthrow this system.

In summation: Given the truly monumental stakes involved, not only in terms of any particular issue, no matter how important, and not merely in terms of this country, but for the masses of people throughout the world and the future of humanity, there is a great need to approach things and act with the sophistication necessary to handle the complex and difficult contradictions involved in all this—having a broad vision, rejecting petty sectarianism and brittle dogmatism, and not falling into a paralyzing “either/or”: either we fight against white supremacy and police terror, or we fight to bring about the removal of the Trump/Pence fascist regime; either we vote in this election, or we build mass struggle against outrageous oppression and against this fascist regime; either we oppose this regime, by all appropriate means, or we work for revolution. In this extraordinary and very complex situation—and from the point of view of advancing the struggle toward the goal of finally eliminating all exploitation and oppression, everywhere—there is an urgent need to do all of thatand to do so with an understanding of the correct and necessary relation between the different parts of this overall approach: putting the main emphasis and reliance on mass mobilization, with voting in this extraordinary situation necessary and important but not the main thing to be relied upon; and, in fundamental terms, making all this contribute to creating more favorable conditions for, and building up the organized forces for, not only resisting the crimes of this system but finally carrying out the revolution that is needed in order to put an end to this monstrously criminal system and its domination in the world, in any form.  [Read again]

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/663/promote-ba-statement-on-the-immediate-critical-situation-with-these-resources-en.html

Promote BA's Statement "On The Immediate Critical Situation..." With These Graphics

| revcom.us

 

 

Follow: @TheRevcoms
Read: www.revcom.us
Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

 

Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

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During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/670/bob-avakian-sur-la-situation-critique-immediate-fr.html

Bob Avakian
1 août 2020

SUR LA SITUATION CRITIQUE IMMÉDIATE,
LA NÉCESSITÉ URGENTE DE CHASSER LE RÉGIME FASCISTE DE TRUMP ET PENCE,
LE VOTE DANS CETTE ÉLECTION,
ET LE BESOIN FONDAMENTAL D’UNE RÉVOLUTION

| revcom.us

 

 

We received this translation in French. This is an unofficial translation, and we do not vouch for its accuracy.

1La situation actuelle comporte des défis véritablement sans précédent et d’une importance capitale, avec des implications profondes non seulement pour les habitants de ce pays mais pour l’humanité tout entière. Il y a trois ans, j’ai parlé de cette réalité – qui est devenue encore plus prononcée, et encore plus dangereuse, dans le temps qui s’est écoulé depuis lors :

Nous sommes confrontés à – nous sommes gouvernés par – un régime fasciste : qui s’attaque sans relâche aux droits et libertés civils et promut ouvertement la bigoterie et l’inégalité ; qui agit avec un mépris impitoyable ou une malveillance de sang-froid envers ceux qu’il considère comme inférieurs et comme un fardeau ou une tache sur le pays ; dont la mission englobe le refus de soins de santé à des millions de personnes qui vont souffrir et à beaucoup d’autres qui vont mourir sans ces soins ; un régime qui dégrade grossièrement les femmes, en tant qu’objets de pillage, comme des pondeuses sans droit à l’avortement ou à la contraception, subordonnées aux maris et aux hommes en général ; qui conteste la science du changement climatique, attaque la science de l’évolution et répudie la méthode scientifique dans son ensemble ; un régime qui brandit un arsenal de destruction massive et menace la guerre nucléaire ; qui intensifie la terreur d’État contre les musulmans, les immigrants et les habitants des quartiers populaires ; qui déchaîne et encourage et soutient des voyous brutaux crachant leur venin « priorité à l’Amérique », de suprématie blanche, de suprématie masculine et anti-LGBTQ – un régime qui se vante de tout cela et déclare son intention de faire encore pire.

Il s’agit d’un régime dirigé par « une brute démente » avec le doigt sur le bouton nucléaire. C’est un régime qui, sans exagération, menace non seulement d’accroître considérablement les souffrances des masses de l’humanité, mais aussi l’existence même de l’humanité, par l’intensification de ses actions visant à poursuivre le pillage de l’environnement, par ses armes de destruction massive inégalées et par sa déclaration flagrante de volonté d’utiliser ces armes, y compris son arsenal nucléaire massif.

J’ai aussi souligné que c’est ce système de capitalisme-impérialisme qui, par son « fonctionnement normal », a fait naître ce fascisme et qu’aucun changement fondamental pour le mieux ne peut être apporté dans le cadre de ce système, et qu’au contraire, ce système doit être renversé et remplacé par un système radicalement différent et bien meilleur, afin d’abolir et de déraciner tous les rapports d’exploitation et d’oppression, ainsi que les conflits violents qu’ils engendrent – tout cela étant intégré dans les fondements de ce système et dans son fonctionnement et ses exigences permanents.

À l’heure actuelle, pour tous ceux et toutes celles qui ont à cœur de mettre fin à l’injustice et à l’oppression, et engagent la question de savoir si l’humanité aura un avenir qui en vaut la peine – ou n’aura pas d’avenir du tout : obliger le régime fasciste de Trump/Pence de quitter le pouvoir est une question immédiate et urgente et un impératif véritablement historique.

Et, pour ceux et celles qui comprennent la nécessité de la révolution, du renversement de ce système, comme la solution fondamentale aux horreurs continues que ce système produit pour les masses de l’humanité (que ce système soit dirigé par une dictature fasciste ouverte, ou la dictature « démocratique » déguisée, de la classe capitaliste dominante), la lutte immédiate pour chasser le régime Trump/Pence du pouvoir doit être abordée non pas comme une « diversion » (ou un « substitut ») de la construction du mouvement pour la révolution qui est nécessaire, mais précisément comme une partie – une partie cruciale et une exigence urgente – du travail global de construction de cette révolution.

Notre objectif fondamental, et notre étoile polaire, demeure : LA RÉVOLUTION – RIEN DE MOINS ! 

Dans tout ce que nous faisons, y compris dans toutes les luttes auxquelles nous participons et qui ne sont pas elles-mêmes de nature révolutionnaire, notre approche constante est, et doit être, de mettre tout cela au service de cet objectif fondamental de la révolution et de l’émancipation de l’humanité tout entière.

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Normalement, nous, les communistes révolutionnaires, soutenons que les gens ne devraient pas voter aux élections bourgeoises, qui servent à renforcer le système existant de capitalisme-impérialisme et alimentent des illusions populaires selon lesquelles l’exploitation, l’oppression et les injustices peuvent d’une certaine manière être « réformées » sans se débarrasser du système qui est à l’origine de ces horreurs. Mais est-ce la bonne position à adopter par rapport à cette élection particulière ?

Pour y répondre, nous devons examiner la situation dans son ensemble.  [Relisez]

2Déjà, depuis près de quatre ans qu’il est au pouvoir, nous avons été contraints d’assister à et d’endurer les horreurs déjà commises, et le grave danger que représente le régime Trump/Pence. Trump a mené sa campagne en 2016 sur ce qui équivalait à un programme fasciste pur et simple, englobant une suprématie blanche et une suprématie masculine flagrantes, et un racisme xénophobe envers les immigrants, en particulier ceux du Mexique et d’autres pays que Trump considère comme des « trous de merde », ainsi qu’un plaidoyer ouvert en faveur de la torture et de la brutalité de la part de la police et des partisans « civils » de Trump. Et, une fois au pouvoir, Trump a mis en œuvre ce programme à toute allure, écrasant toutes les « normes institutionnelles » faisant obstacle, même face à la destitution – et avec encore plus d’arrogance et d’élan une fois que ses collègues fascistes du parti républicain ont voté pour l’acquitter au Sénat.

Essentiellement, tout ce qui est décrit à propos de ce régime au début de cette déclaration est ce que Trump et ceux qui l’entourent ont fait avec acharnement. Cela est devenu d’autant plus flagrant et agressif à l’approche des élections prévues en novembre 2020. Et imaginez ce que fera Trump s’il se voit confier un second « mandat » par le biais d’une réélection en novembre.

La pandémie COVID-19 et la réponse de Trump et Pence à celle-ci ont également fourni une autre illustration graphique de la nature anti-scientifique de ce régime et de son mépris total pour la souffrance des masses populaires, en particulier celles que ce régime déteste le plus ainsi que les plus vulnérables et les plus fortement touchées par cette pandémie.

Mais, aussi horrible que tout cela ait été, il ne s’agit pas seulement de politiques horribles, mais d’une forme de pouvoir qualitativement différente, basée sur une répression brutale et la violation de ce qui est censé être les droits les plus fondamentaux.

Nous avons déjà vu Trump, en violation flagrante des principes constitutionnels, envoyer des troupes d’assaut et d’occupation, provenant de diverses agences du gouvernement fédéral, pour criminaliser la dissidence et réprimer les personnes qui manifestent à Portland et dans d’autres villes, et pour ajouter au règne de la terreur contre des masses populaires dans les quartiers défavorisés de Chicago et ailleurs.

Nous avons vu les manifestations grossières de chauvinisme de Trump, genre « priorité à l’Amérique », y compris ses appels répétés à punir sévèrement ceux qui, selon lui, n’ont pas fait preuve de la ferveur patriotique appropriée, ou qui ont osé critiquer et protester contre certaines des oppressions les plus voyantes exercées par les exécuteurs de ce système, en particulier la brutalité et le meurtre continus des Noirs, des Latinos et des Amérindiens par la police. Nous avons été témoins de ses incitations continuelles aux violences suprémacistes blanches, par la police et par les « gens du deuxième amendement » et d’autres « gens très bien ».

Tout cela rappelle la montée au pouvoir et la domination d’Hitler et des NAZIs en Allemagne dans les années 1930 et au début des années 1940. Alors qu’Hitler construisait son mouvement fasciste, des voyous étaient mobilisés pour brutaliser et terroriser les personnes qui ne soutenaient pas Hitler et les NAZIs – les agressant dans la rue et dans d’autres lieux publics. Une fois que l’État fasciste NAZI a consolidé son pouvoir, toute opposition était sévèrement punie et écrasée. Tous ceux qui ne soutenaient pas ouvertement et ne proclamaient pas l’idéologie officielle NAZIe étaient visés. Un grand nombre de personnes ont été expulsées des institutions publiques – tous ceux, en particulier les Juifs mais aussi d’autres personnes, qui étaient considérés comme « étrangers » à la « race germanique pure » et comme un obstacle aux objectifs monstrueux des NAZIs. En commençant par les communistes, mais en englobant bientôt la population juive, les Roms, les homosexuels et d’autres, les camps de concentration ont été remplis de ceux qui étaient considérés comme une menace pour les NAZIs ou une « tache » sur la nation allemande. Et cela a conduit, avant longtemps, au génocide de masse de millions de Juifs en Allemagne et dans les pays conquis et occupés par les NAZIs.

Tout cela ne s’est pas produit d’un seul coup, mais dans un laps de temps relativement court (une dizaine d’années), et à un rythme de plus en plus rapide. L’état de droit n’a pas été ouvertement et formellement abandonné, mais la « loi » et « l’état de droit » sont devenus ce que Hitler et les NAZIs ont dit qu’ils étaient. Une grande partie de ce que Hitler et les NAZIs ont fait, pendant leur règne de terreur et de génocide, était « conforme à la loi » – une loi qu’ils avaient réduite à rien d’autre que leurs buts et moyens barbares, appliqués de manière meurtrière par des institutions qui avaient été dépouillées de tout sens ou but autre que ce qui était conforme à et servait le programme NAZI, réduites à rien d’autre que des instruments de l’atrocité NAZIe.

Dans l’ensemble de ce que Trump fait actuellement – y compris ses appels ouverts à l’annulation des décisions et des précédents de la Cour suprême (par exemple, pour interdire l’avortement et punir le fait de brûler le drapeau), ainsi que ses violations répétées de la loi et des procédures légales et son insistance à dire que c’est lui la loi – nous pouvons voir l’ombre imminente d’une dictature fasciste encore plus ouverte. Car c’est cela le fascisme : une dictature ouverte et agressive, piétinant et pervertissant l’état de droit, s’appuyant sur la violence et la terreur, au nom du système capitaliste prédateur et en tant que tentative extrême pour faire face à une division sociale profonde et à des crises aiguës (tant au sein du pays que dans l’arène mondiale). Et avec les initiatives de la « secrétaire à l’éducation » de Trump, Betsy DeVos – elle-même une chrétienne fasciste dont le but ultime est de remplacer l’éducation publique et laïque par des écoles basées sur l’endoctrinement fondamentaliste chrétien – nous pouvons voir les grandes lignes de la version du régime Trump/Pence de « l’idéologie officielle (chrétienne fasciste) ». Nous pouvons reconnaître l’ombre qui plane sur une situation où non seulement les écoliers, mais aussi toute la société, devront prêter allégeance à une Amérique blanche chrétienne fasciste.

Une déclaration de l’organisation Refuse Fascism (RefuseFascism.org) argumente de manière éloquente et puissante :

Des limites réelles sont tracées, avec des conséquences catastrophiques pour toute l’humanité. Si nous perdons le droit de protester – par des moyens légaux ou extra-légaux – tous les paris sont annulés. Le fascisme n’est pas seulement le pire des mouvements de pendule. C’est un changement qualitatif dans la manière dont la société est gouvernée. La dissidence est criminalisée pièce par pièce. La vérité est matraquée. Un groupe après l’autre est diabolisé et ciblé sur une trajectoire qui mène à de véritables horreurs. Tout cela se produit depuis plus de trois ans, mais étant donné les camps de concentration à la frontière, l’acquittement de Trump dans un faux procès de destitution et un décret visant à protéger les monuments, alors que les droits du premier amendement sont criminalisés avec de véritables peines de prison, trop de gens veulent encore se prélasser dans des illusions confortables que tout ceci ne se passe pas vraiment. C’est le fascisme. Ça se passe bel et bien, et le temps presse pour l’arrêter.

Pendant bien trop longtemps, ceux d’entre nous, y compris les diverses voix représentées par Refuse Fasicsm, qui ont souligné le danger immédiat très réel – et potentiellement encore plus grand – représenté par le régime Trump/Pence ont été trop souvent confrontés à un renvoi arrogant de la part de ceux qui ne pouvaient pas, ou ne voulaient pas, voir la réalité et la trajectoire de ce régime ; qui ont rejetté le danger en ignorant ou en minimisant nombre des choses terribles que ce régime avait déjà faites ; et qui ont ensuite ont indiqué tout ce qui n’avait pas encore été fait par ce régime comme une prétendue « preuve » qu’il ne ferait pas ces choses. Maintenant, à cette heure tardive et cruciale, traiter comme une « exagération alarmiste » la nature fasciste de ce régime et ses parallèles très réels avec les horreurs perpétrées par les régimes fascistes précédents, c’est ignorer non seulement les leçons vitales de l’histoire, mais aussi la réalité extrêmement dangereuse de la situation actuelle, y compris la signification du fait que Trump – remplissant sa promesse aux fascistes chrétiens – a empilé les tribunaux, jusqu’à la Cour suprême, avec des légions de fascistes chrétiens et d’autres juges d’extrême droite, qui vont s’efforcer de « légitimer légalement » tout le programme horrifiant du régime fasciste de Trump/Pence.

Si ce régime parvient à consolider davantage son pouvoir et à faire de nouveaux bonds dans la mise en œuvre de ses horribles objectifs, il en résultera un revers dévastateur pour toute tentative de résistance à l’injustice et à l’oppression, et il est très probable que cela conduira à la répression brutale, voire à l’anéantissement, des défenseurs des droits démocratiques et des partisans de toute réforme progressiste significative, ainsi que de toute force organisée luttant pour un changement révolutionnaire fondamental.

Dans le sens le plus essentiel, le besoin urgent de mobiliser les masses populaires autour de la demande de forcer le départ du régime fasciste n’est pas en conflit avec le déferlement de masse contre la suprématie blanche institutionnalisée et la terreur policière, ou d’autres mouvements de masse contre les outrages de ce système, mais est en unité fondamentale avec et est crucial pour toutes ces luttes, et tout cela peut et doit être compris, et construit de manière puissante et permettant de se renforcer mutuellement.  [Relisez]

3Le simple fait de compter sur le vote pour chasser ce régime conduira presque certainement à des résultats très mauvais, voire désastreux. Cela est particulièrement vrai compte tenu de ce que ce régime fait déjà, et de ce que Trump dit, en ce qui concerne les élections.

Par des attaques totalement infondées contre le vote par correspondance, et des préparatifs visant à intimider et à entraver les Noirs et les Latinos qui tentent d’exercer leur droit de vote, le régime Trump/Pence et ses partisans ont déjà entrepris de supprimer les votes de ceux qui sont susceptibles de voter contre Trump. Comme il l’a fait lors de l’élection de 2016, Trump a déjà fait part de son probable refus d’accepter le résultat de l’élection cette fois-ci s’il n’est pas le vainqueur. Et maintenant, Trump a ouvertement « suggéré » l’idée de « retarder » l’élection.

Compte tenu de ce que Trump a déjà fait, et de ce qu’il a déclaré de manière flagrante, autant il est horrifiant, autant il est réaliste d’envisager que ce régime stationne des troupes d’assaut, loyales à ce régime, dans des villes de tout le pays – s’efforçant vicieusement de réprimer toute expression de résistance ou d’opposition – à l’approche des élections, et après.

La pandémie en cours, ou les décrets visant à réprimer le « désordre civil » (c’est-à-dire les protestations) dans de nombreuses régions du pays, pourraient également servir de prétexte pour « reporter » l’élection, peut-être indéfiniment.

Et il n’est certainement pas impensable que Trump cherche à créer une « urgence nationale » – par exemple, en menant des actes de guerre, contre l’Iran ou peut-être même la Chine – afin d’instaurer des conditions encore plus répressives, avec un nombre encore plus important de troupes d’assaut paramilitaires occupant les villes, afin soit d’annuler (ou de « retarder » indéfiniment) l’élection, soit de contrôler le scrutin et les résultats de l’élection si elle a lieu.

Il est d’une importance capitale de continuer à renforcer la résistance, dès maintenant et de manière de plus en plus puissante, contre toutes les mesures répressives prises par Trump, y compris en construisant une opposition de masse aux tentatives de ce régime de supprimer les électeurs et par une mobilisation de masse pour soutenir et défendre ceux qui sont la cible de cette suppression.

Avec la pleine conscience de ce que représente ce régime fasciste, et de ce que cela signifie que Trump ne cherche pas seulement à supprimer les votes des personnes qui voteront contre lui, mais se prépare également à utiliser une répression violente pour rester au pouvoir s’il n’est pas déclaré vainqueur aux élections, il est d’une importance critique et urgente de construire maintenant une mobilisation vraiment massive et soutenue autour de la demande unificatrice de chasser ce régime tout de suite : OUT NOW ! avec l’orientation d’être prêt à continuer cela même après les élections, si la situation l’exige.

Dès les premiers jours du régime Trump/Pence, le fascisme du refus a crié au fascisme de ce régime et a appelé à la mobilisation de masse pour chasser ce régime qui est maintenant, d’autant plus urgemment, nécessaire. Il aurait été très bien – et cela aurait pu faire une réelle différence – que tous ceux qui détestent ce régime mais ne reconnaissent pas, ou refusent de reconnaître sa nature fasciste réelle et le grand danger qu’il représente pour l’humanité en tant que tel, aient répondu beaucoup plus tôt à cet appel de Refuse Fascism et l’aient activement repris. Aujourd’hui, enfin, la nature « autoritaire » de ce régime, et même l’utilisation du terme « fascisme » pour le décrire, sont de plus en plus reconnues et font l’objet de discussions de plus en plus nombreuses. (Comme je l’ai souligné, pour beaucoup, c’est un cas de « Oh,  maintenant ils disent » que c’est du fascisme, comme si c’était tout juste arrivé. Mais, avec une compréhension des enjeux profonds en jeu, il est important de reconnaître que maintenant est mieux que jamais). Il se fait tard, mais il n’est pas encore trop tard pour faire de cette mobilisation de masse une réalité. S’appuyer sur les « normes » et les « voies habituelles » de ce système, y compris les prochaines élections, et confiner les actions à l’intérieur de ces normes et voies ne peut résoudre ce problème profond et urgent, surtout lorsqu’on a affaire à un régime fasciste et à ses partisans fanatiques qui sont déterminés à piétiner et à déchirer ces « normes ».  [Relisez]

4En cette heure critique, tous les moyens appropriés d’action non violente doivent être utilisés pour écarter ce régime du pouvoir. Et si, en dépit des protestations de masse exigeant le départ du régime Trump/Pence, ce régime reste au pouvoir au moment du vote, alors – sans s’y fier fondamentalement – l’utilisation de tous les moyens appropriés pour œuvrer au départ de ce régime doit inclure le vote contre Trump (en supposant que l’élection ait effectivement lieu). Pour être clair, cela ne signifie pas un « vote de protestation » pour un candidat qui n’a aucune chance de gagner, mais le fait de voter pour le candidat du Parti démocratique, Biden, afin de voter effectivement contre Trump.

Ce n’est pas parce que Biden (et le Parti démocrate en général) sont soudainement devenus autre chose que ce qu’ils sont : les représentants et les instruments de ce système de capitalisme-impérialisme exploiteur, oppressif et littéralement meurtrier. Le processus électoral continue d’être ce que nous, les revcoms, avons appelé le BEB (baratin électoral bourgeois). Il n’en reste pas moins qu’aucun changement fondamental pour le mieux ne peut se produire par le biais de ce processus électoral et que, de manière générale et globale, le vote dans le cadre de ce système sert à renforcer ce système, en particulier si le vote est considéré comme un moyen – et plus encore s’il est considéré comme le (seul) moyen – d’apporter un changement significatif.

Mais cette élection est différente.

Il est vrai qu’à chaque élection, les démocrates mènent le même jeu d’escroquerie de base – en faisant chanter les gens qui détestent l’injustice et l’oppression pour qu’ils votent pour eux en tant que « moindre mal » – en insistant en effet sur le fait que « vous pouvez ne pas être d’accord avec tout ce que nous disons, vous pouvez même avoir de sérieuses différences et critiques concernant ce que nous sommes, mais voulez-vous que ce soit eux au pouvoir ? » (le parti républicain ouvertement suprémaciste blanc, suprémaciste masculin, pilleur de l’environnement qui nie le changement climatique et qui est réactionnaire dans tous les domaines). Et le Parti démocrate a fait cela, maintes et maintes fois, alors qu’il représentait et cherchait à présider ce système de capitalisme-impérialisme dans lequel la suprématie blanche, la suprématie masculine, le pillage de l’environnement et les guerres pour l’empire sont intégrés, en même temps que les démocrates font du bruit et prennent des mesures pour mettre en œuvre des réformes mineures (et finalement sans importance) pour soi-disant remédier à ces outrages. Tout cela a en fait contribué à l’évolution des choses vers la terrible situation à laquelle nous sommes confrontés aujourd’hui. Elle a paralysé politiquement beaucoup de ceux qui cherchent à mettre fin à ces outrages, les réduisant à une dépendance passive du Parti Démocratique et de son rôle dans le processus électoral, tout en jetant de l’huile sur le feu des sections fascistes de la société qui insistent sur le fait qu’absolument aucune atténuation de ces outrages ait lieu – ni aucune concession à la lutte contre cela – et qui demandent en fait le renforcement brutal de cette oppression et de cette indignation, en termes extrêmes.

Mais, encore une fois, cette élection est différente – d’une manière cruciale. La question n’est pas de savoir si Biden et les démocrates représentent quelque chose de « bon » ou si, en termes fondamentaux, les démocrates sont « meilleurs » que les républicains. Ces deux partis sont des partis politiques de la classe dirigeante, et aucun de leurs candidats ne représente quelque chose de « bon » au sens le plus élémentaire et le plus essentiel du terme. Biden n’est pas « meilleur » que Trump, d’une quelconque manière significative – sauf qu’il n’est pas Trump et qu’il ne fait pas partie de la tendance à consolider et à imposer le pouvoir fasciste, avec tout ce que cela implique.

Aborder cette élection du point de vue du candidat qui est « meilleur » signifie ne pas comprendre les enjeux vraiment profonds et les conséquences potentielles de ce qui est en jeu. Le fait est qu’il ne peut y avoir qu’un seul « bien » qui puisse sortir de cette élection : infliger une défaite décisive à Trump et à l’ensemble du régime fasciste. Cela créerait de bien meilleures conditions pour continuer à lutter contre tout ce que représente le régime Trump/Pence et contre toute l’oppression et les injustices de ce système, et ce serait un grand cadeau pour les peuples du monde.

Encore une fois, dans ces circonstances très particulières et extraordinaires, si le régime Trump/Pence est toujours au pouvoir au moment de l’élection, malgré les mobilisations de masse exigeant l’expulsion de ce régime, alors la lutte contre ce régime fasciste doit inclure le vote contre Trump en votant pour Biden, tout en continuant à construire une mobilisation de masse soutenue contre ce régime et tout ce qu’il représente et concentre, et en étant prêt à poursuivre cette mobilisation de masse si Trump perd l’élection mais refuse de partir.  [Relisez]

5En reconnaissant cela, cependant, il est extrêmement important de souligner une fois de plus, dans les termes les plus forts, que, pour les raisons évoquées ici, compter sur le vote – sans cette mobilisation de masse – conduira très probablement au désastre.

Il est possible que Trump remporte effectivement l’élection – et qu’il gagne ou qu’il perde, on verra dans cette élection des mesures sans précédent pour supprimer les votes de ceux qui s’opposent à lui et pour utiliser d’autres moyens illégaux l’aidant à rester au pouvoir. Et, plus essentiellement encore, à partir d’une compréhension claire de la nature fasciste de ce régime, et de toutes les implications qui en découlent, ce régime est illégitime, indépendamment des moyens par lesquels il est arrivé au pouvoir et des mesures prises pour le conserver et le consolider davantage. Hitler et les NAZIs sont arrivés au pouvoir en Allemagne dans les années 1930 par les « voies normales » du « système démocratique » de ce pays – y compris les élections – mais leur régime n’avait absolument rien de « légitime » et toutes les horreurs vraiment indicibles auxquelles il a donné lieu. Et le même principe de base s’applique au régime Trump/Pence. Par sa nature et son contenu, le fascisme « légitime » n’existe pas.

Quoi qu’il arrive avec les élections – et même si Biden gagne et réussit à prendre effectivement ses fonctions – il n’y aura pas de « retour à la normale ». Tout d’abord, les fascistes – ceux qui occupent encore des postes puissants, et la « base » fasciste dans la société au sens large – ne le permettront pas. Et, en tout cas, personne ne devrait le vouloir. La « normalité » de ce système a toujours inclus l’oppression barbare des Noirs et d’autres personnes de couleur, avec la terreur, la brutalité et le meurtre systématiques pour imposer cette oppression. Elle a toujours inclus la discrimination vicieuse, le sectarisme et la violence contre les immigrants, les femmes, les personnes LGBTQ et toute autre personne considérée comme inférieure et « étrangère ». Elle a toujours inclus des guerres injustes pour l’empire, et des crimes continus contre l’humanité. Elle constitue aujourd’hui une menace pour l’existence même de l’humanité en raison de la dévastation croissante de l’environnement et de la menace toujours présente d’une guerre nucléaire.

Il faudra entreprendre la lutte multiforme pour chasser le régime fasciste de Trump/Pence non pas comme un substitut mais comme une partie – une partie cruciale – du mouvement visant à dépasser tout ce qui est représenté et incarné dans la « normalité » de ce système.   [Relisez]

6Enfin, quoi qu’il arrive avec cette élection, il reste profondément vrai – et il est d’une importance vitale de reconnaître et d’agir en fonction de cette compréhension – qu’aucun changement fondamental pour le mieux ne peut se réaliser sous ce système. Alors même qu’il y a besoin urgent de construire une mobilisation de masse soutenue autour de la revendication unificatrice : Trump/Pence, dehors ! OUT NOW!, tous ceux et toutes celles qui ont pu voir que la suprématie blanche institutionnalisée, la suprématie masculine et les nombreux autres outrages et crimes contre l’humanité perpétrés sous ce système sont en fait intégrés dans ce système de capitalisme-impérialisme doivent travailler ensemble, de manière continue, pour construire un mouvement en croissance constante et pour renforcer les forces organisées pour une véritable révolution visant à renverser ce système.

En résumé : Étant donné les enjeux véritablement monumentaux, non seulement pour chaque problème, aussi important soit-il, et non seulement pour ce pays, mais aussi pour les masses populaires du monde entier et l’avenir de l’humanité, il y a un grand besoin d’aborder les choses et d’agir avec la sophistication nécessaire pour gérer les contradictions complexes et difficiles qu’implique tout cela  en ayant une vision large, en rejetant le sectarisme mesquin et le dogmatisme rigide, et en ne tombant pas dans un « soit/soit » paralysant : soit nous luttons contre la suprématie blanche et la terreur policière, soit nous nous battons pour chasser le régime fasciste de Trump/Pence ; soit nous votons lors de cette élection, soit nous construisons une lutte de masse contre l’oppression scandaleuse et contre ce régime fasciste ; soit nous nous opposons à ce régime, par tous les moyens appropriés, soit nous travaillons pour la révolution. Dans cette situation extraordinaire et très complexe – et du point de vue de l’avancement de la lutte vers l’objectif d’éliminer enfin toute exploitation et toute oppression, partout – il y un besoin urgent de faire tout cela, et de le faire en comprenant la relation correcte et nécessaire entre les différentes parties de cette approche globale : mettre l’accent principale sur la mobilisation de masse et s’appuyer sur elle, le vote dans cette situation extraordinaire étant nécessaire et important mais non pas le principal élément sur lequel on doit compter ; et, en termes fondamentaux, faire en sorte que tout cela contribue à créer des conditions plus favorables et à accroître les forces organisées pour, non seulement résister aux crimes de ce système, mais enfin pour mener à bien la révolution nécessaire afin de mettre un terme à ce système monstrueusement criminel et à sa domination dans le monde, sous quelque forme que ce soit.  [Relisez]

 

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بیانیه ای از سوی باب آواکیان
اول اوت ۲۰۲۰

STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN

در باره اوضاع خطرناک پیش رو،  ضرورت فوریِ بیرون راندن رژیم فاشیستی ترامپ/پنس از قدرت،  رأی دادن در این انتخابات و نیاز اساسی به انقلاب کردن

| revcom.us

 

We received this translation in Farsi. This is an unofficial translation, and we do not vouch for its accuracy.

۱ - وضعیت امروز چالش هایی بی سابقه و با تاثیرات درازمدت در مقابلمان گذاشته است که نه تنها برای مردم این کشور بلکه برای کل بشریت پیامدهای عمیقی خواهد داشت. من سه سال پیش، این واقعیت را تحلیل کردم و از آن زمان تا کنون،  بسیار برجسته تر و حتی خطرناک تر شده است :

اکنون با رژیمی فاشیستی که بر ما حاکم است روبرو هستیم: رژیمی که بی امان به حقوق و آزادی های مدنی حمله می کند و آشکارا تعصب و نابرابری را ترویج و ترغیب می کند. این فاشیست ها عده ای از مردم را فرومایه و بی ارزش  یا لکۀ ننگ کشور می خوانند و رفتارشان با آنها بی اعتناییِ سنگدلانه یا کین ورزی بیرحمانه است. آنها محروم کردن میلیون ها نفر از بیمۀ سلامت و درمان را که بدون آن مردم در رنج زندگی کرده و بسیاری جان خواهند داد ماموریت خود می دانند. آنها گستاخانه زنان را اشیاء قابل غارت و ماشین زاد و ولدِ می دانند که حقِ سقط جنین و کنترل بارداری ندارند و باید تابع شوهران و به طور کلی مردان باشند. علمِ تغییرات اقلیمی را انکار می کنند، به علمِ تکامل حمله و به طور کلی روش علمی را تقبیح می کنند. این رژیمی است که زرادخانۀ کشتار جمعی اش را به رخ می کشد و تهدید می کند که دست به جنگ هسته ای خواهد زد. ترور دولتی را علیه مسلمانان، مهاجران و توده های مردم گتوهای آمریکا تشدید کرده است؛ از اوباش بیرحمیِ که از دهانشان تعفن «اول آمریکا» بیرون می زند، از سفیدپوستان برتری طلب و مردسالاران و نفرت پراکنی های ضد دگرباشان جنسی حمایت کرده و آنها را افسارگسیخته می کند. این رژیمی است که به خاطر همۀ این ها به خود می بالد و اعلام می کند که بدتر از همۀ اینها را در انبان دارد .

 در راس این رژیم «قلدر مجنونی» نشسته است که انگشت اش روی ماشۀ بمب هسته ای قرار دارد. این رژیم، بدون اغراق نه تنها تشدید بیسابقۀ رنج توده های بشریت را تهدید می کند بلکه خطری برای موجودیت بشریت است. زیرا در حال افزایشِ غارت هرچه بیشتر محیط زیست است و به داشتن سلاح های کشتار جمعیِ بی نظیر افتخار کرده و با گستاخی اعلام می کند که مایل است از این سلاح ها، از جمله از زرادخانه عظیم هسته ای اش استفاده کند .

همچنین تأکید کرده ام که سیستم سرمایه داری-امپریالیسم از طریق «عملکرد عادی» خود، این فاشیسم را تولید کرده و  تحت این سیستم  هیچ تغییر اساسیِ مثبت ممکن نیست در نتیجه، سیستم را باید سرنگون کرد و به جای آن سیستمی را جایگزین کرد که به شکل رادیکال متفاوت و به مراتب بهتر از آن است، تا بتوانیم کلیۀ روابط ستم و استثمار و درگیری های خشونت آمیزی که این روابط تولید می کنند را ریشه کن کنیم .  تمامی این ها در شالوده های سیستم تعبیه شده اند و  بخش لاینفک و ضروری  از  کارکرد و نیازهای آن را تشکیل می دهند .

در حال حاضر، برای همۀ کسانی که مشغله شان پایان دادن به بی عدالتی و ستم است و برایشان سوال است که آیا بشریت آینده ای که ارزش زندگی داشته باشد را خواهد داشت و اصلا آینده ای خواهد داشت یا خیر، بیرون راندن رژیم فاشیستی ترامپ/ پنس از قدرت، مساله ای فوری و عاجل و یک الزام حقیقتا تاریخی است .

راه حل  اساسی  برای دهشت هایی که سیستم دائما برای توده های بشریت به وجود می آورد، انقلاب و سرنگونی سیستم است (فارغ از این که سیستم از طریق دیکتاتوری فاشیستیِ عریان طبقه سرمایه دار حاکم اداره می شود یا از طریق دیکتاتوری نقابدار «دمکراتیک» این طبقه). کسانی که این نیاز را درک می کنند نباید رویکردشان به  مبارزه فوری  برای بیرون راندن رژیم ترامپ/ پنس از قدرت،  چنین باشد که گویی این مبارزه «انحراف » از (یا  «جایگزینی » برای ) ضرورت سازمان دادن جنبش برای انقلاب است. رویکردشان، دقیقا باید این باشد که این مبارزه بخشی — و بخشی حیاتی و ضرورتی فوری — از فعالیت کلی برای سازمان دهی انقلاب است .

هدف اساسی و ستارۀ راهنمای ما کماکان این است: انقلاب و نه چیزی کمتر از آن !

در هر فعالیتی که امروز انجام می دهیم، از جمله هنگامِ شرکت در مبارزاتی که رویکردشان مبارزه برای هدفی کمتر از انقلاب است، رویکرد ما این است که همۀ این فعالیت ها را به خدمتِ هدف اساسی انقلاب و رهایی بشریت در آوریم و همواره باید چنین رویکردی را داشته باشیم .

معمولا، ما کمونیست های انقلابی استدلال می کنیم که مردم نباید در انتخابات بورژوایی رای دهند. زیرا این کار به تقویت سیستم سرمایه داری-امپریالیسم خدمت کرده و به این توهم رایج دامن می زند که گویا می توان با «اصلاحات» و بدون سرنگون کردن سیستمی که سرچشمۀ همه این دهشت ها است، از ستم و استثمار خلاص شد. اما آیا این موضع در رابطه با انتخابات خاص کنونی درست است؟ برای جواب گفتن به این سوال باید به کل تصویر نگاه کنیم .

۲ - در مدت نزدیک به چهار سال که رژیم ترامپ/پنس در قدرت بوده است، ما را مجبور کردند شاهد جنایت هایی که پیشاپیش مرتکب شده است باشیم و خطر عظیم آن را تحمل کنیم. ترامپ کارزار انتخاباتی خود در سال ۲۰۱۶ را بر مبنای برنامه ای پیش برد که آشکارا برنامه ای فاشیستی بود مشتمل بر برتری جویی سفیدپوستان و مردسالاری و نژادپرستی و مهاجر هراسی به ویژه علیه مهاجران مکزیک و کشورهای دیگر که او آنها را «گودال های متعفن» می نامد. همچنین حمایت آشکار از تبهکاری و شرارت نیروهای پلیس و هواداران «غیر نظامی» او. ترامپ بلافاصله پس از رسیدن به قدرت، با تمام قوا این برنامه را به عمل درآورد و به سرعت کلیۀ «ضوابط نهادینه »[ ۲ ] را که مانعی در مقابل خود میدید، لگدمال کرد و حتا در مواجهه با استیضاح این کار را ادامه داد و پس از این که رفقای فاشیست او در حزب جمهوری خواه وی را در مجلس سنا تبرئه کردند، با تفرعن و شتاب بیشتر به این کار ادامه داد .

اساساً، هر آنچه در ابتدای بیانیه درباره این رژیم توصیف شده چیزی است که ترامپ و اطرافیانش با شدت کین خواهانه به انجام رسانده اند. با نزدیک شدن انتخابات ماه نوامبر، این روند غلیظ تر و پرخاشگرانه تر شده است. تصورش را بکنید که اگر در ماه نوامبر در صورت انتخاب مجدد برای دور دوم، به او مقام «فرماندهی» داده شود، چه خواهد کرد !

پاندمیِ کوید۱۹ و پاسخ ترامپ و پنس به این بیماری عالمگیر، تصویر روشن دیگری از ماهیت ضد علمی این رژیم و بی اعتنایی مطلق آن به رنج توده های مردم ارائه می دهد. به ویژه قشرهایی که این رژیم بیشترین حس تحقیر را نسبت به آنها دارد و شکننده ترین های جامعه اند و در این پاندمی شدیدترین ضربات را خورده اند .

تمام این ها اتفاقات وحشتناکی هستند اما مساله صرفا اتخاذ سیاست های وحشتناک نیست. بلکه ما با  یک شکل کیفیتا متفاوت از حاکمیت  مواجهیم که مبتنی است بر  سرکوب وحشیانه و تجاوز به هر آنچه قرار است پایه ای ترین حقوق باشد .

پیشاپیش دیده ایم که ترامپ در نقض آشکار اصول قانون اساسی، نیروی ضربت نظامیِ اشغالگری را از ارگان های مختلف دولت فدرال به پورتلند و شهرهای دیگر فرستاده است، تا ابراز نارضایتی و اعتراضات مردم را جرم و جنایت تلقی کرده و سرکوب کنند و بر سلطۀ ترور علیه توده های مردم در گتوهای شیکاگو و دیگر نقاط بیافزایند .

ما شاهد نمایش برتری طلبی عریان ترامپ در شعار «اول آمریکا» بوده ایم؛ از جمله در مطالبات مکررش برای مجازات شدید کسانی  که به نظر او نتوانسته اند به طور شایسته شور وطن پرستی نشان دهند، یا جرأت انتقاد از او را به خود داده اند یا علیه برخی از عریان ترین ستم گری های قوای اجراییِ سیستم، به ویژه تداوم سرکوب بیرحمانۀ سیاهان و قتل مردم سیاه، قهوه ای و بومیان آمریکایی توسط پلیس اعتراض کرده اند. ترامپ دائما در حال ترغیب رذالتِ اوباش طرفدار «متمم دوم قانون اساسی »[ ۳ ] و دیگر کسانی که او «آدم های بسیار شایسته» می خواند بوده است .

همه اینها عروج هیتلر به قدرت و حاکمیت او و آلمان نازی در دهه ۱۹۳۰ و اوایل دهۀ ۱۹۴۰ را به یاد می آورند. هنگامی که هیتلر جنبش فاشیستی خود را بنا می نهاد، اراذل و اوباش بسیج می شدند تا آن دسته از مردم را که حمایت خود از هیتلر را نشان نمی دادند ضرب و شتم کرده و بترسانند و به آنها در خیابان و سایر اماکن عمومی حمله کنند. همین که دولت فاشیستی نازی قدرت خود را تثبیت کرد، هرگونه اپوزیسیون را به شدت مجازات و خرد کرد. همه کسانی که با صراحت او و ایدئولوژی رسمی نازی او را تایید نمی کردند مورد هدف قرار می گرفتند. تعداد زیادی از مردم از مؤسسات دولتی پاکسازی شدند. به ویژه یهودیان و همۀ کسانی که به اعتقاد رژیم نازی نسبت به «نژاد خالص آلمانی» «بیگانه» بودند و مانعی در رسیدنِ این رژیم به اهداف جنایتکارانه اش تلقی می شدند. اول از کمونیست ها شروع کردند. اما خیلی زود جمعیت یهود، کولی ها (رومانها)، همجنسگرایان و دیگران را در بر گرفت. اردوگاه های کار اجباری پر از کسانی شد که  برای رژیم نازی تهدید یا برای آلمان «لکه ننگ» محسوب می شدند. و طولی نکشید که این روند به نسل کشیِ گستردۀ میلیون ها یهودی در آلمان و کشورهایی که توسط رژیم نازی فتح و اشغال می شدند، منجر شد .

هرچند این اتفاقات یک باره رخ ندادند اما طی یک دوره نسبتاً کوتاه (یک دهه یا بیشتر) و با شتابی فزاینده روی دادند حاکمیت قانون کاملاً آشکارا و رسماً کنار گذاشته نشده بود اما «قانون» و «حاکمیت قانون» مترادف شد با هیتلر و هر آن چه رژیم نازی می گفت «قانون» است. بخش عمده از کاری که هیتلر و نازی ها در جریان حاکمیت وحشت و نسل کشی انجام دادند «مطابق قانون» بود. قانونی که به اهداف و ابزار توحش آنها تقلیل پیدا کرده بود، و توسط نهادهایی که کاملا از هر معنا یا هدفی به جز خدمت به دستور کار نازی و انطباق با آن تهی شده بودند، از طریق سرکوب و قتل اعمال می شدند و تبدیل شده بودند به ابزار جنایت نازی ها .

درمجموع آنچه ترامپ در حال حاضر انجام می دهد، از جمله فراخوان های علنی وی برای لغو تصمیمات دیوان عالی و مصوبه ها و بدعت های قبلی (به طور مثال، فراخوان غیرقانونی کردن سقط جنین و مجازات سوزاندن پرچم)، به همراه نقض مکرر قانون و آیین های دادرسی قانونی توسط وی و پافشاری بر این که  او  خودش قانون است، سایۀ فرارسیدن دیکتاتوری فاشیستیِ هرچه عریان تر است. فاشیسم همین است. یعنی دیکتاتوری آشکار و تهاجمی، لگدمال کردن حاکمیت قانون، تکیه کردن بر خشونت و ترور به نیابت از سیستم سرمایه داری سیری ناپذیر و به مثابه تلاشی افراطی برای مقابله با شکاف های عمیق اجتماعی و بحران های حاد (در داخل و در عرصه جهانی). و با اقدامات «وزیر آموزش و پرورش» ترامپ (بتسی دو- ووس ) Betsy DeVos می توانیم خطوط کلی نسخۀ رژیم ترامپ/پنس از «ایدئولوژی رسمی» (مسیحیت فاشیستی) را ببینیم. چرا که بتسی دو-ووس خودش یک فاشیست بنیادگرای مسیحی است و هدف نهایی اش تعویض نظام آموزش عمومی و سکولار آمریکا با مدارسی مبتنی بر آموزش آیینیِ مسحیت بنیادگرا است. از هم اکنون می توانیم سایه گستریِ وضعیتی را تشخیص دهیم که نه تنها دانش آموزان مدارس بلکه همۀ افراد جامعه ملزم به بیعت وفاداری با یک آمریکای فاشیستی مسیحی سفید گردند .

یکی از بیانیه های سازمان «رفیوز فاشیسم» این موضوع را در متن زیر  به شکل شیوا و قدرتمند استدلال می کند :

«به واقع خطوط در حال ترسیم شدن هستند و اوضاع آبستن پیامدهای فاجعه آمیز برای کل بشریت است. اگر ما حق اعتراض از طریق قانونی یا غیر قانونی را از دست بدهیم، اصلا نمی توان گفت که چه خواهد شد. فاشیسم صرفا بدترین حالت در چرخش آونگ نیست. بلکه تغییری کیفی در نحوۀ حاکمیت بر جامعه است. گروه ها را یکی پس از دیگری شرور نامیده و در مسیری که به وحشت می انجامد مورد آماج قرار می دهند. همه اینها در ظرف بیش از سه سال در جریان بوده است، اما با وجود برپا شدن اردوگاه های اجباری در مرز، تبرئۀ ترامپ در دادگاه استیضاح قلابی و فرمان اجرایی برای محافظت از بناهای تاریخی و هم زمان جرم تلقی کردن حق «متمم اول» که استفاده از آن مجازات زندان دارد، خیلی ها هنوز می خواهند غرق در توهمات راحت طلبانه شان باشند و نمی خواهند باور کنند که این اتفاق واقعا دارد روی می دهد. این فاشیسم است که به جریان افتاده و زمان برای متوقف کردن آن دارد از دست می رود ».

خیلی وقت است که عده ای از ما، از جمله صداهای متنوعی که توسط «رفیوز فاشیسم» نمایندگی می شود، نشان داده ایم که رژیم ترامپ/پنس خطری فوری و دارای ظرفیت خطراتی بس عظیم تر است. اما این هشدارها اغلب اوقات و بیش از اندازه با واکنشِ انکارهای متکبرانۀ کسانی روبرو شده است که نمی توانند یا نمی خواهند واقعیت و مسیر این رژیم را ببینند. آنها چشمان خود را بر  بسیاری از کارهای وحشتناکی که این رژیم پیشاپیش انجام داده بستند و به آنها کم بها دادند  تا خطر این رژیم را انکار کنند. آنها خاطرنشان می کردند که این رژیم  هنوز  فلان و بهمان کارها را انجام نداده و انتظار داشتند که «اثبات» این ادعا باشد که این کارها را  نخواهد کرد . اکنون که دیری از شب گذشته و در این لحظۀ حساس، با دیدن ماهیت فاشیستی این رژیم و تشابهات بسیار واقعی آن با جنایت های رژیم های فاشیستی قبلی، دادنِ عنوانِ «زنگ خطرهای اغراق آمیز» به این هشدارها هیچ نیست مگر بی اعتنایی به درس های حیاتی تاریخ و علاوه بر این، چشم پوشیدن بر واقعیت بسیار خطرناک اوضاع کنونی: از جمله، اهمیت این واقعیت که ترامپ برای عملی کردن وعده هایی که به فاشیست های مسیحی داده است، دادگاه ها را از مدارج پایین تا دیوان عالی کشور با قشونی از فاشیست های مسیحی و دیگر قضات راست افراطی پر کرده است. این قشون، برای اعطای «مشروعیت قانونی» به کل برنامه هولناک رژیم فاشیستی ترامپ/ پنس حرکت خواهد کرد .

اگر این رژیم بتواند قدرت خود را بیش از اینها تثبیت کند و در اجرای اهداف ترسناک خود جهش های بیشتری کند، نتیجه اش عقب گرد ویرانگر برای هرگونه تلاش در مقاومت علیه بی عدالتی و ستم خواهد بود و به احتمال زیاد منجر به سرکوب بیرحمانه و حتا نابودی مدافعان حقوق دمکراتیک و حامیان هر شکل اصلاحات مترقیِ معنادار و همچنین نیروهای متشکلی خواهد بود که برای تغییرات اساسی انقلابی مبارزه می کنند .

به اساسی ترین وجه، ضرورت فوری در بسیج توده ای مردم حول خواست بیرون راندن اجباری این رژیم فاشیستی در تضاد با خیزش توده ای علیه سفیدسالاری (برتری جویی سفید پوستان) و ترور پلیسی که نهادینه هستند یا در تضاد با جنبش های توده ای علیه دیگر جنایت های این سیستم نیست بلکه در اتحاد بنیادین با تمام این مبارزات بوده و برای همه آنها حیاتی است .  اینها به طرزی قدرتمند با یک دیگر رابطۀ تقویت متقابل دارند که می توان و باید آن را درک کرد و بر این مبنا آنها را سازمان داد .

۳ تقریبا با اطمینان می توان گفت که صرفاً اتکا به رأی دادن برای بیرون راندن رژیم از قدرت، منجر به نتایج بسیار بد و حتی فاجعه آمیز خواهد شد . این امر به ویژه با توجه به کارهایی که رژیم ترامپ/پنس پیشاپیش در رابطه با انتخابات انجام می دهد و آن چه ترامپ در رابطه با آن می گوید، صادق است. پیشاپیش رژیم و حامیانش حرکت هایی را برای سرکوب آرای کسانی که احتمالا علیه ترامپ رأی خواهند داد شروع کرده اند. به عنوان مثال ترامپ دست به حملات کاملاً بی اساس علیه ارسال رأی از طریق پُست زده و برای ارعاب سیاهان و لاتین تباران و مانع تراشی در مقابل استفادۀ آنها از حق رأی شان تدارک می بیند. ترامپ همانطور که در انتخابات سال ۲۰۱۶ گفت در صورت باخت، از پذیرش نتیجه انتخابات سر باز خواهد زد، در مورد انتخابات آینده هم چنین زمزمه هایی را سر داده است. و اکنون ایدۀ «معلق کردن» و «به تاخیر انداختن» انتخابات را طرح می کند

با توجه به کارهایی که ترامپ قبلاً انجام داده و وقیحانه اعلام کرده، می توان تصور کرد که با نزدیک شدن انتخابات و بعد از آن، رژیم ترامپ/پنس گارد توفانِ storm troopers  وفادار به خودش را در شهرهای سراسر کشور مستقر کرده و با شرارت دست به سرکوب هرگونه ابراز مقاومت و مخالفت بزند. این چشم انداز بسیار ترسناک و همچنین بسیار واقع بینانه است .  

تداوم پاندمی کوید۱۹ یا فرمان های اجرایی برای فرونشاندن «بی نظمی مدنی» (اعتراضات) در بسیاری از نقاط کشور می تواند همچنین به عنوان بهانه و نقابی برای «تعلیق» انتخابات و شاید تعلیق نامحدود آن، استفاده شود .

مطمئناً می توان تصور کرد که ترامپ یک «شرایط اضطراری ملی» نیز خلق کند. برای مثال به اقدامات جنگی علیه ایران یا حتا احتمالا علیه چین دست بزند و به این بهانه شرایط سرکوبگرانه شدیدتری را برقرار کند، شمار بیشتری از گارد توفان شبه نظامی اش را برای اشغال شهرها بفرستد و انتخابات را ابطال کند (یا برای مدت نامحدود «به تاخیر» بیندازد) و یا در صورت برگزاری انتخابات، از این طریق آراء و نتایج آن را کنترل کند .

در حال حاضر، استمرار در سازمان دادن مقاومت و سازمان دادن آن به شکل قدرتمند و گسترش یابنده علیه هر حرکت سرکوبگرانۀ ترامپ، از جمله سازمان دادن مخالفت علیه تلاش های این رژیم در سرکوب رأی دهندگان و از طریق بسیج گسترده در حمایت و دفاع از آنهایی که آماج چنین سرکوبگری هستند، دارای اهمیت اساسی است .

با آگاهی کامل نسبت به ماهیت رژیم فاشیستی و آن چه نمایندگی می کند و با آگاهی نسبت به این که ترامپ فقط به دنبال سرکوب آرای کسانی نیست که علیه وی رأی خواهند داد، بلکه در تدارک است که در صورت برنده نشدن در انتخابات برای ماندن در قدرت از سرکوب خشن و قهری استفاده کند... با آگاهی کامل نسبت به اینها،  هم اکنون  باید دست به بسیج حقیقتا عظیم و پایدار حول خواست متحدانۀ بیرون کردن فوری این رژیم از قدرت بزنیم. این مبارزه از اهمیتی اساسی و فوری برخوردار است و باید جهت گیری آن را داشته و آماده باشیم که در صورت ضرورت اوضاع، این بسیج را بعد از انتخابات هم ادامه دهیم .

از روزهای نخست رژیم ترامپ/ پنس، سازمان «رفیوز فاشیسم» ماهیت فاشیستی این رژیم را فریاد زده و فراخوان بسیج گستردۀ توده ای با هدف بیرون راندن این رژیم از قدرت را داده است. تحقق این هدف اکنون هرچه ضروری تر و فوری تر شده است. اگر، آنها که از این رژیم متنفرند اما در گذشته نتوانستند یا نخواستند ماهیت واقعیِ فاشیستی و خطر بزرگ آن برای بشریت را تشخیص دهند، زودتر از این ها به فراخوان «رفیوزفاشیسم» پاسخ داده و فعالانه درگیر آن شده بودند، امروز با اوضاعی واقعا متفاوت و بسیار خوبی روبرو بودیم. اکنون سرانجام و به طور روزافزونی عدۀ بیشتری این واقعیت را تشخیص می دهند و حول ماهیت «اقتدارگرای» این رژیم بحث می شود و حتی استفاده از اصطلاح فاشیسم برای توصیف آن افزایش یافته است. همانطور که  خاطرنشان کردم در مورد افراد زیادی می توان گفت: «اوه !  حالا  می گویند» که این فاشیسم است، گویی به تازگی فاشیسم ظاهر شده است. اما از آن جا که خطرات عمیق را می فهمیم، بهتر است این واقعیت را به رسمیت بشناسیم که  الان  بهتر از  هرگز  است. زمان در حال از دست رفتن است. اما هنوز برای محقق کردن بسیج گستردۀ توده ای خیلی دیر نشده است .  تکیه کردن بر «ضوابط» {«هنجارها»} و «مجاری معمول» سیستم و محدود کردن اقدامات خود در این چارچوب ها، از جمله انتخابات آینده، نمی تواند مشکل عمیق و فوری پیش رو را حل کند، به ویژه هنگامی که مساله مقابله با یک رژیم فاشیستی و پیروان متعصب آن است که مصمم اند این «ضوابط» را لگد مال و پاره کنند .

۴ - در این لحظۀ حساس، باید از هر وسیلۀ عملِ غیر خشونت آمیز مناسب برای بیرون کردن این رژیم از قدرت، استفاده شود. اگر علیرغم اعتراضات گسترده با خواست بیرون کردن رژیم ترامپ/پنس از قدرت، این رژیم در زمان انتخابات کماکان در قدرت باقی مانده باشد، آنگاه (با فرض این که انتخابات به واقع برگزار شود) استفاده از کلیۀ ابزار مناسب برای کنار زدن این رژیم  باید شامل رأی دادن علیه ترامپ باشد . بدون این که تکیۀ اساسی بر روی این روش گذاشته شود  واضح بگویم که این به معنای «رأی اعتراضی» برای برخی کاندیداها که شانس پیروزی ندارند نیست. بلکه برای  رأی موثر علیه ترامپ، در واقع باید به نامزد حزب دمکرات یعنی بایدن رأی داد .

دلیل این امر آن نیست که بایدن (و به طور کلی حزب دمکرات) یک باره تبدیل به چیزی غیر از آن چه هستند شده اند. آنها نمایندگان و ابزار سیستم استثمارگر، ستم گر و به معنای واقعی کلمه، سیستم آدمکش سرمایه داری-امپریالیسم هستند. پروسۀ انتخاباتی کماکان همان چیزی است که ما کمونیست های انقلابی نامیده ایم : BEB (مزخرفِ انتخاباتیِ بورژوازی). کماکان حقیقت این است که هیچ تغییر اساسی به سمت شرایط بهتر نمی تواند از طریق پروسۀ انتخاباتی به دست آید و این که به طور عام و به طور کلی، رأی دادن تحت این سیستم به تقویت سیستم خدمت می کند، به ویژه اگر به رأی دادن به عنوان راهی برای دست یافتن به تغییر معنادار و به خصوص اگر به عنوان «راه» به آن نگریسته شود .

اما این انتخابات، فرق دارد .

این حقیقت دارد که با هر انتخاباتی، دمکرات ها همان بازی شیادانه را اجرا می کنند. یعنی مردم متنفر از بی عدالتی و ستم را می ترسانند که به «شّر کمتر» رأی دهند و اصرار می ورزند که «شما ممکن است با هرچه ما می گوییم موافق نباشید، حتا ممکن است اختلافات و انتقادهای جدی به ما و فعالیتهای مان داشته باشید اما آیا واقعا می خواهید که  آنها  در قدرت باشند؟! (منظور از آنهاسفید پوستان برتری طلب، مردسالاران، غارتگران محیط زیست که تغییرات اقلیمی را انکار می کنند، و مرتجعین تمام قدِ حزب جمهوری خواه است ).

و حزب دمکرات همواره و دائما این کار را کرده است. حزب دمکرات نمایندۀ سیستم سرمایه داری- امپریالیسم است که سفیدسالاری، مردسالاری، غارت محیط زیست و جنگ برای امپراتوری در وجودش تعبیه شده و همواره تلاش میکند در رأس سیستم بنشیند. با این وجود گاها سر و صداهایی در مورد این جنایت ها کرده و برخی قدم ها برای برخی اصلاحات ناچیز (و در نهایت بی محتوا) بر می دارد تا به اصطلاح کاری در رابطه با آنها صورت بدهد. همه اینها در واقع به ایجاد اوضاع وحشتناکی که امروز در مقابلمان است خدمت کرده است. به لحاظ سیاسی بسیاری از کسانی که به دنبال خاتمه دادن به چنین جنایت هایی هستند را فلج کرده و به سطح وابستگان منفعلِ حزب دمکرات و نقش آن در پروسه انتخاباتی فروکاهیده است. ضمن اینکه بر آتش بخش های فاشیستِ سخت جان جامعه دمیده است که مصرند مطلقا اجازۀ هیچ تخفیفی در این جنایات و هیچ امتیازی به مبارزاتی که علیه آن می شود، داده نشود، و در واقع خواستار تقویت بیرحمانۀ این ستم و جنایات آن به طرزی افراطی هستند .

با این وجود، این انتخابات از زوایای بسیار مهمی متفاوت  است  سؤال این نیست که آیا بایدن و دمکرات ها نماینده چیز «خوبی» هستند یا اینکه آیا اصولا دمکراتها «بهتر» از جمهوری خواهان هستند. هر دوی این ها، احزاب سیاسیِ طبقۀ  حاکم  اند و هیچ یک از نامزدهای انتخاباتی آن ها در پایه ای ترین و اساسی ترین مفهوم، چیز «خوبی» را نمایندگی نمی کنند. بایدن در هیچ جنبۀ محتوایی «بهتر» از ترامپ نیست،  جز این که او ترامپ نیست و بخشی از تلاش برای تحکیم و اجرای حاکمیت فاشیستی با تمام معنایی که دارد، نمی باشد .

اگر به این انتخابات از این زاویه که کدام نامزد «بهتر» است نگاه کنیم، از درک خطرات عمیق و عواقب بالقوه ای که در این وضعیت وجود دارند، غافل خواهیم ماند. واقعیت این است که از درون این انتخابات تنها چیز «خوبی » که میتواند بیرون بیاید،   وارد کردن یک شکست قاطع به ترامپ و کل رژیم فاشیستی است  انجام این کار می تواند شرایط به مراتب بهتری برای ادامۀ مبارزه علیه هر آن چه رژیم ترامپ/پنس نمایندگی کرده و علیه کلیه ستم ها و بی عدالتی های این سیستم ایجاد کند و هدیۀ بزرگی برای مردم سراسر جهان خواهد بود .

باز هم در این شرایطِ بسیار خاص و خارق العاده، اگر رژیم ترامپ/پنس با وجود بسیج گستردۀ توده ای حول خواست برکناری این رژیم، در زمان انتخابات همچنان در قدرت باشد، آنگاه مبارزه علیه این رژیم فاشیستی رأی دادن علیه ترامپ از طریق رأی دادن به بایدن را ایجاب می کند،  در همان حال که سازماندهی بسیج گسترده و پایدار علیه این رژیم و هر آنچه نمایندگی و در خود فشرده می کند را باید ادامه داد و آماده باشیم که بسیج گسترده را حتا اگر ترامپ در انتخابات بازنده شود اما از قبول باخت امتناع کند ادامه دهیم .

۵  – با وجود تشخیص این مساله، بسیار مهم است که یک بار دیگر به شدیدترین وجه تأکید کنیم که به دلایلی که در اینجا گفته شد ،  اتکا  به رأی دادن  بدون بسیج گستردۀ توده ای، به احتمال زیاد منجر به فاجعه خواهد شد .

این احتمال هست که ترامپ واقعاً در انتخابات پیروز شود. اما، چه برنده شود یا بازنده، انتخابات شامل اقدامات بی سابقه در سرکوب آرای مخالفان وی و استفاده از وسایل غیرقانونی گوناگون برای ماندن در قدرت خواهد بود. و حتی اساسی تر، با درک دقیق ماهیت فاشیستیِ رژیم و پیامدهای کامل آن، باید گفت فارغ از این که رژیم ترامپ/پنس از چه طریقی به قدرت رسیده و برای ماندن و تحکیم قدرت خود دست به چه حرکاتی می زند، در هر حالت  نامشروع است . هیتلر و نازی ها در دهه  1930 در آلمان از طریق «کانالهای عادی سیستم دمکراتیک» از جمله انتخابات به قدرت رسیدند، اما حاکمیت آنها و اقدامات وحشتناک وصف ناپذیرشان، مطلقاً هیچ «مشروعیتی» نداشت. همین اصل اساسی در مورد رژیم ترامپ/پنس صدق می کند. به دلیل ماهیت و محتوا، چیزی به نام «فاشیسم مشروع» وجود ندارد .

هر اتفاقی در انتخابات بیافتد و حتی اگر بایدن برنده و به واقع رئیس جمهور شود، هرگز «بازگشت به شرایط عادی» در کار نخواهد بود. زیرا، اولا فاشیست ها، یعنی کسانی که کماکان در مقام های بالای قدرت خواهند ماند و همچنین «پایۀ» فاشیسم که در جامعه گسترده شده است، چنین اجازه ای را نخواهند داد. و دیگر این که، به هر حال هیچ کس نباید  خواهان  «بازگشت شرایط عادی» باشد. چرا که «شرایط عادی» این سیستم همواره شامل ظلم و ستم وحشیانه علیه مردم سیاه و سایر رنگین پوستان از طریق ترور، قساوت و قتل عام سیستماتیک برای اجرای این ستم؛ همواره شامل تبعیض شرورانه، تعصب و خشونت علیه مهاجران، زنان، ال جی بی تی کیوها و سایر کسانی که به عنوان فرومایه و «بیگانه» تلقی شده اند، بوده است. همواره شامل جنگهای ناعادلانه برای امپراتوری و ادامه جنایات علیه بشریت بوده است و اکنون همان «شرایط عادی» از طریق ویرانی های روز افزون محیط زیست و تهدید همیشگی جنگ هسته ای، تهدیدی برای موجودیت بشر نیز محسوب می شود .

مبارزات چند جانبه برای براندازی رژیم فاشیستی ترامپ/پنس جایگزینی برای حرکت به فراسوی این سیستم و هر آنچه که توسط «شرایط عادی» آن نمایندگی شده و تجسم می یابد نیست. بلکه باید به مثابه یک بخش – بخشی مهم – از حرکت به  فراسوی  سیستم در دست گرفته شود .

۶ سرانجام جدا از اینکه چه اتفاقاتی در انتخابات جاری بیفتد، یک حقیقت عمیق تغییر نمی کند و آن این که هیچ تغییر  اساسی  به سمت شرایط بهتر  در چارچوبۀ این سیستم  امکان پذیر نیست. تشخیص این حقیقت و عمل کردن بر مبنای درکِ آن اهمیتی حیاتی دارد. هرچند که بسیج گستردۀ پایدار حول مطالبۀ متحد کنندۀ «برکناری رژیم ترامپ/پنس! فوری!» باید به طور عاجل پیش برود. اما در همان حال کسانی که به این درک رسیده اند که سفیدسالاری، مردسالاری و دیگر ستم ها و جنایت ها علیه بشریت که در چارچوب این سیستم جریان دارد در حقیقت در وجود سیستم سرمایه داری-امپریالیسم  تعبیه شده  اند، باید به طور منظم و مداوم با یکدیگر برای ساختن جنبشی گسترش یابنده و تقویت نیروهای سازمان یافتۀ برای انجام انقلابی واقعی جهت سرنگونی سیستم، کار کنند .   

خلاصه کنم: با توجه به وجود خطرات حقیقتا سرنوشت ساز، نه فقط از منظر یک موضوع خاص، هرچند که بسیار مهم باشد، و نه صرفا برای این کشور، بلکه برای توده های مردم در سراسر جهان و برای آیندۀ بشریت، نیاز فوق العاده ای هست که رویکرد و عمل مان دارای آن حد از پختگی باشد که در مواجهه با تضادهای پیچیده و دشوار اوضاع کنونی لازم است – داشتن دید وسیع، رد سکتاریسم کوته نظرانه و دگماتیسم شکننده و بی دوام، و پرهیز از رویکرد فلج کنندۀ «این یا آن». نباید گفت: ما علیه سفیدسالاری و خشونت پلیس مبارزه می کنیم یا برای بیرون راندن رژیم فاشیستی ترامپ/پنس؛ یا در این انتخابات شرکت میکنیم یا مبارزه توده ای علیه مظالم سیستم و این رژیم فاشیستی راه می اندازیم.؛ یا با هر وسیلۀ مناسبی به مخالفت با این رژیم بلند می شویم یا برای انقلاب کار می کنیم .  در این شرایط استثنائی و بسیار پیچیده و از چشم انداز پیشبرد مبارزه با هدف محو نهایی همه انواع ستم و استثمار، در همه جای جهان، نیاز فوری به انجام همه این کارها هست و این کار را باید بر مبنای درک رابطۀ صحیح و لازم بین بخشهای مختلف این رویکرد کلی باید انجام داد: با  قرار دادن تأکید اصلی و اتکا بر  بسیج توده ای وسیع، رأی دادن در این شرایط خارق العاده لازم و مهم است اما نباید تکیۀ عمده را بر آن گذاشت؛ و به طور بنیادین، همه این کارها را باید به خدمت ایجاد شرایط مساعدتری برای ساختن نیروهای متشکل در آورد، تا نه فقط مقاومت علیه جنایت های این سیستم را پیش ببریم بلکه برای این که بتوانیم بالاخره انقلاب کنیم؛ انقلابی برای پایان دادن به حیات این سیستم  فوق العاده جنایتکار و تسلط آن در جهان، به هر شکلی .

 

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/666/bob-avakian-voting-will-not-be-enough-pt3-long-en.html

 

TRUMP’S FASCISM—
MORE BLATANT AND DANGEROUS EVERY DAY:
HOW A DETERMINED FIGHT AND MASSIVE MOBILIZATION
COULD DEFEAT THIS

PART 3 of

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—
WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS,
AND STAY IN THE STREETS
DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!

(Long Version—The Larger Canvas and Fuller Picture)

(See also "Short Version—The Basic Picture and Essential Vision")

by Bob Avakian

| revcom.us

 

In the Statement By Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution, I spoke to this important point:

At this critical hour, every appropriate means of non-violent action must be utilized to remove this regime from power. And if, in spite of mass protest demanding the removal of the Trump/Pence regime, this regime remains in power when it is time for voting, then—without placing fundamental reliance on this—using all appropriate means to work for the removal of this regime must include voting against Trump (assuming the election is actually held). To be clear, this means not a “protest vote” for some candidate who has no chance of winning, but actually voting for the Democratic Party candidate, Biden, in order to effectively vote against Trump.

At the same time, however, I strongly emphasized that

Simply relying on voting to oust this regime will almost certainly lead to very bad, even disastrous results. This is especially true given what this regime is already doing, and what Trump is saying, in relation to the election.

But, if that is true, then how could this regime be removed from power—and, specifically, how could a mass mobilization actually lead to this regime being forced to go? 

Imagine this. 

Among the thousands who have already been reached, and moved, by the work of RefuseFascism.org, raising the demand that this fascist regime must be OUT NOW!, growing numbers become grass roots organizers, reaching out to their families, friends and communities, and involving all kinds of people and groups—through direct contact, social media, and in other ways—drawing into this growing, and increasingly diverse, mass movement thousands more who share their hatred for everything this regime stands for and is moving mercilessly to hammer into place. Many more, in turn, also become organizers. 

Imagine that, as has happened with the mass protests against racist oppression and police terror, people mobilize in the streets, day after day, beginning on October 3rd, responding to the call from Refuse Fascism for sustained non-violent but determined demonstrations around the unifying demand that this regime must go, now. These mobilizations grow, expanding and multiplying—joined by increasing numbers of people outraged by continuing police brutality and murder; by the ravaging of the environment; children in cages and tens of thousands of immigrants in concentration camps on the border; Trump’s heartless and reckless neglect and lying about the COVID pandemic, causing tens of thousands of needless deaths, disproportionately among Black and Brown and Native people; the regime’s relentless move to further consolidate a Supreme Court that is another instrument of fascist bigotry and repression—masses of people, from all parts of society, who are sickened by all this, and are coming to see even more clearly that all this is bound up with and driven by this fascist regime, joining with the ongoing daily mobilizations, linking their outrage and resistance with the unifying demand: OUT NOW! 

Imagine: Students, teachers, scientists, medical professionals, lawyers, clergy and their congregations, unions, civil rights and justice organizations, artists, athletes and others in the cultural arena—all these, and others, take up the call and mobilize to strengthen the movement. Celebrities, and prominent people in many fields, utilize their platforms to magnify the message and help to mobilize still greater numbers. 

As the crimes of this regime escalate day after day—spewing white supremacy, male supremacy, and other bigotry; moving to suppress votes and steal the election; threatening and unleashing violence to remain in power regardless of the outcome of the election; increasingly turning the “Justice Department” into a naked instrument of lawless repression, robbing people of basic rights, while moving to hammer into place a Supreme Court that will declare all this “Constitutional” and “legal”—as all this, and more, becomes increasingly blatant, and accelerates at a dizzying pace with the approach of the scheduled election, growing sectors of society come to the realization that they cannot simply look to the election to deal with this. Casting aside passive reliance on the “normal political process,” and overcoming fear in the face of threats and assaults by fascist thugs, all over the country masses of ordinary people, in growing waves, take to the streets, join the ongoing OUT NOW! mobilizations, or themselves initiate such mobilizations where they are not yet happening. This becomes a massive groundswell, engulfing the country as a whole, dramatically changing the terms of political engagement, forcing every political contender and all the dominant institutions in society to respond to this rising wave of determined mass resistance. This growing mobilization moves from the margins to the center of media attention and coverage, in this country and internationally. People around the world take notice, are inspired and organize demonstrations in solidarity and support. 

Imagine that, all of a sudden, Democratic Party politicians and operatives are forced to realize that they cannot simply funnel all the outrage and discontent into an election that is being daily stolen and violently corrupted by the fascist regime. These politicians now declare that they identify with the sentiments of the masses of demonstrators demanding OUT NOW!—and they seek to have speakers at rallies and work to control and direct the mobilizations into “acceptable channels” that will not lead to further “disorder.” But, given the growing understanding and determination of the demonstrators, these politicians’ efforts only draw even more attention, and still greater numbers, to these mobilizations—and, even in the face of growing threats and acts of repression and violence by the regime and its fascist supporters, in and out of uniform, these mobilizations continue to grow and even more powerfully thunder the demand: OUT NOW! 

Faced with this intensifying situation, the leaders of the Democratic Party calculate that the only way they can hope to gain control over the situation and re-establish some semblance of “orderly process” is to themselves take up the demand that the Trump/Pence regime must go—now—even before a scheduled election that this regime has thoroughly perverted and prevented from proceeding as a “free and fair” process. This move by the Democrats is joined (or supported, behind the scenes) by others in powerful positions in the government, including even some Republican politicians who have finally decided that their political goals and personal ambitions are better served by breaking with this regime and regrouping around other “leaders.” Trump (and Pence) are presented with the ultimatum from these ruling class forces that either they resign or they will be impeached—and, this time, convicted—and those making this demand also make clear that they have the institutional power behind them to enforce this, if Trump (and Pence) refuse to leave. 

Imagine! 

Of course, it is impossible to say exactly where things will end up, and there is no “guarantee” of success. But it is possible. And two things should be emphasized in relation to this. 

First, if masses of people do not take to the streets, now, around the demand that this regime must go; if this regime is allowed to suppress votes and use the threat and force of violence to remain in power; if it is able to further consolidate its fascist rule and to be further unleashed to bludgeon into place its fascist program and aims—then the consequences will truly be catastrophic. 

Second, we—all of us, from many different walks of life and many different political perspectives, who can recognize this fascist regime for what it is and refuse to live in a fascist America—we, by acting together, in the thousands and millions, can give expression to the strongly held sentiments of tens and tens of millions, who righteously hate everything this regime represents and aspire to a much better world than this. We can give life to massive, non-violent but sustained, and rapidly growing, mass mobilizations demanding that this regime must go—now—with the possibility that this can become a reality. We can powerfully give expression to the crucial understanding that—because of its very fascist nature, and with its escalating attempts to corrupt an election and remain in power regardless of the actual outcome of that election—this regime is illegitimate and must be removed. And if, even with this mass mobilization, this regime is still in power on November 3rd, the fact that we have carried out this mass mobilization and powerfully raised this OUT NOW! demand, will mean that there will be much more favorable conditions for continuing, and further amplifying and strengthening, this mass mobilization if Trump and his regime attempt to stay in power, regardless of the actual outcome of the election. 

Whether there will be a real possibility of a society, a world and a future for humanity—one worth living in—will depend, to no small degree, on what we who aspire to such a world decide to do, and strive with the determination necessary to make this a reality.  

********* 

With this basic outline in mind of what is necessary, and what is possible—the determined fight and massive mobilization that could actually defeat the moves of the Trump/Pence regime to further hammer into place its fascist rule, with the truly catastrophic consequences that would lead to—let’s look at this further, and more fully, in the context of the larger situation and crucial recent developments. 

The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Fanatical Woman-Hating Fascists 

The announcement of the death of longtime liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been the occasion for Trump and his fellow fascists, not to pause to honor Ginsburg, but to immediately declare their intention to ram through the appointment of yet another extreme right-wing judge onto the court—to give further “legal backing,” by “the highest court in the land,” to the fanatically oppressive and repressive agenda and aims of the fascist Trump/Pence regime, which include: using “executive power” to trample on the rule of law and turn the “law” into merely an instrument of the fascist regime; giving the police even more unlimited powers to brutalize and murder in the name of “law and order”; ruthlessly persecuting immigrants, LGBT people, Muslims and other “undesirables”; further removing restrictions on the plundering of the environment; forcing patriotism and religious fundamentalism (that is, Christian fascism) down the throats of everyone in society—and, not least, outlawing abortion and in general slamming women more forcefully into a subordinate position in relation to men and in society overall. 

In The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go!, I examined the “unholy alliance” between Trump and the Christian fundamentalists, who are the hard core and driving force of this fascism.1 

Speaking to the same phenomenon (and referring to the Christian fundamentalists as “evangelicals,” and having in mind particularly white evangelicals), Kristin Kobes Du Mez has made clear:

evangelical support for Trump was no aberration, nor was it merely a pragmatic choice. It was, rather, the culmination of evangelicals’ embrace of militant masculinity, an ideology that enshrines patriarchal authority and condones the callous display of power, at home and abroad.2

The Christian fascist zealotry in opposition to abortion is not really about the fraudulent notion that abortion amounts to “killing babies”—something which is demonstrated by (among other things) the fact that these opponents of the right to abortion also strongly oppose birth control which prevents pregnancy in the first place. The truth is this:

What is really involved is that abortion, and birth control, help to provide women with a certain independence, a freedom to decide whether and when to have children—and, yes, a certain freedom to engage in sexual relations of their own choosing, on the basis of their own desire and volition, without having to be worried about whether they are going to become pregnant when they have neither wanted nor decided to do so. It is this relative independence and freedom that causes a frenzy among Christian fascists, because it runs counter to reducing the role of women to “helpmates” to husbands and breeders of children for those husbands in patriarchal, male-dominated families, and to the subordinate and oppressed position of women in society as a whole.3

In previous writings and speeches—including the previous article (Part 2) in this series—I emphasized that there is a direct connection and powerful link between the patriarchal misogyny (hatred and degradation of women) of this fascism and its aggressive white supremacy, and that:

there can be no “reconciliation” with these fascists—whose “grievances” are based on fanatical resentment against any limitation on white supremacymale supremacy, xenophobia (hatred of foreigners), rabid American chauvinism, and the unrestrained plundering of the environment, and are increasingly expressed in literally lunatic terms. There can be no “reconciliation” with this, other than on the terms of these fascists, with all the terrible implications and consequences of that!4

It is urgently necessary for everyone who refuses to accept (to be “reconciled” with) all this, to understand what the terrible consequences will be if the Trump/Pence regime is able to make a further leap in consolidating its fascist rule and implementing its fascist program. This fascism “is not just a matter of horrific policies but of qualitatively different form of rule, based on brutal repression and violation of what are supposed to be the most basic rights.”5

The African-American theologian, Hubert Locke—whom I quoted in the previous article (Part 1) in this series—underlines this crucial point:

Were all this only a battle for the hearts and minds of the American people, we could wade into the conflict with a great deal less concern, confident that good sense and human decency would ultimately triumph over ignorance and bigotry. But this is a battle for power—it’s about seizing the reins of government, manipulating the courts and judicial decisions, controlling the media, and making incursions into every possible corner of our private lives and relationships, so that what the religious right perceives as the will of God will reign in America.6

A Rallying Cry and a Call to Action 

All those who can recognize that this nightmare is rapidly becoming a brute reality—who refuse to live in a fascist America where every aspiration for a just world is viciously slandered and mercilessly deprived of air to breathe—we, in our millions and tens of millions, must act together to create a situation where there can be, and there will be, no “normal,” no grinding along of the machinery that is leading to disaster, so long as this fascist regime is in power

We need to fight with the full recognition of the profound stakes that are involved and the ultimate threat to humanity itself that is posed by this regime. What is called for now is struggle that is non-violent, but is daring and bold, fired with the determination not to back down, until this regime has been removed. We must, in a very urgent way, bring into being a situation in which every force—among all the different sectors of the ruling powers and institutions, and in the society at large—has to respond to and weigh heavily the political situation that we are creating through increasingly massive and powerful mobilizations, insisting that this regime must go, now!  

Anything less will mean tying ourselves to forces and procedures, and passively awaiting an outcome, that will very likely lead to capitulating to this fascism, with what will be (without the slightest exaggeration) truly catastrophic consequences. 

As my August 1 Statement emphasizes: “At this critical hour, every appropriate means of non-violent action must be utilized to remove this regime from power.”7 And, if it comes to it, that means voting for Biden in order to effectively vote against Trump

I have also pointed to this important reality:

It is true that, at this point, the vote in a few states essentially determines the outcome of presidential elections—so that, as was the case with Trump in the previous presidential election, someone can lose the popular vote and still become president. But, even given this reality, an electoral strategy that could work much better for the Democrats would be to take on Trump’s whole racist approach, directly and forcefully, and appeal to Black people and other people of color, and the large number of white people (especially, though not only, younger generations) who have shown that they are motivated by a definite desire for an end to social injustice, blatant inequality, and rampant police violence. That is a great “reservoir” that, theoretically, the Democrats could focus on appealing to.8

It is also true that “the Democrats themselves will not—cannot—really do this.”8 But, creating the kind of political situation where Biden and the Democrats are forced to recognize, and reckon with, the powerfully expressed determination of massive numbers demanding an end to the Trump/Pence regime and the fascism it embodies—that could exert a compulsion on the Democrats to voice opposition to Trump on a basis that at least comes close to the heart of the essential fascist nature and program of the Trump/Pence regime...Which, in turn, could impel more people to take to the streets demanding this...Which, in turn, could create still more favorable circumstances and conditions for waging the fight to remove this regime. 

Think about what has happened as a result of the beautiful rising that has taken place against institutional racism and police terror. In very significant ways, “the conversation about race” has been dramatically changed. All of a sudden, the Democrats, and other “mainstream” institutions, feel compelled to talk not only about the need for “police reform,” but about “systemic racism”—and there is widespread discussion and debate about the whole history of this country, with its roots in slavery, and genocide against the indigenous peoples! There is no way that all this would have taken place—and the political landscape would have been so dramatically changed, in such a short period of time—in the absence of this beautiful mass rising! And the same can happen, in the same immediate (“telescoped”) way, if there is not only a continuation of the righteous outpouring against racist oppression and police terror, and other outrageous injustice, but if all this is linked together with, and given powerful expression as, masses of people, in continually growing numbers, in the streets powerfully demanding that the fascist Trump/Pence regime must go! 

If this fascist regime is still in power when it is time for voting—then that will require not just people carrying out the single act of voting themselves, but working to mobilize people in massive numbers to deliver a decisive electoral defeat to this fascist regime. But, at the same time, as I have emphasized repeatedly—and this cannot be emphasized too many times—for all the reasons discussed here (as well as elsewhere in this series and in my August 1 Statement) relying on voting, without the mass mobilization demanding the removal of this regime, is likely to lead to disaster

Masses of people must act, now, to create the most favorable conditions for forcing the removal of this regime, whose continuation, and further consolidation, in power will, without any exaggeration, have truly monstrous consequences. 

Rising to the Historic Challenge and Overcoming All Obstacles (Including in Ourselves) 

As I have also emphasized, it “would be a very grave mistake to fail to take seriously what is being openly proclaimed by Trump and his fascist supporters,” including their threats of even greater violence to ensure that the Trump/Pence regime remains in power. But, an even more important truth is this: “as truly dangerous as these fascist threats and acts of violence, and preparations to carry out even more violence, are—being cowed by and capitulating to this would lead to a far greater horror.”9 In confronting this, every decent person can take inspiration and find courage in the actions of the masses of people who have defiantly braved repeated attacks, by police and government storm troopers under the command of the Trump/Pence regime, as well as assaults by armed pro-Trump fascist thugs, and have poured into the streets, to express their outrage over racist brutality and murder and their determination that this must end

But it is not just fear, however well-founded, that must be overcome. It is also the individualism that has become so widespread, and often expressed in such extreme terms, in this society, especially in recent times. In the situation today, faced with the escalating and accelerating fascist juggernaut, this individualism is often expressed in these terms now: “While I hate everything Trump is about and everything he is doing, I have to look out for myself and those who are close to me; and putting myself on the line to step out and actively oppose this by getting into the streets and demonstrating around the demand that this regime must be removed now—when there are not that many people already doing this—well, that is a risk I am not willing to take, especially when there is an election coming up and there is a chance that this might deal with the problem.” 

Here—along with calling attention once again to the ways in which Trump is already perverting and stealing the election, and is using violence and threatening even more violence to remain in power, regardless of what actually happens with this election—it needs to be pointed out strongly: If everyone who has expressed (or felt) these sentiments were actually to take to the streets, there would be a force of literally millions, and even tens of millions, powerfully demonstrating their insistence that the Trump/Pence regime must be OUT NOW!—as is being called for, and organized by, RefuseFascism.org. 

It also needs to be bluntly said: This rampant individualism—everyone just thinking about themselves and failing or refusing to act on the larger interests of humanity—this is a big part of why we are faced with the terrible situation we are faced with now. And continuing in this way will only contribute to things becoming far, far worse, with truly catastrophic consequences for all of humanity—which few, if any, will ultimately be able to escape. (Besides the ever-present danger of nuclear annihilation, especially with the demented bully Trump having his finger on the nuclear button, think about the environmental crisis and the intensified and accelerated damage the Trump/Pence regime has already done to the environment—and will do on a far more terrible scale, if it remains in power.)

It may not be “easy,” but it is in the fundamental interests of everyone (everyone who cares at all about social injustice and inequality, and having an environment, both natural and social, in which human beings can breathe and hope to flourish) that we all be willing to be “among the first” to boldly step forward and become part of a truly massive mobilization demanding that this regime must be removed, now—and, in doing so, discovering that we are not after all “alone” or “only a few brave souls,” but are together, not just in sentiment but as an active force, with thousands and ultimately millions. 

Yes, it is true that there is no “guarantee” that even such a massive mobilization will succeed in forcing the removal of this regime—and this regime, along with the crazed fascist fanatics who make up its “base,” will rabidly resist this—but it can be guaranteed that, if this regime succeeds in remaining in power, by corrupting and stealing the election and then refusing to leave, once more the consequences will truly be catastrophic. 

And, while there is no “guarantee,” there is a definite possibility of a positive outcome. Once again, think of the tremendous impact that the beautiful rising against racist oppression and police terror has had, almost literally “overnight.” 

At the same time, it is important to understand that, even if and as a mass mobilization demanding the removal of this regime could have a powerful impact on the political terrain, and on all the institutions of power and sectors of society, things would not likely go forward as a simple direct line extension of this mass mobilization. Rather, it would more likely take place as the interplay between that mass mobilization and the contradictions and conflicts among the powers-that-be, which will be heightened by this mass mobilization—possibly leading to a political crisis of such powerful dimensions and depth that forces who normally strongly resist doing things outside of the “traditional institutional means and procedures” of this system, ruling class powers who do not normally involve themselves directly in the politics of the system, and even some of those who have up to now stubbornly stuck with this fascist regime, will conclude that it is necessary to remove the regime—to at least force Trump (and Pence) to resign—in order to avoid an even more profound crisis for their whole system

Again, no one can say, with absolute certainty, what the outcome of all this will be. But a truly massive popular upsurge, aimed at driving out the Trump/Pence regime, even ahead of the election, could play a very powerful role in creating favorable conditions for dealing with the demented determination of this regime to remain in power and wreak even further havoc and horror. 

It is crucial to recognize that

The mass mobilization that is needed cannot be built “overnight,” in the aftermath of the election—and it cannot be built by confining things within the framework and limits insisted upon by the Democrats.10

And, through the work of Refuse Fascism, and some others joining this effort, this mass mobilization has already begun. 

It is a fact that, since the early days of the Trump/Pence regime, Refuse Fascism has been calling for mass mobilization around the demand that this regime must go; and, while it has rallied thousands so far to take to the streets to voice this demand, as yet this mobilization has not resulted in the exponential (by leaps and bounds) growth that it needs to, now very quickly, achieve. But, because those thousands really do give expression to strongly held sentiments of tens of millions, they actually represent a potentially powerful force, and it is crucial to build on every advance that is made in reaching and mobilizing people, including by enabling those who have stepped forward to themselves become organizers of many more...to, in turn, become the organizers of still greater numbers. Further, it is very important to recognize, and act on the understanding, that the times, right now, are very different than they have been over the past few years, even with all the outrages that this regime has committed over those years. 

Things now are much more intense, and are developing in a much more accelerating pace, particularly as Trump is ramping up his fascist offensive, with the approach of the scheduled election. This is having contradictory effects. On the one hand, the violent repression and attacks on people protesting injustice—and the threats of even much worse repression and violence—on the part of this regime, and its fascist supporters, together with the fact that the scheduled election is rapidly approaching: this has led more than a few, among those who hate this regime, to fall into a passive position of just waiting for the election and hoping that it will somehow resolve the crisis that is intensifying now on mainly very bad terms. But, the other side of the story is that the relentless drive by this regime and its supporters, even as the election approaches, to go full steam ahead with their fascist juggernaut, to corrupt and steal the election, to refuse to accept a defeat in the election, and to remain in power regardless of the outcome of the election—this is forcing, more and more to the forefront, the reality of what is represented by this regime, the great objective danger of simply waiting for the election, and the great need to take to the streets, now, to demand that this regime must be removed.

This speaks, once again, to the importance of the mobilization that is already taking place around the demand Trump/Pence OUT NOW! And it speaks to the great importance of this mobilization, with whatever numbers it organizes at any given time, becoming sustained, taking place day after day, and to build on every significant advance it does achieve. As this is done in ways, both determined and creative, that “capture the imagination” of people—together with the continuing intensification of the crisis that is largely being driven, now, by Trump’s fascist actions and declarations—“things can come together,” and “the dam can break,” with growing numbers of people pouring into the streets, raising ever more loudly the demand that this regime must go, now, and calling forth still greater numbers to join in this courageous and urgently needed mobilization. 

In conclusion:

With the full awareness of what is represented by this fascist regime, and what it means that Trump is not only seeking to suppress the votes of people who will vote against him but is also preparing to utilize forceful, violent repression to remain in office if he is not declared the winner in the election, it is of critical and urgent importance to build now truly massive and sustained mobilization around the unifying demand that this regime must be OUT NOW!—with an orientation of being prepared to continue this even past the election, if the situation requires it.11

***

The crazed fanaticism of the fascists insisting that Trump must remain in power, no matter what, must be met, and overwhelmed, by the conscious passionate intensity of masses of people who hate everything that this fascist regime represents, who recognize the very real existential threat that this regime represents for humanity and are fired with righteous determination that this regime must go!12

 


1. The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go! In The Name of Humanity We REFUSE To Accept a Fascist America, A Better World IS PossibleVideo of this speech is available at revcom.us.  [back]

2. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, Liveright Publishing. The part quoted here is from the “Introduction.”  [back]

3. Fascists Today And The Confederacy: A Direct Line, A Direct Connection Between All The OppressionThis article of mine is also available at revcom.us.  [back]

4. Trump Is Already Stealing The Election And Threatening Even More Violence To Stay in Power, Part 2 of Voting Will Not Be Enough—We Need To Take To The Streets, And Stay In The Streets Demanding Trump/Pence Out Now! This article is available at revcom.us.  [back]

5. Statement By Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution (also available at revcom.us).  [back]

6. “Reflections on Pacific School of Religion’s Response to the Religious Right,” by Dr. Hubert Locke, also available at revcom.us—emphasis added.  [back]

7. Statement By Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution.  [back]

8. The Democrats Can’t Fight Trump The Way He Needs To Be Fought, Part 1 of Voting Will Not Be Enough—We Need To Take To The Streets, And Stay In The Streets Demanding Trump/Pence Out Now!  [back]

9. Trump Is Already Stealing The Election And Threatening Even More Violence To Stay in Power, emphasis in the original.  [back]

10. The Democrats Can’t Fight Trump The Way He Needs To Be Fought.  [back]

11. Statement By Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution (also available at revcom.us), emphasis in the original.  [back]

12. Trump Is Already Stealing The Election And Threatening Even More Violence To Stay In Power, emphasis in the original.  [back]

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TRUMP’S FASCISM—
MORE BLATANT AND DANGEROUS EVERY DAY:
HOW A DETERMINED FIGHT AND MASSIVE MOBILIZATION
COULD DEFEAT THIS

PART 3 of

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—
WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS,
AND STAY IN THE STREETS
DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!

(Short Version—The Basic Picture and Essential Vision)

(See also "Long Version—The Larger Canvas and Fuller Picture")

by Bob Avakian

| revcom.us

 

In the Statement By Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution, I spoke to this important point:

At this critical hour, every appropriate means of non-violent action must be utilized to remove this regime from power. And if, in spite of mass protest demanding the removal of the Trump/Pence regime, this regime remains in power when it is time for voting, then—without placing fundamental reliance on this—using all appropriate means to work for the removal of this regime must include voting against Trump (assuming the election is actually held). To be clear, this means not a “protest vote” for some candidate who has no chance of winning, but actually voting for the Democratic Party candidate, Biden, in order to effectively vote against Trump.

At the same time, however, I strongly emphasized that

Simply relying on voting to oust this regime will almost certainly lead to very bad, even disastrous results. This is especially true given what this regime is already doing, and what Trump is saying, in relation to the election.

But, if that is true, then how could this regime be removed from power—and, specifically, how could a mass mobilization actually lead to this regime being forced to go?

Imagine this.

Among the thousands who have already been reached, and moved, by the work of RefuseFascism.org, raising the demand that this fascist regime must be OUT NOW!, growing numbers become grass roots organizers, reaching out to their families, friends and communities, and involving all kinds of people and groups—through direct contact, social media, and in other ways—drawing into this growing, and increasingly diverse, mass movement thousands more who share their hatred for everything this regime stands for and is moving mercilessly to hammer into place. Many more, in turn, also become organizers.

Imagine that, as has happened with the mass protests against racist oppression and police terror, people mobilize in the streets, day after day, beginning on October 3rd, responding to the call from Refuse Fascism for sustained non-violent but determined demonstrations around the unifying demand that this regime must go, now. These mobilizations grow, expanding and multiplying—joined by increasing numbers of people outraged by continuing police brutality and murder; by the ravaging of the environment; children in cages and tens of thousands of immigrants in concentration camps on the border; Trump’s heartless and reckless neglect and lying about the COVID pandemic, causing tens of thousands of needless deaths, disproportionately among Black and Brown and Native people; the regime’s relentless move to further consolidate a Supreme Court that is another instrument of fascist bigotry and repression—masses of people, from all parts of society, who are sickened by all this, and are coming to see even more clearly that all this is bound up with and driven by this fascist regime, joining with the ongoing daily mobilizations, linking their outrage and resistance with the unifying demand: OUT NOW!

Imagine: Students, teachers, scientists, medical professionals, lawyers, clergy and their congregations, unions, civil rights and justice organizations, artists, athletes and others in the cultural arena—all these, and others, take up the call and mobilize to strengthen the movement. Celebrities, and prominent people in many fields, utilize their platforms to magnify the message and help to mobilize still greater numbers.

As the crimes of this regime escalate day after day—spewing white supremacy, male supremacy, and other bigotry; moving to suppress votes and steal the election; threatening and unleashing violence to remain in power regardless of the outcome of the election; increasingly turning the “Justice Department” into a naked instrument of lawless repression, robbing people of basic rights, while moving to hammer into place a Supreme Court that will declare all this “Constitutional” and “legal”—as all this, and more, becomes increasingly blatant, and accelerates at a dizzying pace with the approach of the scheduled election, growing sectors of society come to the realization that they cannot simply look to the election to deal with this. Casting aside passive reliance on the “normal political process,” and overcoming fear in the face of threats and assaults by fascist thugs, all over the country masses of ordinary people, in growing waves, take to the streets, join the ongoing OUT NOW! mobilizations, or themselves initiate such mobilizations where they are not yet happening. This becomes a massive groundswell, engulfing the country as a whole, dramatically changing the terms of political engagement, forcing every political contender and all the dominant institutions in society to respond to this rising wave of determined mass resistance. This growing mobilization moves from the margins to the center of media attention and coverage, in this country and internationally. People around the world take notice, are inspired and organize demonstrations in solidarity and support.

Imagine that, all of a sudden, Democratic Party politicians and operatives are forced to realize that they cannot simply funnel all the outrage and discontent into an election that is being daily stolen and violently corrupted by the fascist regime. These politicians now declare that they identify with the sentiments of the masses of demonstrators demanding OUT NOW!—and they seek to have speakers at rallies and work to control and direct the mobilizations into “acceptable channels” that will not lead to further “disorder.” But, given the growing understanding and determination of the demonstrators, these politicians’ efforts only draw even more attention, and still greater numbers, to these mobilizations—and, even in the face of growing threats and acts of repression and violence by the regime and its fascist supporters, in and out of uniform, these mobilizations continue to grow and even more powerfully thunder the demand: OUT NOW!

Faced with this intensifying situation, the leaders of the Democratic Party calculate that the only way they can hope to gain control over the situation and re-establish some semblance of “orderly process” is to themselves take up the demand that the Trump/Pence regime must go—now—even before a scheduled election that this regime has thoroughly perverted and prevented from proceeding as a “free and fair” process. This move by the Democrats is joined (or supported, behind the scenes) by others in powerful positions in the government, including even some Republican politicians who have finally decided that their political goals and personal ambitions are better served by breaking with this regime and regrouping around other “leaders.” Trump (and Pence) are presented with the ultimatum from these ruling class forces that either they resign or they will be impeached—and, this time, convicted—and those making this demand also make clear that they have the institutional power behind them to enforce this, if Trump (and Pence) refuse to leave.

Imagine!

Of course, it is impossible to say exactly where things will end up, and there is no “guarantee” of success. But it is possible. And two things should be emphasized in relation to this.

First, if masses of people do not take to the streets, now, around the demand that this regime must go; if this regime is allowed to suppress votes and use the threat and force of violence to remain in power; if it is able to further consolidate its fascist rule and to be further unleashed to bludgeon into place its fascist program and aims—then the consequences will truly be catastrophic.

Second, we—all of us, from many different walks of life and many different political perspectives, who can recognize this fascist regime for what it is and refuse to live in a fascist America—we, by acting together, in the thousands and millions, can give expression to the strongly held sentiments of tens and tens of millions, who righteously hate everything this regime represents and aspire to a much better world than this. We can give life to massive, non-violent but sustained, and rapidly growing, mass mobilizations demanding that this regime must go—now—with the possibility that this can become a reality. We can powerfully give expression to the crucial understanding that—because of its very fascist nature, and with its escalating attempts to corrupt an election and remain in power regardless of the actual outcome of that election—this regime is illegitimate and must be removed. And if, even with this mass mobilization, this regime is still in power on November 3rd, the fact that we have carried out this mass mobilization and powerfully raised this OUT NOW! demand, will mean that there will be much more favorable conditions for continuing, and further amplifying and strengthening, this mass mobilization if Trump and his regime attempt to stay in power, regardless of the actual outcome of the election.

Whether there will be a real possibility of a society, a world and a future for humanity—one worth living in—will depend, to no small degree, on what we who aspire to such a world decide to do, and strive with the determination necessary to make this a reality.

 

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Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/665/bob-avakian-voting-will-not-be-enough-pt2-en.html

 

TRUMP IS ALREADY STEALING THE ELECTION 
AND THREATENING EVEN MORE VIOLENCE
TO STAY IN POWER

PART 2 of

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—
WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS,
AND STAY IN THE STREETS
DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!

by Bob Avakian

| revcom.us

 

In the Statement by Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution, I spoke to this important point:

At this critical hour, every appropriate means of non-violent action must be utilized to remove this regime from power. And if, in spite of mass protest demanding the removal of the Trump/Pence regime, this regime remains in power when it is time for voting, then—without placing fundamental reliance on this—using all appropriate means to work for the removal of this regime must include voting against Trump (assuming the election is actually held). To be clear, this means not a “protest vote” for some candidate who has no chance of winning, but actually voting for the Democratic Party candidate, Biden, in order to effectively vote against Trump.

At the same time, however, I strongly emphasized that

Simply relying on voting to oust this regime will almost certainly lead to very bad, even disastrous results. This is especially true given what this regime is already doing, and what Trump is saying, in relation to the election.

The Trump/Pence Regime Is Already Moving to Suppress Votes

The fact that Trump, and his supporters, continue to commit outrage after outrage, on a regular basis, can cause people—even those who hate everything Trump represents—to forget about outrages that were committed even just a little while ago. But, it is crucially important not to forget that Trump has already “floated” the idea of “delaying” the election on the basis of his completely false claims that things like mail-in voting will lead to massive fraud and that it could take weeks, months, or even years to know the actual result of the election (note: weeks, months, or even years—during which time Trump would insist on staying in power!). 

Trump and his supporters are making moves to suppress the votes of many Black people, and others, who are likely to vote heavily against Trump. Here is one glaring example: In the state of Florida (which Trump desperately needs to win), the Republican-controlled government is working to undermine changes in the Florida Constitution that have restored the right of convicted felons to vote. This could take away the right to vote from nearly 800,000 people, many of whom are Black and Latino.1 

Trump’s operatives are already in the process of organizing fascist thugs to go to polling places, especially in key “battleground” states, to “watch out for fraud.” In fascist Trumpworld, lying is a way of life and the standard operating procedure. When they say “law and order,” they mean police killing Black and Brown people. To them, the truth is “fake news,” and they claim “science doesn’t know” things that only Trump knows. So, when they talk about “election fraud,” what they mean is people voting against Trump. And what these fascist goons being organized by the Trump camp intend to do is precisely to prevent people from voting against Trump—with the threat, and the use, of force and violence.

Michael Cohen—who, for more than 10 years, was Trump’s personal attorney and “fixer”—has sounded the alarm, more than once, that Trump will do anything to stay in powereven start a war to create a national emergency.2 Trump, who is both a pathological liar and a liar with a purpose, has deliberately and repeatedly downplayed the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic, even while knowing what a serious danger it actually poses. He has already forced government bodies, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to bend its findings and recommendations about the COVID-19 pandemic to serve Trump’s political ambitions and goals. And it seems increasingly likely that, shortly before the election, in the attempt to offset the exposure of his terrible recklessness with regard to COVD-19, and to perversely declare himself the “savior” of the people from this pandemic, Trump will use his presidential power to pressure approval for the use of a vaccine, even before it has really been scientifically determined whether such a vaccine is not only effective but safe

Trump Has Violently Suppressed Opposition, and Has Threatened Even Greater Violence 

Another thing that must not be forgotten is that Trump has not only justified and supported but openly encouraged violence by armed white supremacist storm troopers (what he calls “Second Amendment people”). He has supported police violently attacking protesters and utilized armed forces of the government to attack and suppress protests, in Washington, D.C., in Portland and other cities. There is already plenty of evidence—and more evidence comes out all the time—that (assuming the election is actually held) regardless of the actual outcome of the election, Trump will declare himself the winner and use whatever means he can, including violence, to stay in power. As pointed out in a recent article posted on revcom.us:

On September 10, Trump was asked by Jeanine Pirro of fascist Fox “News” what his response would be on election night if he won and those against him “threaten riots.” Trump’s response: “We’ll put them down very quickly if they do that.... We have the right to do that, we have the power to do that if we want. Look, it’s called insurrection.”3

Here, it is necessary to “translate” what is being said in this episode of the ongoing fascist lie-athon of Trump and his media accomplices (such as Fox “news”). Trump “winning” the election means Trump declaring himself the winner. (Remember that Trump has already strongly implied that he will not accept the results of the election if Biden wins; and Trump has insisted that the only way he could lose the election is if it is “rigged.”) “Riots,” in fascist-speak, means protests against police brutality and other injustices, even when (as has been the case) these protests are overwhelmingly peaceful; and “insurrection” here means mobilization against the Trump/Pence regime, even if that mobilization is non-violent. 

The same revcom.us article calls attention to this:

Another glimpse at what the fascists may be thinking of and even planning for came from the mouth of longtime Republican operative and Trump stooge, Roger Stone. (In July, Trump commuted the 40-month prison sentence of Stone, who had been convicted of lying to Congress.) In a call with Alex Jones—pro-Trump conspiracy theorist—on his online Infowars show, Stone said Trump should consider declaring “martial law” or invoke the Insurrection Act if he should lose the November election.3

And Stone called on “Attorney General” William Barr (head of Trump’s Injustice Department, chief enforcer of unlawful repression, and a “commander” of the regime’s storm troopers) to prepare now a force ready to act on this “martial law” declaration if Trump loses. 

Note that Stone openly calls for Trump to use violence to remain in office if Trump loses the election. 

And other fanatical backers of this regime, in and out of government, have called on its supporters to arm themselves in preparation for the election. 

It would be a very grave mistake to fail to take seriously what is being openly proclaimed by Trump and his fascist supporters.

But as truly dangerous as these fascist threats and acts of violence, and preparations to carry out even more violence, are—being cowed by and capitulating to this would lead to a far greater horror

The Trumpite attempts to suppress votes must be actively, vigorously opposed; and people must mobilize, now and in an ongoing way, demanding that the whole Trump/Pence regime must go. 

We Can’t Rely on the Democrats, We Can’t Wait Until November

In Part 1 in this series, I examined the reasons why the Democrats will not call out the Trump/Pence regime, and its supporters, for what they are: fascist. I pointed out:

Time and again, the Democrats have sought to deal with this by trying to utilize the very “norms” and institutions that this fascist regime is defying and tearing up, or bending to its fascist aims—the courts, congressional hearings and proceedings, and so on. Time and again, the Democrats have failed. Yet they stubbornly refuse to seek any means of opposing this regime other than by resorting to these “norms” and procedures. This is what they are doing, and will be strongly inclined to continue doing, even in the face of Trump’s increasing and intensifying moves to suppress votes in the upcoming election and his clearly indicated determination to have himself declared the winner in the election, or to remain in power regardless of the outcome of the election.4

Biden and the Democrats act as if—and repeatedly insist that—the reason there is so much bitter conflict, violence, and “chaos” in society is because “Trump is dividing us, not uniting us.” But the truth is that, while Trump has become a “rallying point” and “spearpoint” of the fascist forces in this country, within the structures of power and more broadly among sectors of the population, there are deep-seated reasons and causes for why this fascism has become such a powerful force. Biden and the Democrats cannot “bring the country together,” as they falsely claim, because there can be no “reconciliation” with these fascists—whose “grievances” are based on fanatical resentment against any limitation on white supremacy, male supremacy, xenophobia (hatred of foreigners), rabid American chauvinism, and the unrestrained plundering of the environment, and are increasingly expressed in literally lunatic terms. There can be no “reconciliation” with this, other than on the terms of these fascists, with all the terrible implications and consequences of that! 

As I have also emphasized: “all this points to the very great likelihood that regardless of the actual outcome of this election (assuming it is actually held), if Trump declares himself the ‘winner’and refuses to leave, in the absence of truly massive mobilization demanding that the Trump/Pence regime must be removed, the Democrats will end up capitulating to Trump.4

This does not mean that voting for Biden would be irrelevant—would make no difference. Many people who hate Trump have at the same time expressed a definite lack of enthusiasm for Biden. But “enthusiasm for Biden”—or the lack of such enthusiasm—is really beside the point, and basing things on something like that involves gross ignorance, or a deliberate ignoring, of the crucial stakes involved. The reason to vote for Biden is to vote against Trump and his whole regime. And that should be reason enough, for any person who actually cares about social justice, who refuses to live in a fascist America and has any sense of the very real catastrophe it would mean, not just for people in this country but for all of humanity, if Trump gets a “re-election mandate.” For these reasons, as I pointed out in my August 1 Statement, if it comes down to it—if the Trump/Pence regime is still in power when it is time for voting—then voting for Biden, in order to vote against Trump, will be very important and necessary

As that Statement emphasizes, “there can be one—and only one—‘good’ that can come out of this election: delivering a decisive defeat to Trump and the whole fascist regime.”This would not “put an end” to the fascism that has arisen out of deep-seated contradictions and has gained strength, over decades. But, as the August 1 Statement further emphasizes: delivering a decisive defeat to this regime “would create far better conditions for continuing to wage the struggle against everything represented by the Trump/Pence regime and all the oppression and injustices of this system, and would be a great gift to the people of the world.” 

At the same time, for all the reasons spoken to in that Statement, and highlighted here—the moves by Trump that are already far along to steal the election, and his determination to use whatever means he can to remain in power, regardless of the actual outcome of that election, and at the same time the likelihood that the Democrats, left to their own devices, will end up capitulating to Trump—waiting for November and relying on voting will very likely lead to disaster.

People need to really and fully awaken to the reality of what is at stake, before it is too late. More than a few people have observed, sometimes with sad resignation, that the continuing avalanche of lies and truly monstrous criminal acts by Trump and his regime have worn them down, to the point where they are no longer shocked or feel compelled to act. But losing one’s ability to be outraged, and to act on that outrage, means losing one’s humanity—and, given the situation we are facing, it amounts to collaborating with the fascism of this regime and the catastrophe toward which it is relentlessly propelling humanity.

The crazed fanaticism of the fascists insisting that Trump must remain in power, no matter what, must be met, and overwhelmed, by the conscious passionate intensity of masses of people who hate everything that this fascist regime represents, who recognize the very real existential threat that this regime represents for humanity and are fired with righteous determination that this regime must go! 

And, to make this a reality, this righteous determination cannot just be channeled into voting against Trump. What is urgently required now is “stepping outside of the ‘norms’ of this system and mobilizing masses of people in determined, non-violent but sustained struggle in the streets to demand the ouster of this regime, as is being called for by RefuseFascism.org.”4 And:

The mass mobilization that is needed cannot be built “overnight,” in the aftermath of the election—and it cannot be built by confining things within the framework and limits insisted upon by the Democrats....

We Need To Take To The Streets, And Stay In The Streets, Demanding Trump/Pence Out Now!4

(The next, concluding article in this series will speak to the big question: How the nonviolent but sustained, and continually growing, mass mobilization, demanding Trump/Pence OUT NOW! that has been called for, and is being organized by, RefuseFascism.org, could lead to, or contribute in a major way to, a situation in which the Trump/Pence regime would be removed from power.) 

 


1. See the article “Florida Moves to Deny Voting Rights to Hundreds of Thousands of People Convicted of Felonies,” at revcom.us.  [back]

2. In his testimony before a congressional committee in 2019, Michael Cohen spoke to the danger that Trump would refuse to recognize the results of the election scheduled for November 2020, if Trump did not win this election. And, in his recently-published book Disloyal, The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump, Cohen once again sounds the alarm, even more urgently, with the warning that Trump will do anything, including starting a war, to stay in power. Cohen has acknowledged that, prior to this 2019 appearance before Congress, he had lied to Congress—something he sought to set right by giving truthful testimony in that 2019 hearing. Trump’s fascist falsehood machine has tried to seize on the fact that Cohen is an admitted liar, who has been convicted of the crime of lying to Congress, in the attempt to draw attention away from what Cohen has revealed about Trump and the great dangers he poses. The problem, for the Trumpites, is that the lies they are referring to, and other despicable acts Cohen carried out—this was done precisely on the instruction and for the benefit of the Liar-in-Chief, Trump himself

Cohen, who worked very closely with (or for) Trump, for more than ten years, including the first years of Trump’s presidency, and probably knows Trump as well as anyone can, confirms what is said by Trump’s niece, Mary Trump: Racism, misogyny (hatred and degradation of women), and all-around bigotry are at the very core of Trump’s being.  [back]

3. “Trump on Election Night Protests: ‘We’ll put them down very quickly.’” This is part of the continuing series The Fascist Assault on revcom.us.  [back]

4. The quotes and references here are from Voting Will Not Be Enough—We Need To Take To The Streets, And Stay In The Streets Demanding Trump/Pence Out Now, Part 1, “The Democrats Can’t Fight Trump The Way He Needs To Be Fought.” This article of mine is available at revcom.us.  [back]

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—
WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS,
AND STAY IN THE STREETS
DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!

by Bob Avakian

Part 1:
THE DEMOCRATS CAN'T FIGHT TRUMP
THE WAY HE NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT

Part 2:
TRUMP IS ALREADY STEALING THE ELECTION  AND THREATENING EVEN MORE VIOLENCE TO STAY IN POWER

Part 3:
TRUMP’S FASCISM—MORE BLATANT AND DANGEROUS EVERY DAY: HOW A DETERMINED FIGHT AND MASSIVE MOBILIZATION COULD DEFEAT THIS

(Long Version—The Larger Canvas and Fuller Picture)

(Short Version—The Basic Picture and Essential Vision)

 

Follow: @TheRevcoms
Read: www.revcom.us
Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

 

Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

 

Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



 


 

Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/664/bob-avakian-voting-will-not-be-enough-pt1-en.html

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—
WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS,
AND STAY IN THE STREETS
DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!

by Bob Avakian

| revcom.us

 

Part 1

THE DEMOCRATS CAN'T FIGHT TRUMP
THE WAY HE NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT

 

In the Statement by Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution, I spoke to this important point:

At this critical hour, every appropriate means of non-violent action must be utilized to remove this regime from power. And if, in spite of mass protest demanding the removal of the Trump/Pence regime, this regime remains in power when it is time for voting, then—without placing fundamental reliance on this—using all appropriate means to work for the removal of this regime must include voting against Trump (assuming the election is actually held). To be clear, this means not a “protest vote” for some candidate who has no chance of winning, but actually voting for the Democratic Party candidate, Biden, in order to effectively vote against Trump.

At the same time, however, I strongly emphasized that:

Simply relying on voting to oust this regime will almost certainly lead to very bad, even disastrous results. This is especially true given what this regime is already doing, and what Trump is saying, in relation to the election.

Trump’s Blatant Racism and Support for White Supremacist Violence

It has become increasingly clear that a pivotal part of Trump’s strategy, in relation to the election scheduled for November, and his overall approach to holding power, is to make more and more blatant appeals to racism by trumpeting a call for “law and order.” Trump portrays the ongoing protests against white supremacy and police terror as violent—and, as is typical with him, he flagrantly and grossly lies about the extent and causes of this violence. He paints a crude horror scene of you-know-who coming to pillage and rape—to violate the homes and the people, especially the women—in the suburbs, which in Trump’s vision are all white. This is a direct “echo” of the vile tactics used by white supremacists organizing mobs to lynch Black people during Jim Crow segregation, and of how Hitler stirred up hatred of and violence against Jews in NAZI Germany. Here again, facts do not matter to Trump and his fascist regime and its supporters—or, rather, facts are to be deliberately distorted, defied, and perverted in pursuit of literally murderous aims.

It has been shown (for example, in a study by Princeton University) that, overwhelmingly (more than 90 percent of the time), these protests against white supremacy and police terror have not been violent; and violence that has been committed by the protesters themselves has been relatively minor (some fires, looting, and trashing of a few buildings, in small, confined areas, often at or near police stations—nothing like the picture Trump paints of whole cities being burned down and destroyed). But, beyond that, most of the violence in connection with these protests has been perpetrated by Trump supporters—by police, who have repeatedly attacked the protests, and by armed fascist thugs (those Trump calls “Second Amendment people”). At least 20 protesters have been killed in this way. And Trump and his supporters have justified—and even glorified—this violence by white supremacists.

The Democrats, and the “mainstream media” generally in the same camp (CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, and so on), have largely tried to shift the focus away from the protests and onto questions where they feel Trump is more vulnerable—in particular Trump’s truly reckless handling of the COVID pandemic, and things such as statements by Trump (or attributed to him) insulting U.S. soldiers. But Trump will continue his racist attacks on the protests against white supremacy and police violence, and his attempts to paint the Democrats as backers of violence and “carnage” by Black “thugs,” anarchists” and other “far leftists”; and this will have the effect of forcing the Democrats to devote significant attention to responding to this. And what has been the response of the Democrats? They have made the point that most of the protests have been peaceful, and they even say that Trump wants violence; yet, at the same time, the Democrats accept, to a large extent, the terms (and the trap) Trump has set. They have put a great deal of emphasis on denouncing violence by protesters, without giving the same emphasis to pointing out who is responsible for most of the violence connected to the protests—once again, overwhelmingly Trump supporters. The Democrats do not highlight the bitter irony that here are people protesting violence by the police and, even when (overwhelmingly) their protests are peaceful, they are subjected to yet more violence by the policeThe Democrats don’t emphasize yet another glaring irony: Here are Trump and his supporters denouncing and attacking people overwhelmingly carrying out peaceful protests against racist violence, while Trump defends monuments to “heroes” of the Confederacy, who waged a war, in which they killed hundreds of thousands of Union soldiers, in the attempt to preserve and extend slavery.

Strategies by Democrats That Flow From and Reinforce the Problem Itself

There are two basic causes for how the Democrats and their allies do—and do not—respond to what Trump is doing with his attacks on the protests and his contrived racist horror story of mobs of “those people” bent on violently attacking innocent (white) people and their property. First, the Democrats’ electoral strategy is focused on winning a relatively small number of “swing voters,” largely white people in the suburbs, in a small number of “swing states.” Flowing from this, and once again largely accepting the terms Trump has set, the Democrats see it as very important to reassure these voters that the Democrats, too, denounce—and, by implication, will use the power of the government to suppress—violence that supposedly is carried out by protesters and supposedly threatens these (white suburban) “swing voters.” Here it has to be said that, even on its own—very wrong and perverted—terms, this is likely a losing strategy. Not only is it the case that, by far, most of the violence connected with the protests has been carried out by Trump supporters (including the police), while overwhelmingly the protests themselves have been peaceful; but, even if the intent of everyone protesting were to remain completely peaceful, including when provoked and attacked by the police and armed “civilian” racists, there will still be violence—exactly because Trump and his supporters will continue to carry out, and to escalate, the violence, no matter what the protesters do.

It is true that, at this point, the vote in a few states essentially determines the outcome of presidential elections—so that, as was the case with Trump in the previous presidential election, someone can lose the popular vote and still become president. But, even given this reality, an electoral strategy that could work much better for the Democrats would be to take on Trump’s whole racist approach, directly and forcefully, and appeal to Black people and other people of color, and the large number of white people (especially, though not only, younger generations) who have shown that they are motivated by a definite desire for an end to social injustice, blatant inequality, and rampant police violence. That is a great “reservoir” that, theoretically, the Democrats could focus on appealing to.

But the Democrats themselves will not—cannot—really do this. And this gets to the deeper reasons why the Democrats approach things in the way they do. Although, in the present situation, where there has been a massive outpouring against police terror, the Democrats have felt the need to talk in general terms about “police reform,” as representatives of this system of capitalism-imperialism the Democrats are very firm about the fundamental need for the police to enforce the oppressive “law and order” of this system, with the racist violence that involves. So, the Democrats cannot carry out a campaign that actually unites with the strongly and widely held sentiment that this police violence must end. At the same time, as representatives of this system, and as upholders of its traditional institutions and “stability,” they do not want to win an election and head the government on the basis of appealing to and further arousing a force of tens of millions filled with passionate intensity to end police terror and white supremacy, which in fact are built into and required by this system. Better, from the Democrats’ point of view, to appeal to longings for “a return to calm and normalcy”—which are likely to resonate with many middle class suburbanites—even though there will not be any “calm and normalcy,” in large part because the fascist forces will not allow it.

Appealing to the “Grievances” of the Fascists Will Only Strengthen Fascism

Once again now, as was the case during and in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 election, there are “mainstream” voices (such as CNN’s Chris Cuomo, brother of the Democratic Governor of New York state, and Thomas Friedman, a prominent proponent of the “great benefits” of highly globalized capitalism) who argue that, in order to win this time, Biden and the Democrats should appeal to Trump’s “base” by recognizing their “grievances,” rather than humiliating them. But there are deep-seated bases for this fascism, and the minds of these fascists will not be changed by “being nice” to them or acting as if their “grievances” are “legitimate. As I (and others who have seriously studied this fascist phenomenon) have pointed out, the reality is that these “grievances” flow from resentment against any changes that even slightly undermine white supremacymale supremacy, xenophobia (hatred of foreigners), rabid American chauvinism, and the unrestrained plundering of the environment. And, even though, in the most fundamental terms, the Democrats represent this system of capitalism-imperialism, which embodies and enforces all of this, the Republican party, as it has become more and more blatantly fascist, has cultivated and organized its “base” through aggressively promoting, in extreme terms, this inequality, oppression, and plunder of the earth, along with a rejection of, and passionate “resentment” against, the scientific method and rational thinking. For example, there is this important analysis, by African-American theologian Hubert Locke, speaking particularly to the Christian fundamentalists that are the driving force of this fascism:

It is not happenstance that it is a movement that draws its strength and finds its support principally in the so-called heartland of the nation and especially in its southern precincts. This is the portion of the United States that has never been comfortable with post-WWII America. The brief period of normalcy after the war was followed within a decade by a pent-up and long overdue racial revolution that overturned centuries of culture and tradition, especially in the South. The disillusionment, two decades later, with an unpopular war in southeast Asia shook the foundations of traditional/conventional patriotism in American life; it was followed in the next decade by a sexual revolution that upset deeply entrenched views among this portion of the American populace about the subordinate place of women in society and the non-place of gay and lesbian persons in American life. These political and social and cultural defeats have now erupted into a pitched battle to turn back the clock on the last half-century and return America to its pre-war purity. It is not without significance that teaching creationism in the schools, for example, is such a prominent part of the religious right agenda. That was a battle the right lost in the mid-1920s but it is not one that the right ever acknowledged losing‑‑just as some die-hards have never acknowledged losing the Civil War. Consequently, the restoration the religious right seeks is one that would recapture a way of life that disappeared in this nation a half-century ago.1

This is what “Make America Great Again” actually means. The Democrats could not “compete” with this, without abandoning their own “identity” as the party that supposedly cares about social justice and addressing the environmental crisis.

All this, in turn, is tied in with the fundamental reasons why the Democrats will not call out the Trump/Pence regime for what it actually is—fascist—which, as I have emphasized, “is not just a matter of horrific policies but of qualitatively different form of rule, based on brutal repression and violation of what are supposed to be the most basic rights.”2 First of all, if you acknowledge that this regime is in fact fascist, then that raises very big questions about the whole system, and how it is that such a fascist regime could come to power—not through something like a military coup, but through the “normal channels” and institutional procedures of this system. And, along with that, if you recognize that this regime is fascist, then that has very big implications in terms of what must be done to deal with the dangers posed by this fascism—which, in reality, requires stepping outside of the “norms” of this system and mobilizing masses of people in determined, non-violent but sustained struggle in the streets to demand the ouster of this regime, as is being called for by RefuseFascism.org.

The Immediate Urgent Need for Mass Mobilization Against This Fascism

In sum, the Democrats, being who and what they are, will not and cannot deal with all this—neither the election, nor the larger situation in which this election is taking place and the profound stakes that are actually involved—in any way other than on the terms, and within the limits, established by this system, which has produced this fascism, and to a large degree on the terms set by the fascists themselves.

This can be seen in what the Democrats have done in their attempts to deal with the way in which the Trump/Pence fascist regime has—repeatedly, and in an escalating way—trampled on the “norms” of this system. Time and again, the Democrats have sought to deal with this by trying to utilize the very “norms” and institutions that this fascist regime is defying and tearing up, or bending to its fascist aims—the courts, congressional hearings and proceedings, and so on.Time and again, the Democrats have failed. Yet they stubbornly refuse to seek any means of opposing this regime other than by resorting to these “norms” and procedures. This is what they are doing, and will be strongly inclined to continue doing, even in the face of Trump’s increasing and intensifying moves to suppress votes in the upcoming election and his clearly indicated determination to have himself declared the winner in the election, or to remain in power regardless of the outcome of the election.

All this is why—even though, if it comes down to it, voting against Trump by voting for Biden will be necessary and important—it will very likely lead to disaster to rely on voting and just hope that the election will solve the problem.

And all this points to the very great likelihood that regardless of the actual outcome of this election (assuming it is actually held), if Trump declares himself the “winner” and refuses to leave, in the absence of truly massive mobilization demanding that the Trump/Pence regime must be removed, the Democrats will end up capitulating to Trump. The mass mobilization that is needed cannot be built “overnight,” in the aftermath of the election—and it cannot be built by confining things within the framework and limits insisted upon by the Democrats.

The truth—the truth about this country, and the truth about what is represented and is being implemented and enforced by the Trump/Pence regime—must be brought alive as a crucial, and immediately urgent, focus of the fight against injustice and oppression and against the fascism of this regime. This must be done without waiting for the election, but by taking action right now, and in an ongoing way, with masses of people—first in the thousands, growing into millions—in sustained mobilization around the unifying demand that this regime must go.

Waiting for November, and Relying on the Election, Will Likely Lead to Disaster:

We Need to Take to the Streets, and Stay in the Streets, Demanding Trump/Pence Out Now!

 


1. Reflections on Pacific School of Religion's Response to the Religious Right, by Dr. Hubert Locke. This is available at revcom.us.

In addition to my own writings and speeches on this question of fascism, which are available in BA’s Collected Works at revcom.us,* there have been a number of important studies of particularly the Christian fascist phenomenon—including in recent books by Katherine Stewart* and Kristin Kobes Du Mez*—which make clear that these fascists are firmly committed to their extremely oppressive, reactionary, and literally lunatic views and aims, and they will not be moved by attempts to appeal to their supposed “legitimate grievances.”

* For example, my recent article Patriarchy and Patriotism—Aggressive Male Supremacy and American Supremacy—The Danger and the Immediate Challenge draws from important insights in Kristin Kobes Du Mez’s book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation; and my 2017 speech The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go! In The Name of Humanity We REFUSE To Accept a Fascist America, A Better World IS Possible cites important analysis in Katherine Stewart’s book The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children.  [back]

2. From Statement By Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution.  [back]

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—
WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS,
AND STAY IN THE STREETS
DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!

by Bob Avakian

Part 1:
THE DEMOCRATS CAN'T FIGHT TRUMP
THE WAY HE NEEDS TO BE FOUGHT

Part 2:
TRUMP IS ALREADY STEALING THE ELECTION  AND THREATENING EVEN MORE VIOLENCE TO STAY IN POWER

Part 3:
TRUMP’S FASCISM—MORE BLATANT AND DANGEROUS EVERY DAY: HOW A DETERMINED FIGHT AND MASSIVE MOBILIZATION COULD DEFEAT THIS

(Long Version—The Larger Canvas and Fuller Picture)

(Short Version—The Basic Picture and Essential Vision)

 

 

 

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/633/bob-avakian-a-radically-different-leader-en.html

BOB AVAKIAN: A RADICALLY DIFFERENT LEADER—A WHOLE NEW FRAMEWORK FOR HUMAN EMANCIPATION

Bob Avakian (BA) is the most important political thinker and leader in the world today.

| revcom.us

 

Bob Avakian is completely different than the endless stream of bourgeois politicians who are put forward as “leaders,” whose goal is to maintain one variation or another of this system of capitalism-imperialism that is founded on and perpetuates itself through cruel and literally life-stealing exploitation, murderous oppression, and massive destruction, in all parts of the world. BA is a revolutionary who bases himself on the scientific understanding that this system must finally be overthrown through an organized struggle involving millions of people, and replaced with a system that is oriented to and capable of meeting the most fundamental needs of humanity and enabling humanity to become fit caretakers of the earth.

Bob Avakian is the architect of a whole new framework of human emancipation, the new synthesis of communism, which is popularly referred to as the "new communism."

BA is the author of the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America, an inspiring application of the new communism—a sweeping vision and concrete blueprint for a new socialist society, whose fundamental goal is to bring about a world without classes and class distinctions, a world without exploitation and oppression, and without the destructive divisions and antagonisms among people: a communist world.

Ardea Skybreak, a scientist with professional training in ecology and evolutionary biology, and a follower of Bob Avakian, speaks to the importance of what he has brought forward:

Bob Avakian ... on the basis of decades of hard work [has been] developing a whole body of work—theory to advance the science of communism, to advance the science of revolution, to more deeply explain where the problems come from, what the strategy is for getting out of this mess, what the methods and approaches should be to stay on track and actually build a better world, to build a society that most human beings would want to live in. (From Science and Revolution, On the Importance of Science and the Application of Science to Society, the New Synthesis of Communism and the Leadership of Bob Avakian, An Interview with Ardea Skybreak)

BA is a leader who is firmly convinced, on the basis of a consistently scientific method and approach, that the goal must be nothing less than all-out revolution, and who at the same time has emphasized:

the new communism thoroughly repudiates and is determined to root out of the communist movement the poisonous notion, and practice, that “the ends justifies the means.” It is a bedrock principle of the new communism that the “means” of this movement must flow from and be consistent with the fundamental “ends” of abolishing all exploitation and oppression through revolution led on a scientific basis. (From Breakthroughs: The Historic Breakthrough by Marx, and the Further Breakthrough with the New Communism, A Basic Summary)

As a revolutionary leader, BA also embodies this rare combination: someone who has been able to develop scientific theory on a world-class level, while at the same time having a deep understanding of and visceral connection with the most oppressed, and a highly developed ability to “break down” complex theory and make it broadly accessible.

A leader like this has never before existed in the history of this country, and this leadership is of tremendous importance for the emancipation of all humanity.

What is urgently needed now is for continually growing numbers of people—in the thousands, and ultimately millions—to become conscious and active followers of BA, building the revolutionary movement, based on the new communism, for which BA provides this unprecedented leadership.

Download poster and leaflet:

11x17 poster

8.5x11 two-sided leaflet

CONSTITUTION For The New Socialist Republic In North America

Click to read and download (PDF)

 

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/671/rnl-show-episode-32-announcement-en.html

Episode 32 of
The RNL Show—Revolution, Nothing Less!

| revcom.us

 

Share this widely

"Trump Is Stealing the Election
Act Decisively Now & All Next Week...
For the Future of Humanity: Trump/Pence Out Now! "

The Revolution, Nothing Less Show

The Trump/Pence fascist regime must not be allowed to steal the election and remain in power. The regime has now rammed through Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation, at the same time as they carry out voter suppression, sowing doubt on the election process, while MAGA fascist street thugs continue to carry out voter intimidation and violence. Four more years of this fascist regime will mean horrors for humanity.

With days before the election, everyone who cares about humanity must ACT DECISIVELY to prevent another four years of this white supremacist, Christian fascist Trump/Pence regime. We must remain firm in our conviction that this regime is illegitimate, and call on everyone to take up the demand from RefuseFascism.org: Trump/Pence Out Now! 

In this episode:

  • Andy Zee gives crucial orientation and guidance on what needs to be done leading into and in the days following November 3. 
  • KANYE WEST, ICE CUBE, FOOLS AND WORSE THAN FOOLS! written by Bob Avakian.
  • Andy Zee was recently interviewed on the Damage Report with John Iadarola. We'll feature both clips: “Trump Fascist Regime Threatens US Democracy” and "Why Trump Winning 2020 Is a Doomsday Scenario."
  • An update from cohost Sunsara Taylor reporting from DC on the dangerous implications of the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. 
  • A short video called “When YOU Take To The Streets” put together by the documentary filmmaker Renee Schwartz and featuring Luan Xocoyote. 

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/672/note-from-the-rnl-show-team-en.html

Note from The RNL Show Team

| revcom.us

 

Dear The RNL Show subscribers and broader community,

We in the RNL Show Team have been busy this week analyzing the latest developments surrounding the U.S. election and will be releasing a Dispatch in the coming days... SO STAY TUNED!

For this reason we did not run a new episode of the RNL Show during our regularly scheduled time (Thursday 5 pm PT/8 pm ET). We did, however, just release a NEW short video this morning, the title of which says it all: “Actually? We DO Need To Be In The Streets... NOW!” Watch it and spread it!

We want to strongly encourage everyone to go back and watch (or watch again) Episode 32 (and all previous episodes, Dispatches, and special segments on this Channel), which provide substantive and scientific analysis of, among other things, what we’re facing, the dangers of the fascists who are still in power in the White House, the stakes involved, and what must be done now to stop it. The RNL Show has been very much on point and this analysis can make a difference right now when so many are feeling anxious over the results of the election and are looking to understand how we got to this point and what needs to be done about it.

And stay connected with the movement for an ACTUAL revolution at www.revcom.us and with the movement to drive out the Trump/Pence regime from power at refusefascism.org.

Actually? We DO Need To Be In The Streets... NOW!

Watch it and spread it!

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The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

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Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/667/this-is-the-situation-these-are-the-stakes-en.html

Updated | revcom.us

 

Editors' Note: What follows is an important message that concisely outlines the dynamics of the struggle around the presidential election. This originally appeared at revcom.us in late September, before the election and Biden's victory over Trump in the popular and Electoral College votes. The points here are even more relevant than ever.

THIS IS THE SITUATION, THESE ARE THE STAKES.

TRUMP IS DETERMINED, AND HAS A STRATEGY, TO STAY IN POWER, AND HAMMER INTO PLACE HIS FASCIST PROGRAM—MURDEROUSLY ENFORCING INJUSTICE, CRUSHING BASIC RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES, ACCELERATING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEIGHTENING THE DANGER OF NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION—NO MATTER HOW PEOPLE VOTE. Trump is already stealing the election, he has a plan in place to use key institutions, including the Supreme Court, and violent thugs, in and out of uniform, to keep his regime in power.

THE DEMOCRATS’ STRATEGY IS LIKELY A LOSING STRATEGY THAT WILL LEAD THEM TO CAPITULATE TO TRUMP (even if the actual voting favors the Democrats). Left to their own devices, the Democrats do not have the ability or the will to fight Trump the way he needs to be fought. Despite the fact that the Trump/Pence regime represents an existential threat to humanity, the Democrats have refused to call out this fascist regime for what it is and oppose it on that basis. They are calling on people to just vote as if this is a “regular” election and the “normal rules” apply. The Democrats are trying to rely on procedures and institutions that this fascist regime has corrupted, destroyed, or taken over.

IF FASCISM FULLY TAKES HOLD IN THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHE FROM WHICH HUMANITY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER.

FOR EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT JUSTICE, ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, AND A FUTURE WORTH LIVING FOR HUMANITY: WE NEED TO TAKE UP THE CALL FROM REFUSEFASCISM.ORG TO ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE DETERMINED AND CREATIVE NONVIOLENT ACTIONS AND SUSTAINED DEMONSTRATIONS, DAY AFTER DAY, BECOMING INCREASINGLY MASSIVE AND POWERFUL, DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!—CHANGING THE WHOLE POLITICAL EQUATION AND SITUATION IN THIS COUNTRY, MAKING EVERY FORCE IN SOCIETY RESPOND TO THE POWERFULLY DEMONSTRATED DEMAND OF MASSES OF PEOPLE THAT THIS FASCIST REGIME MUST BE REMOVED.

Despite what the Democrats stand for, and how their approach would severely limit and cripple the fight against this fascist regime, in terms of voting people need to massively vote against Trump, by voting for Biden. BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR:

VOTING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH—AND SIMPLY RELYING ON VOTING WILL VERY LIKELY LEAD TO DISASTER. WE NEED TO TAKE TO THE STREETS NOW, AND STAY IN THE STREETS, DEMANDING TRUMP/PENCE OUT NOW!

For further understanding of all this, see these important works by Bob Avakian, available at revcom.us: the three-part series Voting Will Not Be Enough—We Need To Take To The Streets, And Stay In The Streets Demanding Trump/Pence Out Now! (in particular Part 3, Trump’s Fascism—More Blatant and Dangerous Every Day: How a Determined Fight and Massive Mobilization Could Defeat This) and Statement by Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On the Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need to Drive Out the Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting in This Election, And the Fundamental Need for Revolution.

 


Download PDF

 

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So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/polish-protesters-force-government-to-delay-implementation-of-abortion-ban-en.html

When They Take to the Streets…

Polish Protesters Force the Government to Delay Implementation of Abortion Ban

| revcom.us

 

The women of Poland are taking to the streets in courageous defiance of a ban on abortion decreed by the Constitutional Tribunal … and the government has been forced to pause and step back. For 14 days women, and men, have poured into the streets, hundreds of thousands of them, facing down right-wing thugs and government threats—determined that this brutal decree denying women the right to terminate a pregnancy where the fetus faced severe abnormalities will not stand.

According to the Polish Constitution, a decree from the Tribunal is irreversible and the decree was to be published and made official on November 2. But November 2 came and went and the decree was not published. In the face of the protests different sections of the government had begun to maneuver.

Jarosław Kaczyński, the fascist leader of the ruling Law and Justice Party, called on his base to “defend Poland, defend patriotism”—a barely disguised call to attack the protests—while President Andrzej Duda, a secondary leader in the Polish ruling structure, broke ranks and submitted “a proposal of changes.” The proposal which would have eased some aspects of the restriction was to be taken up by Parliament on November 4, but the session was postponed till mid-November. One opposition lawmaker tweeted, “They got scared of the protests.”

The President’s proposal is hardly satisfactory, allowing for abortion only in the case of “lethal” fetal abnormalities, and the fight is not over. But the government has paused.

This is what the people are capable of when they take to the streets in their thousands and millions.

Polish protestorsProtesters in Warsaw, October 28. After 14 straight days of protest, the government of Poland has been forced to delay implementation of an abortion ban. (Photo: AP)

See Also:

Massive Protests in Poland against Fascist Abortion Ban

Read More

 

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The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

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So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/amlo-stop-conciliating-with-the-trump-pence-fascist-regime-en.html

From Aurora Roja, the blog of the Revolutionary Communist Organization, Mexico

AMLO: STOP Conciliating with the Trump/Pence Fascist Regime!

| revcom.us

 

Editors' note: The following is an unofficial translation by revcom.us of an article from Aurora Roja, the blog of the Revolutionary Communist Organization, Mexico. We presume that when they refer to the "fascist defeat," they are referring to the Electoral College victory for Joe Biden, as called by major news outlets. As we point out elsewhere, this is still very much fraught and contested, and what is needed to see this righteous task through—of the actual ouster of this fascist regime—is mass, sustained, nonviolent protests like what is being called for by Refuse Fascism.

Masses of people around the world are celebrating the defeat of the fascist Trump/Pence regime in the U.S. elections. That regime is trying to impose fascism, in which the ruling capitalist-imperialist class exercises open dictatorship and terror, without the façade of democratic rights. It is a racist, misogynist, chauvinist, and viciously xenophobic regime. The struggle to run out this regime continues, given that Trump and the fascists continue attempting to steal the election. It’s not that Biden is “good”—he is not—but his election is part of putting an end to this fascist regime in the interests of all of humanity.

Instead of supporting the fight against fascism, Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has provided legitimacy for the lies of the fascists about alleged electoral “fraud” by refusing to recognize Biden as the winner. AMLO seeks to justify this by referring to past electoral fraud in Mexico and saying “we want to be respectful of the people’s self-determination.” Just like the hated former Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto who helped candidate Trump win the 2016 elections by inviting him to Mexico as if he already were head of state, AMLO lends his hand to the outrageous attempts by the U.S. fascist to steal the elections in which he was defeated by more than four million votes.

Yes, there was fraud against AMLO in 2006 and 2012, but the only electoral fraud committed now in the United States has been by Trump and the fascists who have maneuvered to deny the right to vote to large numbers of people, mainly Blacks, Latinos, and other people of color. They have sought to intimidate voters by showing up with guns and threatening people counting the votes, and even trying to stop the vote count in the states where the votes were going against them. The Mexican government’s position is not, as AMLO claims, “wait until the matter of the election is legally resolved,” but rather it is to provide help to the attempts of the fascists to carry out massive fraud. Even beyond this, even if the fascists had won—and fortunately they did not—fascism is never legitimate. Hitler initially rose to power through the German electoral system: Should we therefore say that his regime was legitimate?! Of course not.

To make things even worse, AMLO not only refuses to recognize the initial victory in the struggle to drive out the fascist Trump/Pence regime, but he repeats the same crude lie that he used when he met previously with Trump in Washington (which the Trump campaign used in its election propaganda). He now says that “President Trump has been very respectful towards us, we came to very good agreements and we thank him because there have been no interventions and he has respected us.” Who are the “we”?! The Central Americans, hunted down, deported, even murdered by the Mexican National Guard which has become the Yankee Migra thanks to one of these “good agreements”? The asylum applicants in the United States who the fascist government has thrown out on the Mexican side of the border to wait in unsafe and inhuman conditions? The women who were subjected to gynecological operations without their consent, including the removal of their uterus, in the immigrant concentration camps in the State of Georgia? The Blacks, Latinos, and other people murdered by the police and fascist hordes in the U.S.? All of this has been repeatedly and publicly justified by the racist, misogynist, and xenophobic statements by Trump and his cohorts. What AMLO lauds as “good agreements” are in fact a criminal pact by the Mexican state with the fascist regime to hunt down, arrest, and deport immigrants in Mexico, shoring up the xenophobia and racist and anti-immigrant genocide of the Trump/Pence regime.

The Mexican government’s position has nothing to do with respect for the people, neither in the United States, in Mexico, or in any part of the world. Its position is to conciliate and collaborate with fascism and its crimes, and this must stop now!

Down with the fascist Trump/Pence regime!

AMLO: Stop conciliating with fascism!

The problem is the system, the solution is revolution!

Aurora Roja
Voice of the Revolutionary Communist Organization, Mexico

auroraroja.mx@gmail.com | aurora-roja.blogspot.com

Download the pdf of this article in Spanish here:
AMLO-deje_de_conciliar.pdf.

 


New York City. Contingent from RefuseFascism.org, wearing #OUTNOW T-shirts.


Thousands celebrate Biden's victory by marching down 5th Avenue in New York City, November 7.

 

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During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/669/when-you-take-the-streets-en.html

When YOU Take the Streets...

| revcom.us

 

When YOU take the streets, then you set the terms. People have to respond, one way or the other. If taking the streets shakes people up, and makes them think, makes them question, even makes them angry—good. Step one is breaking people out of “it’s all good”—or “it’s all bad, and there’s nothing I can do.” If you’re in the streets, you are a living refutation of both.

When YOU take the streets, you define the debate. Think about what happened after the ugly, brutal murder of George Floyd by the police—the terms changed from “it’s really a shame, but the police are just doing their job and there’s really not that much we can do” to “the murder of George Floyd is outrageous and intolerable, his killers need to be charged and jailed, and everyone needs to be in the streets—and everywhere else—asking why this happens and demanding top to bottom change to make it stop.” People took the streets—and suddenly not only were statues coming down, but discussions were going on everywhere about the true history and present-day character of this society, and what needed to be done to change it—now.

When YOU take the streets, you cause different sections of the rulers to move in different ways. Do you think the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the military—Mark Milley—would have been compelled to break with his commander-in-chief, the fascist Trump, and to apologize for being with him at that church photo-op and using his troops against nonviolent protesters without people standing up and staying in the streets? Not out of the goodness of his heart—but because YOU were in the streets and YOU were having an effect on everyone and everything, and he began to worry about his own armed forces holding together and the way the whole society was looking at the problems you were so powerfully pointing to.

But when THEY—the fascists, the Trumpites—saw this, they were freaked and they were furious. So THEY took the streets, with their thugs and guns, and tried to change things back. THEY—the fascists, the Trumpites—tried to make the terms “what do we do about rioting and looting” and “law and order”—even as THEY surrounded and hounded and shot and killed and drove cars into people. When THEY took the streets it became all about “the grievances of Trump’s angry base” and the Democrats making concessions, as if the lies and slanders and racism and murder is somehow valid.

Now WE, in our hundreds and thousands now and growing into millions, need to take the streets and re-set the terms and demand that THIS FASCIST REGIME BE DRIVEN FROM POWER. We need to be in the streets to ring the alarm to millions on what this regime is threatening to do: steal the elections and wreak violence and prison on those who resist. WE need to call out the millions of people who love justice and decency to come back into the streets. WE with our actions need to inspire and organize them to say, in loud, united and graphic terms to Trump and Pence and Barr and the rest: DON’T YOU DARE!

We need to make clear: The very act of making those threats is more than cause enough to drive these fascists from office. NOWbefore they can carry them out. Then, if the election does happen—and yes, YOU MUST VOTE—we’ll be in a position where we can actually have a chance at fighting through against any chicanery and treachery from these fascists. In the main, essential and most important way to fight it: with millions in the streets.

WE need to show the nonviolent, creative, courageous moral certitude of our movement to the whole world, growing and growing, day after day: Trump/Pence OUT NOW.

WE need to take back the streets: now.

 

Follow: @TheRevcoms
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Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

 

Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/670/bob-avakian-kanye-west-ice-cube-en.html

KANYE WEST, ICE CUBE—FOOLS,
AND WORSE THAN FOOLS

by Bob Avakian

| revcom.us

 

Apparently Kanye West is mentally ill—and, if so, somebody should get him some help—but there is a “method” (or at least an effect) to his “madness” politically. Only a fool would be fooled by what he is doing. All his talk about being done with Trump is bullshit, or beside the point—what he is doing by “running for president” is helping Trump! If he were to take just enough votes away from the Democratic Party candidate, Biden, particularly in key “battleground” states, that could help Trump win those states and maybe win the Electoral College vote again.

A vote for Kanye West is not a vote for Kanye West. A vote for Kanye West is a vote for the racist-in-chief Donald Trump. Anyone who falls for this is being played for a chump!

Now comes Ice Cube, who is dealing with Trump because Trump has made promises about working with Ice Cube’s so-called “Contract With Black America.” Never mind that Trump is a blatant white supremacist—he is apparently alright with the hustler bourgeois Ice Cube, who rose to fame as part of NWA, with its powerful and wildly popular anthem “Fuck Tha Police,” and now turns around and tries to “make a deal” with the pig-loving Trump, who says police should be even more brutal. Ice Cube tries to give himself “cover” by talking about how all the politicians, both Democrat and Republican, have been bad for Black people—so, according to Ice Cube, it’s fine to work with the genocidal racist Trump, who openly promotes white supremacy and brays about “law and order,” fully backing the police in their murderous terror against Black people.1

And, besides Black people, what about all the other people, in this country and in the world as a whole, whose suffering is being made far worse, and whose future is being rapidly destroyed, by what Trump and his fascist regime are doing? Ice Cube doesn’t care about that either.

Nothing good, and only something terrible—for Black people, for all oppressed people everywhere, and for humanity as a whole—will ever come from working with and helping Trump.

As I have said before: Only someone worse than a fool would want that racist Confederacy-loving white supremacist, pussy-grabbing misogynistic male supremacist, LGBT-bashing, rights-trampling, science-denying, environment-destroying, war-mongering, xenophobic “America first” bloodsucking fascist motherfucker Trump to get re-elected.

 


1. Donald Trump—GENOCIDAL RACIST, by Bob Avakian, is available—as a series of articles, and to download as a pamphlet—at revcom.us.  [back]

Read all the articles in Bob Avakian’s new series


Read the ten-part series

 

Follow: @TheRevcoms
Read: www.revcom.us
Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

 

Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/670/bob-avakian-biden-a-doorknob-and-going-through-the-door-en.html

BIDEN, A DOORKNOB—
AND GOING THROUGH THE DOOR

by Bob Avakian

| revcom.us

 

It is crucial that there be a massive vote against Trump—which means voting for Biden. Now, a lot of people don’t like Biden, or don’t have any enthusiasm for Biden. That is certainly understandable. But it misses the main point: Voting for Biden is the only realistic way to vote against Trump. I have joked with people that, if a doorknob could defeat Trump in the upcoming election, voting for that doorknob would be better than voting for Biden, since the doorknob wouldn’t have all the negative things about it that Biden does. But the fact is that, in terms of the election itself, only voting for Biden, and not a doorknob, provides the means for handing Trump a decisive electoral defeat.

This is a way of emphasizing the important point I made in my August 1 Statement:

To approach this election from the standpoint of which candidate is “better” means failing to understand the truly profound stakes and potential consequences of what is involved. The fact is that there can be one—and only one—“good” that can come out of this election: delivering a decisive defeat to Trump and the whole fascist regime. Doing this would create far better conditions for continuing to wage the struggle against everything represented by the Trump/Pence regime and all the oppression and injustices of this system, and would be a great gift to the people of the world.1

As a fundamental point of orientation, we need to quit looking to any of these politicians to end injustice, oppression, and the destruction of the environment. Oppression and exploitation, and the destruction of the environment—all this is built into this system of capitalism-imperialism that all these politicians represent. Let me say it again: In regard to this electionthe only “positive” that can come out of this is preventing the further consolidation of the white supremacist, male supremacist, immigrant-hating, LGBT-hating, science-defying, climate-wrecking, nuclear annihilation-threatening, future-destroying fascist Trump/Pence regime. 

And that is a very important positive—it is, really, a matter of life and death.

At the same time, I have repeatedly emphasized that, given the fact that Trump is already stealing the election, through an ongoing rolling coup, simply relying on voting is very likely to lead to disaster. And this is why, while a massive vote for Biden is important, it is crucial that growing numbers of people—in the thousands now, and building to become millions—take to the streets around the country, and stay in the streets, day after day, taking up the call from RefuseFascism.org that the Trump/Pence regime must be OUT NOW!2 

And, having prevented the catastrophe that would result from this regime remaining in power, we can carry forward the struggle to build for something very positive—revolution—to put an end to this system and bring a much better system into being.

 


1. Statement by Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution (emphasis in the original). This Statement is available at revcom.us.  [back]

2. In addition to his August 1 Statement, this point (on Trump’s ongoing moves to steal the election, and the need for mass mobilization demanding Trump/Pence OUT NOW!) is emphasized in a number of other works by Bob Avakian, including the important three-part series titled Voting Will Not Be Enough—We Need To Take To The Streets, And Stay In The Streets Demanding Trump/Pence Out Now! (Part 1Part 2Part 3) which is also available at revcom.us.  [back]

Download PDF

Read all the articles in Bob Avakian’s new series

 

Follow: @TheRevcoms
Read: www.revcom.us
Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

 

Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

 

Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



 


 

Permalink: https://revcom.us/avakian/bob_avakian-breakthroughs/bob-avakian-breakthroughs-excerpt-on-social-forces-en.html

Excerpt from:

BOB AVAKIAN

BREAKTHROUGHS

The Historic Breakthrough by Marx,
and the Further Breakthrough with the New Communism

A Basic Summary

BOB AVAKIAN

BREAKTHROUGHS

The Historic Breakthrough by Marx, and the Further Breakthrough with the New Communism

A Basic Summary

Copyright © 2019 by Bob Avakian. All rights reserved.

 

EXCERPT—ON SOCIAL FORCES:
SEMI-PROLETARIANIZATION, PETIT BOURGEOISIFICATION,
AND LUMPEN BOURGEOISIFICATION

EXCERPT—ON SOCIAL FORCES:
SEMI-PROLETARIANIZATION, PETIT BOURGEOISIFICATION, AND LUMPEN BOURGEOISIFICATION

Editors' Note: Given what seems to be a definitely negative trend among some Black people, especially younger Black men, of attraction to Trump, the following excerpt from Breakthroughs: The Historic Breakthrough by Marx, and the Further Breakthrough with the New Communism, a Basic Summary, is very relevant as a context and scientific understanding of these trends. Bob Avakian has recently written a number of timely polemics against these trends, including KANYE WEST, ICE CUBE—FOOLS, AND WORSE THAN FOOLSCANDACE OWENS: SHAMELESS HYPOCRITE—SUPPORTER OF WHITE SUPREMACIST FASCISM, etc.

When referring to the quote from Marx’s Grundrisse below, Avakian is referring to the following:

In... speaking to the social mobility that is often raised as one of the great features of capitalist society, Marx, in another major work of his, the Grundrisse, pointed out that individuals may change their social and class position within a society like this, but the masses of people can only escape from oppressive production and social relations by revolutionary means—by overthrowing and abolishing the system that is founded on and embodies those relations.

Editors' Note: Given what seems to be a definitely negative trend among some Black people, especially younger Black men, of attraction to Trump, the following excerpt from Breakthroughs: The Historic Breakthrough by Marx, and the Further Breakthrough with the New Communism, a Basic Summary, is very relevant as a context and scientific understanding of these trends. Bob Avakian has recently written a number of timely polemics against these trends, including KANYE WEST, ICE CUBE—FOOLS, AND WORSE THAN FOOLSCANDACE OWENS: SHAMELESS HYPOCRITE—SUPPORTER OF WHITE SUPREMACIST FASCISM, etc.

When referring to the quote from Marx’s Grundrisse below, Avakian is referring to the following:

In... speaking to the social mobility that is often raised as one of the great features of capitalist society, Marx, in another major work of his, the Grundrisse, pointed out that individuals may change their social and class position within a society like this, but the masses of people can only escape from oppressive production and social relations by revolutionary means—by overthrowing and abolishing the system that is founded on and embodies those relations.

Read complete work here

Download PDF for complete work here

 

 

So, what are the backbone, or potential backbone, forces for revolution, particularly in a country like the U.S.? Well, they are the impoverished and bitterly oppressed and repressed masses who do exist in their tens of millions in this country; and this interpenetrates to a great degree with people among the oppressed nationalities, although it is not limited to that. We do have to recognize, at the same time, that there is a phenomenon among many of these masses of what could be called “deproletarianization”—people who were themselves formerly exploited as wage‑workers (or the previous generations of whom were exploited in this way) but who now can’t even find themselves in that position (can’t find a job, to put it simply). This has been accompanied by a lot of what could be called “petit‑bourgeoisification,” as well as “lumpen‑bourgeoisification,” among sections of the oppressed masses—people who get into small‑scale activity, which is essentially petit bourgeois in the sense that it involves small scale ownership and trading, and things like that, and people who are into the life of crime, including those who rise to fairly powerful and wealthy positions within that, even though their situation is often and generally very precarious.

There are these phenomena, and there is the phenomenon that in the realm of culture, for example, a certain, relatively small but influential, section of people has managed to rise from within these masses to basically a bourgeois position. The reason I refer to “lumpen‑bourgeoisification” is that this includes people who have not only utilized the realm of culture but also in some cases the realm of crime to wrench out a position in which they become quite wealthy, and then they invest in lines of cosmetics and clothes, and so on—they become real bourgeois, even as many of them are part of an oppressed nation or people. And they have the corresponding outlook to a very significant degree. I won’t even talk right now about Kanye West! But, more generally, there’s the phenomenon where you are witnessing a profound silence on the part of many of these cultural figures and others on some of the burning issues for the masses today. Some may tweet about different things, but they don’t step out and take a strong stand in response—as a phenomenon there are many who do not step out and take a strong stand around glaring acts of oppression and injustice against the masses of people. And that’s because their position has changed. Not only is there a fairly significant “petit‑bourgeoisification” among oppressed masses but there is also the “lumpen‑bourgeoisification” that I referred to—and there is a culture which mirrors the extremely individualistic and acquisitive character of the dominant culture as a whole.

There is the phenomenon of what could be called “Reaganism among the masses of people,” the whole “ethos” that came in with Reagan in the 1980s, this extreme individualism—and not just individualism in the abstract, but one that is posed in terms of antagonism toward everybody else: “You can’t trust anybody else; nobody else cares about you; you gotta get over on other people before they get over on you.” To a significant degree, this has become a model for the masses, even though (once again going back to Marx’s statement in the Grundrisse) in their masses they are totally incapable of following this path, only a few can do that. In fact, there are millions of talented people in sports, in the arts, and so on, but only a tiny number of them can ever rise to a position of wealth and prominence. Nevertheless, this is held up as a model. Not only is this held up as a way out for people, it is more generally upheld as a model for people to follow and a way that people should think and conduct themselves. This does pose a real problem—and, more than that, it is an acute expression of a much larger problem in terms of the prevailing culture that has to be struggled against. People’s thinking in this regard has to be radically transformed.

At the same time, with all this, there is the poverty and immiseration, and the relentless injustice and oppression, to which masses of people are continually subjected and which, to go back once again to Marx in the Grundrisse, they have no way out of other than by overthrowing the system. Even short of revolution, all this to which they are continually subjected causes people to rise up against the system and its outrages, and provides a powerful part of the objective basis for masses, particularly (though not only) those who catch the worst hell under this system, to be won to, and to play a decisive role in, the revolution that is required to meet what are in fact their fundamental needs and interests. But this will require a tremendous amount of ideological struggle, transforming the thinking of masses of people, while uniting with them in fighting the oppressive powers‑that‑be, winning them to become, not people out for revenge and out for themselves, but emancipators of humanity, and in this way to act as backbone forces for the proletarian‑communist revolution.

As I indicated, this is closely intertwined with the fight to abolish the oppression of Black people and other oppressed nationalities within the U.S. and the whole question of the relation between national liberation and proletarian revolution, particularly in a country like the U.S., which is spoken to in THE NEW COMMUNISM and is addressed, concretely and in an overall strategic sense, in the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America.41

At the same time as there are these basic forces for revolution, suffering in this way, who have to be won to this revolution through a tremendous amount of struggle, in which transforming their thinking is pivotal, there is a need for a broader united front, with the leadership of the proletariat—not in the reified sense of individual proletarians representing the essence of this leadership, but in the sense of what are the fundamental interests of the proletariat as a class and, going back to Marx, the fact that the proletariat can only emancipate itself by emancipating all humanity, by eliminating oppression and exploitation throughout the world with the achievement of communism. Being based on that understanding, and proceeding in that way, is what is meant by the leadership of the proletariat. And what is in the fundamental interests of the proletariat, and required for the revolution to realize those fundamental interests, is bringing into the revolutionary process as many forces as possible from the broader ranks of society, and continually struggling to win people to the revolutionary communist position. It is a matter of bringing forward those who catch the worst hell under this system, but also—and fundamentally by bringing them forward—working at the same time to bring forward all different strata of the people, including in particular youth and students, who constitute a crucial force that has an important role in this revolutionary process.

This requires a scientific, dialectical materialist approach to the situation and spontaneous sentiments and inclinations not only of the basic masses who can and must be brought forward as the backbone and driving force of this revolutionary process, but also of the middle class in this country, and the different strata within this middle class, whose situation is significantly different than it was 50, or even 20, years ago. It requires a living and constantly deepening understanding of the material position and outlook—the conditions of life and spontaneous thinking—of these different sections of the people and how to carry out the necessary struggle to bring about a profound change in the outlook and values of large and growing numbers of them, winning them to active and increasingly conscious involvement in the revolutionary process whose final aim is the abolition of all relations of exploitation and oppression, all antagonistic relations among human beings everywhere, and all the agony and anguish that is bound up with those relations.

 


41. Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America (Draft Proposal). Authored by Bob Avakian, and adopted by the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, 2010 (RCP Publications, 2010). Also available at revcom.us and thebobavakianinstitute.org.  [back]

 

 

 


 

Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/671/statement-initiated-by-faith-task-force-of-refuse-fascism-en.html

Statement Initiated by the Faith Task Force of Refuse Fascism:

Urgent! To Religious Communities and All People of Conscience
We Must Not Wait On An Election Being Stolen By A Fascist Regime

Protests Must Continue and Grow! Trump/Pence Out Now!
In The Name of Humanity Stop Terrorizing Immigrant Children!

| revcom.us

 

“Suffer the little children to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.”
(Matthew 19:14, Bible)

“By the breath of children God sustains the world.”
(Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 119b)

“They are not from us: the ones who do not have mercy upon young children, nor do they respect the elderly”
(Prophet Muhammad, Qur’an)

People of faith, of all religions—and all people of conscience - of such did we see torn from mothers and fathers during the brutal years of slavery in this nation.

Of such did we see in this nation, during the genocidal separation of Native American children torn from their families to deprive them of their language and destroy their culture.

Of such did we see Japanese children and families torn from their homes and isolated in concentration camps across this nation.

Of such did we see when Jewish children and families were torn from their homes to be incinerated in the ovens of the Holocaust during the monstrous Nazi regime of Hitler’s Germany.

Of such do we now see in this nation with immigrant children crying desperately for their parents while locked in cages by the illegitimate, barbaric, Trump-Pence regime that America must expunge for crimes against humanity.

If a nation, a society is judged by the way it treats “the least of these” then how will we, churches, synagogues, mosques, etc., how will we be judged?
***

It is an atrocity that people are being used as pawns to get a wall built;

That children, akin to the era of slavery in America, have been ripped from the arms of their parents; and moreover are being held in detention centers or transported across the country with little hope of ever being reunited with their parents;

That Trump’s executive orders have mandated military concentration camps—indefinite incarceration in military prisons—for immigrants and refugees. Children. Adults. All families.

And to Trump, Pence, Barr, Pompeo, Devos, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the entire White House: Biblical scripture can be used by anyone to justify their twisted beliefs or deviant behaviors. Scripture was used by King George III loyalists. It was used to justify slavery in general and the Fugitive Slave Act specifically. There is little doubt that the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria was similarly justified. It is patently clear that all laws are not just. It is an absolute atrocity that any political figure in twenty first century America could justify the evil evidenced by the irreparable harm being done to thousands of children in these United States of America. And, it is not okay to turn a blind eye and accept lame excuses of “justification” when fathers are shot in the back while their children look on!

We are at a critical moment. There is a rolling coup underway and the Trump/Pence regime is shredding every norm of democratic rule with their destruction of the election. In the hope of justice and peace, it is time for our religious communities, and all others, to join together in solidarity to oppose and stop the growing list of atrocities of the Trump/Pence regime and take immediate, positive action to protect humanity!

Protests Must Continue and Grow! Turn Up The Heat - Stay In The Streets! This Nightmare Must End! The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go!

 

Initiated by: Faith Task Force of Refuse Fascism - I Am My Brother’s Keeper - The Trump Pence Regime Must Go! In The Name of Humanity Stop Terrorizing Immigrant Children!

Some of the initial religious-affiliated signatories (affiliations for identification purposes only):

Sara Atkins, Director of Advocacy, Torah Trumps Hate; Rev. Bob Bossie, SCJ, Roman Catholic Priest; Isabel Cardenas, American-Salvadoran Citizen; Bishop Gregg L. Greer, President of Freedom First International; Ernestine Henning, Supervisor (ret.), AME Church; Rabbi Burt Jacobson, Founder, Kehilla Community Synagogue; Russ Jennings, Host, Love in a Dangerous Time; Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Kuan, President, Claremont School of Theology; Elly Levy, Immigrant Rights Attorney and Activist; Sara MacDonald, Episcopal Church; Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray, Former Pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles; Reverend Drew David Murray, Los Angeles; Rev. Karen Nelson, United Methodist Church, Portland, Oregon; Robert Packenham, Unitarian Universalist of San Francisco; Rich Procida, Bible Study For Progressives; Merilie Robertson, Presbyterian Elder, Pasadena, CA; Stephen Rohde, Interfaith Leader and Civil Rights Activist; Ramona Tolliver, Member, Ward AME Church; Anna Viggiano, Religious Education, Newman Center, Hawai’i; Rev. Gary Bernard Williams, Pastor of Saint Mark UMC LA; Rev. Frank Wulf, Echo Park United Methodist Church, LA

 

To add your name to this statement, go here.

 

Follow: @TheRevcoms
Read: www.revcom.us
Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

 

Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

 

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Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/672/planet-cannot-survive-four-more-years-of-trump-part-3-oceans-en.html

| revcom.us

 

The Planet Cannot Survive Four More Years of Trump!

Part 3: Oceans —
Dead Zones, Garbage Patches and Heat Waves


Part of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

 

Editors’ Note: We received the following from a reader—the third and final in a series on the destruction of the planet’s ecosystems that has been brought to new levels of devastation and danger under the Trump/Pence regime.

Parts I and II can be found here and here. It is no exaggeration to say that if the Trump/Pence regime stays in power for four more years, the damage they inflict on the planet and its ecosystems, especially in accelerating global warming, and to the continuing survival of large sections of humanity, may well be irreparable.


The Pacific Ocean. Photo: Wikimedia commons

Life on the planet is believed to have begun in the oceans more than four billion years ago. Today, oceans contain somewhere between 500,000 and 10 million species, from whales to bacteria, most of it is unknown to science. Oceans absorb carbon dioxide, cushioning the planet against global warming and absorb more heat than land. Ocean currents help maintain the seasons.

For humanity, oceans are a source of incredible beauty, wonder, and knowledge. They provide human society with one-fifth of the protein we eat (and more in many areas).

Climate Change

The ocean as we know it today is dying. Global warming is responsible for the acceleration and increasingly severe destruction of the oceans. For example:

  • In 2006, a large marine heat wave (called “the blob”) covered a large part of the Pacific Ocean, raising ocean temperatures by five degrees and lasting two years. This ocean heat wave had a devastating impact on marine life such as sea lions and salmon. A similar “blob” formed in 2014-2016 and again in 2019. The formation of such large and long-lasting heat waves is now considered 100 times more likely than just a few decades ago. If fossil fuels continue to burn at the current rate and temperatures rise by five degrees (which is within the range of scientists’ current projections), some parts of the ocean may be in a continuous state of extreme heat, with disastrous consequences for the species that live there.

  • In 2014-16 and again in 2019, the ocean waters off the West Coast were hit with hotter-than-usual temperatures in a marine heat wave that came to be known as "the Blob." The 2014-16 heat wave was the largest marine heat wave since NOAA satellites started keeping track in 1981. The 2019 marine heat wave was the second-largest. (NOAA Coral Reef Watch)

  • A study recently published in the journal Nature Climate Change indicates that oceans are becoming more stratified, with warm water at the top, cooler waters below, and less mixing. According to climate scientist Michael Mann, one of the study’s authors, this poses a number of significant problems: 1) the oceans are unable to absorb as much heat as in the past, leading to more warming for the planet as a whole; 2) the increased stratification contributes to the intensity of tropical storms. Mann’s study found that this is happening much more quickly than previously thought.

  • Warmer oceans contribute to the intensity of tropical storms, an event happening much more quickly than previously thought. Here the aftermath of 2015 Cyclone Pam, which destroyed 90 percent of the buildings in the nation of Vanatu. (Photo: AP)

  • The ocean is absorbing more carbon dioxide from the air, making it more acidic. This makes it harder for corals, oysters, mussels, and other organisms to build their shells. Current estimates are that 90 percent of coral reefs, which comprise some of the richest areas of marine life on the planet, will be dead by the middle of this century.

  • 2010: a variety of corals from a part of the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Photo: Toby Hudson (Wikimedia Commons)


    2016: dead staghorn coral killed by bleaching on the northern Great Barrier Reef. Photo: Greg Torda, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies/Creative Commons

  • Disruption of ocean temperatures leads to a disruption of the “ocean conveyor belt,” which regulates the planet’s climate. Any disruption of this current could lead to massive changes in the planet’s climate.
  • An Unsustainable System

    Pollution, unsustainable fishing, and toxic waste are causing devastating outcomes in the planet’s oceans. Like climate change, this is rooted in the system of capitalism-imperialism. As Raymond Lotta wrote on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, “The economic models and pricing system of capitalism cannot capture the true measure of these elements of nature. They systematically ‘undervalue’ nature because, historically, these benefits of ecosystems are provided ‘free’ as ‘public goods’—and have been systematically overexploited as imperialism relentlessly and massively commodifies more and more of nature.”

    Look at what is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the Pacific Ocean, where ocean currents have caused massive amounts of plastic and other garbage, twice the size of Texas, to accumulate. This is one of five similar sites worldwide. As plastics break down, they work their way into every part of oceans, from the surface to the ocean floor. Turtles, seabirds, fish, and marine mammals eat or get entangled in the plastic garbage. Plastic contains toxins, which get concentrated in smaller animals and the animals that eat them. At the top of that food chain are human beings. Studies have found that humans today have plastics in every organ of our bodies.


    Pacific Garbage Patch concentrations (Map: NOAA)

    Even though the environmental harm of plastics has been long known, plastic production has continued to rise, often for useless things such as packaging of consumer goods. Between 2000 and 2010, more plastic was produced than in the previous century. And production of plastic is expected to increase by 40 percent in the next 10 years.

    Look at the dead zone that forms every summer off the Gulf of Mexico. Dead zones form when chemicals, such as those used as fertilizer in industrial agriculture, run off into rivers that flow into the Mississippi and eventually into the Gulf. There they cause algae to bloom on the surface, which decreases the oxygen levels below. Thousands of dead fish wash ashore. Fifty years ago, there were 50 dead zones around the world. Today, this has grown to more than 400.


    A satellite image of the Gulf of Mexico showing sediment flowing into it from the Mississippi River. This year's dead zone in the gulf could be one of the largest on record. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/NASA Earth Observatory)

    Nonsustainable fishing is also harming the ocean ecosystem. In 2015, one-third of ocean fish stocks were being commercially fished faster than the stocks could replenish. When too many fish are taken out of the ocean, an imbalance is created that leads to a loss of other important marine life—including vulnerable species like sea turtles and corals. Dwindling stocks of fish put millions of people living in poor coastal communities at risk of hunger and loss of their livelihood.

    At the same time as the burning of fossil fuels is wrecking the climate, offshore drilling and the spills that can result are damaging to ocean life. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill from BP-operated wells in the Gulf of Mexico released 200 million gallons of oil. This disaster fouled at least 1,300 miles of Gulf shoreline, endangered public health, and killed 10s of thousands of birds, sea turtles, dolphins, and fish. In addition to large spills like BP’s, there are many smaller spills. Just in U.S. federal waters, there were 6,500 oil spills between 2007 and 2017. Aside from the devastating impact of oil spills, these wells produce many forms of toxic waste, even when they are running as designed.

    We need a society that is based on maintaining a sustainable relationship with the natural world. This is something that capitalism cannot do.


    Trump overturned regulations put in place after the BP oil spill that were meant to prevent future spills. And he has proposed changes that would allow oil drilling in all federal waters. Here, aftermath of BP- Deepwater Horizon oil spill, an industrial disaster, April 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

    Trump and the Oceans

    Much of the environmental devastation in the oceans is the direct result of climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This did not begin with Trump; it is the result of a system of capitalism-imperialism, its cutthroat competition, and its quest for profit. But Trump is greatly accelerating the process.

    Trump has denied the science of climate change, pulled out of the Paris climate accord, promoted and deregulated coal power plants, repealed rules that would have reduced automobile emissions, cut regulations on methane, approved contested pipelines, and expanded drilling coal mining and fracking. And Trump has damaged the oceans in other ways:  

    • On June 5, Trump opened the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, the only protected marine monument, to commercial fishing. The site is home to a rare species of cold-water coral, some of which are more than 4,000 years old, as well as diverse systems of life that exist in its three undersea canyons and four extinct volcanos.
    • Last week, Trump appointed two climate science deniers and a campaign aide to top positions in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the leading U.S. agency studying climate change and the ocean environment. These appointments presage what would likely happen if Trump remains in power: turning an important scientific body into a hack center of climate change denial.
    • On June 19, 2018, Trump signed an executive order overturning the National Ocean Policy (which Republicans called “Obamacare for the Ocean”) and replacing it with a policy that barely mentions climate change and focuses not on ocean conservation but on economic development, including mining the sea floor.
    • Trump overturned regulations put in place after the BP oil spill that were meant to prevent future spills. And he has proposed changes that would allow oil drilling in all federal waters.
    • Trump is a big-time supporter of the U.S. plastics industry. He constantly ridicules efforts to reduce single-use plastics. When he does talk about plastic pollution, he blames other countries (especially China), even though the U.S. produces much more plastics per capita than China.

    ***

    Ocean Endangered Species

    While much less is known about extinction of marine species than their land-based relatives, a 2019 study in the journal Nature found that ocean species were more vulnerable to temperature change than land species.

    Part 1 of this series (on the Great Barrier Reef) covered the situation with coral reefs, which are threatened by rising ocean temperatures. These “rainforests of the sea” could become extinct in coming decades.

    ***


    Leatherback sea turtle

    The leatherback sea turtle is the largest sea turtle, reaching a length of seven feet. They migrate up to 10,000 miles each year. In the last 30 years, the population of these turtles has declined by 90 percent.


    Vaquita

    The vaquita is a small porpoise found only in the northern Gulf of California, off Mexico. Fewer than 20 of these animals remain, down from more than 600 in 1997. They have been caught in fishing nets and more recently have been hunted because their swim bladders are believed to have medicinal value.

    Hawaiian monk seal

    The Hawaiian monk seal, known to native Hawaiians as ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua, or "dog that runs in rough water," is being threatened by rising sea water that is destroying the beaches that the seals need to rest and to rear their young. The seals are also killed when they get caught in fishing nets. There are only around 1,000 of these seals left.

    Read the series:

    The Planet Cannot Survive Four More Years of Trump!

    Part 1: The Great Barrier Reef and the Amazon

    Read more


    Bleached coral, the Great Barrier Reef


    Part 2: The Arctic: Land of (Melting) Ice and Fire

    Read more


    Starving polar bear (Photo: Wikimedia commons)


    See also:

    50 Years Since Earth Day 1:
    Reflections on the Catastrophe That Is Capitalism-Imperialism

    by Raymond Lotta

    Read more


    Jacundá National Forest, part of the Amazon Rain Forest, August 25, 2019 (Photo: AP)

    This series has shown that the global environment is on a precipice, and many ecosystems are facing the possibility of collapse. We have seen species on the edge, from the rainforests to the Arctic to the oceans. As has been emphasized throughout this series, even small changes in an ecosystem can have large effects on the entire system. Because all life is bound together, changes to the ocean ecosystem will affect all other species on the planet, including human beings.

    Right now, humanity faces a choice with huge implications not only for humanity, but for the planet. Four more years of Trump’s science-denying, nature-destroying, fossil-fuel-emitting fascist regime will be a nightmare for the planet. We must use all available nonviolent means to prevent Trump/Pence from consolidating fascism. AND ultimately, to save the planet, we need to overthrow the capitalist-imperialist system and put in place a system of socialism moving on to communism that is based on, among other things, “Protecting, preserving, and enhancing the ecosystems and biodiversity of the planet for current and future generations.” (From the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America, authored by Bob Avakian.)

     

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    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/668/bob-avakian_donald-trump-and-andrew-jackson-racist-genocidal-tyrants-en.html

    DONALD TRUMP & ANDREW JACKSON:
    RACIST GENOCIDAL TYRANTS*

    by Bob Avakian

    | revcom.us

     

    It is no wonder that Trump has a portrait of Andrew Jackson prominently displayed in the White House. There is almost a perfect fit between the two: Jackson, who was president about 200 years ago, was a vicious slave-owner who also uprooted large numbers of Native Americans from land they owned in the southeast of the U.S. and forced them onto a “trail of tears” death march toward far-away Oklahoma, during which thousands, including many children and old people, died terrible deaths.

    But, along with their genocidal racism, there is also another very important parallel between Jackson and Trump. Jackson openly defied the Supreme Court when it ruled that it was illegal for him to carry out this “Indian removal.” Trump’s strategy now is not to defy but to load up the Supreme Court with extreme right-wing and outright fascist judges, so the Court will rule in his favor on crucial questions, including the upcoming election. Like Jackson before him, Trump is defying the law and the Constitution. He is suppressing votes, falsely denouncing perfectly legal voting as “fraud,” organizing and unleashing fascist thugs to intimidate and attack people opposed to Trump, and preparing an army of lawyers to contest results that show him to be the loser in the election—precisely in order to have the possibility of the election being decided by a Supreme Court that Trump has loaded with judges who will rule in his favor, regardless of the actual vote.

    This is why, even as “the polls show” that Biden is now well ahead of Trump, including in “key battleground states”—and even if, despite all Trump’s moves to intimidate and suppress votes against him, the actual vote count goes to Biden—simply relying on the vote and waiting for November will very likely lead to disaster. It is a powerful reason why it is crucial to take up now the call from RefuseFascism.org—taking to the streets in sustained non-violent mobilization, and staying in the streets, in greater and greater numbers, demanding Trump/Pence OUT NOW!

     


    *Donald Trump-GENOCIDAL RACIST, by Bob Avakian, is available—as a series of articles, and to download as a pamphlet—at revcom.us.  [back]

     

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    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/668/bob-avakian_the-acute-fascist-danger-acting-in-the-interests-of-humanity-en.html

    THE ACUTE FASCIST DANGER
    RISING ABOVE PETTY “LEFTISM,”
    ACTING IN THE INTERESTS OF HUMANITY
    Basic Questions, Existential Stakes

    by Bob Avakian

    | revcom.us

     

    Do any of the bourgeois politicians, of either the Democratic or Republican Party, represent anything good?

    No. They all represent something very bad: the system of capitalism-imperialism that is based on monstrous, literally murderous exploitation and oppression of masses of people, not just in this country but all over the world.

    Are all these politicians—and both of these political parties—“the same”?

    No, again. They have real differences over how this system should be governed, and enforced, and how this society should be held together under the rule of this system.

    Do these differences actually matter for those who are exploited and oppressed under this system, for all those who aspire to a more just world?

    It depends. Most of the time, the differences between these two parties are not significant enough to make it right and necessary to single out one party and focus on opposing it. But, on very rare occasions, these differences do matter that much. This is one of those times.

    Why? Because one party—the Republican Party, headed now by the Trump/Pence regime—has become thoroughly fascist. Fascism is “open and aggressive dictatorship, trampling on and perverting the rule of law, relying on violence and terror, on behalf of the predatory capitalist system and as an extreme attempt to deal with profound social division and acute crises (both within the country and in the global arena).”1 And: “If fascism fully takes hold in the most powerful country in the world, this could lead to a catastrophe from which humanity may not be able to recover.”2 

    The situation today is that the conditions that make possible a revolution to do away with this whole system do not yet exist, and are not immediately on the horizon, but there is the possibility of forcing the removal of this fascist regime through massive, sustained nonviolent mobilization. Right now, meeting the immediate needs of this acute situation—and preparing for the revolution that is the fundamental solution to the horrors in the world that are caused by this system—must focus on removing this fascist regime from power.

    As I have emphasized:

    Driving out the fascist Trump/Pence regime is urgently necessary. It concentrates the question of whether there will be any favorable basis for continuing the struggle against racist oppression and police terror and every kind of injustice and oppression, as well as the plunder of the environment. It concentrates the question of whether there will be a future—one worth living—for humanity.3

    Refusing to recognize this reality, saying it does not matter now which group of politicians is in power, and taking up the worse than meaningless stance that “these politicians are all the same”—this is not simply silly pseudo-“left” sectarian nonsense—it amounts to active collaboration with this fascist regime and the very real horrors it is relentlessly moving to hammer into place.

    The conclusion is this: Everyone who really cares about ending exploitation, oppression and injustice, the rapidly accelerating destruction of the environment and the endless wars caused by this system

    needs to join those who are already in the streets, who are not waiting for an election that Trump is already stealing through an ongoing fascist coup, and instead are taking up the call from RefuseFascism.org for sustained non-violent mobilization, day after day, raising the demand that the Trump/Pence regime must be OUT NOW!4

     


    1. Statement By Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution. This Statement is available at revcom.us.  [back]

    2. This Is the Situation, These Are the Stakesemphasis added here. This article is also available at revcom.us.  [back]

    3. Sleepwalking “Wokeness” and the Trump/Pence Nightmare. This article by Bob Avakian is also available at revcom.us.  [back]

    4. Sleepwalking “Wokeness” and the Trump/Pence Nightmare—emphasis in the original.  [back]

    "THIS IS THE SITUATION, THESE ARE THE STAKES."

    TRUMP IS DETERMINED, AND HAS A STRATEGY, TO STAY IN POWER, AND HAMMER INTO PLACE HIS FASCIST PROGRAM—MURDEROUSLY ENFORCING INJUSTICE, CRUSHING BASIC RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES, ACCELERATING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND HEIGHTENING THE DANGER OF NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION—NO MATTER HOW PEOPLE VOTE. Trump is already stealing the election, he has a plan in place to use key institutions, including the Supreme Court, and violent thugs, in and out of uniform, to keep his regime in power...

    Read more | Download PDF

     

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    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/668/bob-avakian-sleepwalking-wokeness-and-the-trump-pence-nightmare-en.html

    SLEEPWALKING “WOKENESS”
    AND THE TRUMP/PENCE NIGHTMARE

    by Bob Avakian

    | revcom.us

     

    “If fascism fully takes hold in the most powerful country in the world, this could lead to a catastrophe from which humanity may not be able to recover.” (This Is the Situation, These Are the Stakes)1

    Far too many people who claim to care about injustice and the destruction of the environment, and say they are working for a better world, still come up with ridiculous rationalizations for not recognizing—and not acting in the way necessary to oppose—the fascism of the Trump/Pence regime, and the very real and terrible danger it poses. Here I am going to speak to one of these ridiculous rationalizations.

    Far too often, people who claim to be “woke” say that, since Black people have always been subjected to horrific oppression in this country, Trump is no different than other politicians, and there is no reason, and no need, to focus on opposing Trump and building mass mobilization to demand the removal of the Trump/Pence regime. This is like arguing that, since this country was founded in slavery, it makes no difference if slavery is brought back now! People need to understand that Trump is a genocidal racist.2 He may not be trying to bring back literal slavery but he is definitely aiming to take this country back to a situation where overt white supremacy is blatantly promoted, codified in law and court decisions, and enforced through systematic, full-blown white supremacist violence.

    This highlights the very real and important “wake-up call” that needs to be made, once again, to people who are ignoring the reality of what Trump is all about, and the terrible consequences of allowing the Trump/Pence regime to remain in power: You think you’re woke, but you’re sleepwalking through a nightmare.

    Driving out the fascist Trump/Pence regime is urgently necessary. It concentrates the question of whether there will be any favorable basis for continuing the struggle against racist oppression and police terror and every kind of injustice and oppression, as well as the plunder of the environment. It concentrates the question of whether there will be a future—one worth living—for humanity.

    Everyone who really cares about this needs to join those who are already in the streets, who are not waiting for an election that Trump is already stealing through an ongoing fascist coup, and instead are taking up the call from RefuseFascism.org for sustained non-violent mobilization, day after day, raising the demand that the Trump/Pence regime must be OUT NOW!

     


    1. This article, This Is the Situation, These Are the Stakes, is available at revcom.us.  [back]

    2. Donald Trump—GENOCIDAL RACIST, by Bob Avakian, is available—as a series of articles, and to download as a pamphlet—at revcom.us.  [back]

    Download PDF

    "This Is the Situation, These Are the Stakes"

    Read more | Download PDF

     

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    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/668/bob-avakian-vice-president-pence-fundamentalist-fanatic-crucial-force-in-the-fascist-regime-en.html

    VICE PRESIDENT PENCE—FUNDAMENTALIST FANATIC, CRUCIAL FORCE IN THE FASCIST REGIME

    by Bob Avakian

    | revcom.us

     

    I began the Statement By Bob Avakian, August 1, 2020, On The Immediate Critical Situation, The Urgent Need To Drive Out The Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, Voting In This Election, And The Fundamental Need For Revolution with this important analysis:

    We are confronted by—we are now being ruled by—a fascist regime: relentlessly assaulting civil rights and liberties and openly promoting bigotry and inequality; acting with callous disregard or cold-blooded malice toward those they consider inferior and a drain or stain on the country; on a mission to deny health care to millions who will suffer and many who will die without it; crudely degrading women, as objects of plunder, breeders of children without the right to abortion or birth control, subordinate to husbands and men in general; defying the science of climate change, attacking the science of evolution, and repudiating the scientific method overall; a regime brandishing an arsenal of mass destruction and threatening nuclear war; intensifying state terror against Muslims, immigrants, and people in the inner cities; unleashing and giving encouragement and support to brutal thugs spewing vile “America First,” white supremacist, male supremacist, and anti-LGBT venom—a regime that boasts of all this and declares its intention to do even worse.1

    As for vice president Mike Pence: While he might not express things in the same blustering, blatant and vulgar ways as Trump, Pence is a religious fundamentalist fanatic, who represents a powerful force driving the whole fascist program of this regime.

    And this is why there is the urgent need to take up the call from REFUSEFASCISM.org, demanding not only the removal of Trump but that the whole Trump/Pence regime must be OUT NOW!

    With Pence, we are not talking about the kind of Christianity that seeks to reconcile religious belief with acceptance of science, and interprets the Bible and the message of Jesus as one of peace, justice, compassion and tolerance, loving your neighbor and standing with the poor and oppressed. No, Pence is a dead-eyed “true believer” in an extreme, anti-scientific and cruel, religious fanaticism—a real “Handmaid’s Tale” Christian fundamentalist, driven by virulent male supremacist and anti-LGBT venom, and fully on board with Trump’s white supremacy, aggressive American chauvinism and xenophobia (hatred of immigrants). Pence’s religious fundamentalism is a counterpart to the Islamic fundamentalism of the Taliban or ISIS. Like them, Pence believes that his version of religious fundamentalism should be imposed on people, by force wherever and whenever necessary. But a big difference is that, unlike Taliban or ISIS leaders, whose power and “reach” is much more limited, Pence is a high-ranking official in the most powerful government, with the most powerful killing machine, in the history of the world.

    He may seem more “polished” than the crude lying bully Trump, but Pence is all the more dangerous for his “calm” exterior—a “soft-spoken assassin” who practices his own version of the “righteous” lie, in the service of “God’s will” as interpreted through Pence’s lunatic religious fundamentalism. While “old school” NAZIs and armed thugs (like the Proud Boys), are useful as storm troopers for the fascist Trump/Pence regime, it is Christian fundamentalism that is the hard core and driving force of this regimeAnd, along with Pence, this regime is full of Christian fundamentalist fanatics, in powerful positions—including Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, and many others.

    Here it is helpful to cite once again important analysis by African-American theologian Hubert Locke. Speaking 15 years ago, Locke referred to the experience of his mentor, James Luther Adams, who observed first-hand the fascism of Hitler and the Nazis in Germany in the 1930s, and spoke sharply to the danger of fascism in the U.S. itself:

    A quarter-century ago [during the 1980s], as he watched the emergence of the religious right in this country as a political force dedicated to "taking back the nation for God," Adams said to his students that they would find themselves having to fight "the Christian fascists" in this nation. He warned that the American fascists would not come wearing swastikas and brown shirts. The American variety, he said, would come carrying crosses and chanting the Pledge of Allegiance.2

    Once more, this is why the removal not only of Trump, but of Pence, and the whole fascist regime, is an immediate and urgent imperative, and must become a massive rallying cry and overwhelmingly powerful demand thundered by growing numbers of people taking to the streets, and staying in the streets, demanding that this regime must be OUT NOW!

     


    1. This August 1, 2020 Statement by Bob Avakian is available at revcom.us.  [back]

    2. Reflections on Pacific School of Religion's Response to the Religious Right, by Dr. Hubert Locke, is also available at revcom.us—emphasis added.  [back]

    See also:

    Reflections on Pacific School of Religion's Response to the Religious Right

    by Dr. Hubert Locke

    Read more

     

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    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/657/bob-avakian-capitalism-imperialism-the-suffocation-of-seven-billion-en.html

    CAPITALISM-IMPERIALISM—THE SUFFOCATION OF SEVEN BILLION— AND THE PROFOUND NEED FOR A WORLD ON NEW FOUNDATIONS

    by Bob Avakian

    | revcom.us

     

    The rulers of this country, and those who represent their interests, are forever boasting about the supposed “freedom, initiative and creativity” that, according to them, the capitalist system (and only the capitalist system) makes possible, and the great wealth this has created for people in this country especially. And they continually slander communism as a repressive system where people have no freedom and their initiative and creativity is not encouraged and rewarded but stifled and suppressed. All this is fundamentally wrong and completely upside-down.

    First of all, the wealth that these people boast about is extremely unevenly distributed, even within this country, where a very small percentage of the people control the great bulk of the wealth. But, beyond that and more essentially, this wealth rests on a foundation of unspeakable crimes against humanity, historically and right up to the present time. To begin with:

    The USA is a country which established its territory and built the foundation of its wealth through the armed conquest of land, genocide, slavery, and ruthless exploitation of successive waves of immigrants to America.1

    And today, “the wealth and power of the U.S. rests today on a worldwide system of imperialist exploitation”—an international network of sweatshops, mines and corporate-controlled farms—“that ensnares hundreds of millions, and ultimately billions, of people in conditions hardly better than those of slaves.”2

    This system of capitalism-imperialism—a system resting on ruthless exploitation, and super-exploitation, of masses of people, and marked by the cut-throat competition between major capitalist enterprises and financial institutions, and rivalry between capitalist states—suffocates the freedom, initiative and creativity of billions of human beings (the great majority of the more than seven billion people on the earth) including the huge numbers of children who are slaving away at near-starvation wages, and the vast masses of people who have been uprooted from the countryside, throughout the Third World (of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia) and are crowded into swelling shantytown slums in rapidly expanding urban areas, where most can only survive by hustling in the “informal” economy, legal and illegal.

    The freedom, creativity and initiative of literally billions of women is suffocated and suppressed, often with extreme brutality, under this system, with the patriarchal male supremacy that is built into it.

    Tens of millions of people have died, and countries have been devastated, in wars directly waged by rival imperialists (such as World Wars 1 and 2), or wars in which they have backed contending local forces—all to gain (or maintain) control of strategic parts of the world, in the bloody pursuit of key natural resources, markets, and domination of populations whose desperation leaves them vulnerable to life-stealing exploitation.

    Here is a “snapshot” of the ugly reality beneath all the grand talk about the “greatness” of this system of capitalism-imperialism:

    we live in a world where large parts of humanity live in stark poverty, with 2.3 billion people lacking even rudimentary toilets or latrines and huge numbers suffering from preventable diseases, with millions of children dying every year from these diseases and from starvation, while 150 million children in the world are forced to engage in ruthlessly exploited child labor, and the whole world economy rests on a vast network of sweatshops, employing large numbers of women who are regularly subjected to sexual harassment and assault, a world where 65 million refugees have been displaced by war, poverty, persecution, and the effects of global warming.3

    And the very future of humanity is seriously, and increasingly, endangered by this system with its accelerating destruction of the environment as well as its ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation.

    Within the U.S. itself (this “richest of all countries”) tens of millions, especially in the inner cities, are living in conditions of severe deprivation, with many denied the opportunity to find work at a “living wage,” or denied the opportunity to be employed at all (in the regular “formal economy”) while they are also subjected to discrimination in education, housing, health care, and every other dimension of society—with all this enforced through continual police terror, punctuated repeatedly by outright murder.

    The current COVID-19 pandemic has both highlighted and heightened the profound inequalities, in the world as a whole, and within this country, as people who were already bitterly oppressed and impoverished, and denied access to decent health care, have been hit hardest by this pandemic.

    And, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, with its crushing effects on the livelihood of masses of people, tens of millions in this country who had been regularly employed were living paycheck-to-paycheck, striving to provide for loved ones and hoping to provide a better future for their children, with many saddled with huge debt and only a serious health crisis away from financial ruin, while their work created wealth for a capitalist (or capitalist corporation) dictating the conditions of work, treating people as cogs in a machine or in many cases the extension of a machine—whether on an assembly line or a computer—work that, in these conditions, can only be alienating and mind-numbing.

    In these (and countless other) ways, this system crushes and deadens the human spirit as well as grinding away the life—or outright stealing the life—of billions of people in every part of the world.

    Think of the tremendous waste—and outright destruction—of human potential that results from all this. All this is the consequence of the fact that the world, and the masses of humanity, are forced to live under the domination of this system of capitalism-imperialism

    All this is the basis on which a relatively small part of the people within this country, and a very small part of humanity as whole, has the conditions and the “freedom” to develop and apply their initiative and creativity—only to have this serve, under this system, to reinforce the “lopsided,” highly unequal and profoundly oppressive conditions in the world as a whole and for the masses of people in the world.

    And all this is completely unnecessary.

    Revolution, the New Communism and the Unleashing of Human Potential

    Even under these conditions imposed by this outmoded, monstrous system of capitalism-imperialism, creativity bursts through repeatedly in many different ways—and notably in music, literature and other expressions of art and culture—from every part of society and every part of the world, including among those most downpressed and despised by this system and its rulers. Think of how much greater this creativity could be—and all the ways it could be unleashed to meet the needs of the masses of people, materially as well as culturally—if the ways in which billions are chained down and suffocated by this system were shattered and cast off through revolution.

    Through the decades of work I have carried out, drawing crucial lessons from the previous experience (positive but also negative) of the communist movement and a wide range of human experience, I have developed a more consistently scientific communist theory, the new communism, which provides the basis for leading this revolution: the methods and principles, and the strategy for carrying out this revolution and, in the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America, a sweeping vision and concrete blueprint for a radically different and much better society, on an entirely new foundation—a radically different economic system (mode of production) based not on exploiting the masses of people but on unleashing their creativity and initiative to do away with exploitation and oppression of every kind.4 With this socialist mode of production the means of production (land, raw materials, machinery and other technology, factories and other physical structures, and so on) will be publicly owned (not privately owned by capitalist exploiters locked in chaotic and destructive competition and rivalry). This public ownership will make it possible to marshal and utilize the resources of society in a planned and flexible way, to meet people’s needs, both materially (for food, shelter, health care, and so on) and culturally and intellectually, in a continually expanding wayand to respond in a timely way to unforeseen developments and emergencies, while supporting the revolutionary struggle worldwide toward the goal of eliminating all exploitation and oppression everywhere with the achievement of communism throughout the world.

    With this mode of production, people’s initiative and creativity will be encouraged and fostered, and there will be the basis for people to apply this initiative and creativity, in unprecedented ways, in the interests of the masses of people, and ultimately all of humanity: Everyone will be able to work and to acquire the basis for a decent life, while contributing to the development of society on the road to overcoming exploitation, inequality and oppression—contributing through their ideas as well as their work—without being forced into relentless competition with each other in order to survive, or striving to advance at the expense of others (a poisonous way of thinking that will be continually struggled against).

    It is a fundamental understanding and principle of communism, which is given great emphasis in the new communism, that people are the most important productive force—not just as “producers” of the social wealth but also as conscious participants in the planning and overall development of the economy, not only for the benefit of the people in the particular country but most fundamentally to serve the revolutionary transformation of the entire world toward the goal of communism. And:

    The development of the socialist economy has as its source and relies upon the initiative and work, intellectual as well as physical, of the masses of people, of the members of society broadly, in conditions which are increasingly freed from relations of exploitation, and with the aim of overcoming all vestiges and aspects of such relations, and the effects of such relations, not only in... [a particular socialist country] but everywhere on the earth.5

    Along with, and fundamentally on the basis of, this radically different mode of production, there will be radically different political institutions and processes, and an ongoing struggle to transform the social relations which have embodied oppression, with the goal of abolishing and uprooting all relations of oppression as well as exploitation. There will be a radically different approach to education and culture—one which fosters and unleashes the scientific curiosity and artistic creativity of masses of people and “embraces” all this and enables it to contribute, “through many divergent paths, to the advance along a broad road toward the goal of communism.”6 There will be a radically different relation with the rest of the world—not exploiting and super-exploiting people around the world but supporting the struggle everywhere to throw off the rule of exploiters and oppressors and advance toward the goal of eliminating and uprooting all exploitation and oppression. And there will be a radically different relation with the environment—where human beings, instead of being chained to a system that plunders and destroys the rest of nature, are working together to be fit caretakers of the earth.

    This will be a new society aiming for a whole new world, without the suffocation, suppression, and disfiguring of the potential for the masses of humanity to understand and change the world in accordance with what are in fact the fundamental interests of humanity—to live in a world where no part of humanity is subordinated to and dictated to by another part, and where all of humanity is no longer dictated to by the fundamental workings and dynamics of a system that requires antagonistic relations among people, enforced with the continual threat and use of massive violence, where the masses of humanity are no longer reduced to merely a means to make wealth for a small number who rule over them, or are cast off as “surplus” populations that can no longer be exploited in this way.

    This new society and world will not be some kind of “utopia” where all problems and difficulties have “magically disappeared”—and it will not come as a “gift” from some non-existent god—but will be the result of the struggle of masses of people to cast off unbearable exploitation and oppression, and to transform themselves and their thinking in close inter-connection with this struggle to transform their conditions—struggle led by those who have taken up the scientific method and approach of the new communism and are winning growing numbers of people to themselves take up and apply this scientific method and approach to transforming the world in an increasingly conscious way on the basis of their voluntary initiative and cooperation.

    All this will involve whole new dimensions of freedom, and unleashed initiative and creativity of the masses of humanity, on this whole new foundation, with radically different institutions and relations among people, and radically different ways of thinking that correspond to these emancipating relations among people.

     


    1. From The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go! In The Name of Humanity We REFUSE To Accept a Fascist America, A Better World IS Possible. Video of this speech by Bob Avakian is available at revcom.us.  [back]

    2. BAsics 1:4 (Basics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian). This statement by Bob Avakian is originally from Communism and Jeffersonian Democracy, which is available in BA’s Collected Works at revcom.us.  [back]

    3. This is from Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make RevolutionVideo and the text of this speech by Bob Avakian are available at revcom.us.  [back]

    4. The strategy for revolution is spoken to in depth in the speech by Bob Avakian Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution (video and the text of which are available at revcom.us), and further thinking on this is contained in A Real Revolution—A Real Chance To Win, Further Developing the Strategy for Revolution (which is also available at revcom.us). The Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America, authored by Bob Avakian, is also available at revcom.us.  [back]

    5. From Article I, Section 2, sub-section A2, page 19 of the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America. The principles and guidelines for the development of the socialist economy are more fully laid out in Article IV of this Constitution.  [back]

    6. From the “Preamble” to the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America.  [back]

    Bob Avakian (BA) is the most important political thinker and leader in the world today.

    Get Into BA »

    See also:

    Four Months Into the Global COVID-19 Health and Economic Crisis...
    Notes on the Utter Cruelty and Obscene Irrationality of Capitalism-Imperialism

    by Raymond Lotta

    Read more

    The New Communism

    Click to read and download (PDF)

    CONSTITUTION For The New Socialist Republic In North America

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    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

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    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/646/bob-avakian-on-emancipation-from-mental-slavery-all-oppression-en.html

    Bob Avakian On
    EMANCIPATION
    FROM MENTAL SLAVERY AND ALL OPPRESSION

    | revcom.us

     

    In 1863, mid-way in the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln finally issued the Emancipation Proclamation and, as a result of the Civil War, Black people were formally freed from literal, physical slavery. But today the question is: When, and how, will Black people finally be free from all forms of slavery and oppression? And this poses straight-up this big question:

    When will Black people finally emancipate themselves from the mental slavery of religion?!

    We have seen the possibility of a world without oppression powerfully expressed in the not-too-distant past, during the radical upsurge that took place within this country and throughout the world during the 1960s and early 1970s.1 Within this country, the struggle of Black people was at the forefront of all this, and as that struggle became more radical in opposition to the system itself, and groups like the Black Panther Party, driven by the impatience and daring of Black youth, grew and gained influence, the advanced role of the struggle for Black liberation exerted an even more powerful positive role. And, as a very significant part of the widely and strongly held conviction that it was not only necessary but possible to put an end to the nightmare that had been endured for so long:

    among Black people—who we’re always told are just sort of inherently religious—there was a massive turning away from religion, especially among the youth. Why? Because people were filled with hope, they didn’t believe that there was no hope for a better world. They were full of hope for a better world right in this world. And so, among Black people, there was, on the part of the youth in particular, a major turning away from religion and from all the old conventions that went along with religion that were conservatizing influences holding down the people.2

    Hard Truths, Emancipating Truths

    But the great promise of the 1960s radical upsurge, and the hopes that it raised, were not realized—fundamentally because things did not go all the way to an actual revolution. And, over the decades since then, through conscious policy by the ruling powers to foster the growth of more bourgeois and petit bourgeois strata among Black people, while at the same time maintaining and containing the masses of Black people in conditions of deprivation, oppression and vicious repression, this bitter reality has resulted:

    Among the basic masses of people, including Black people (not the more middle class strata being developed through conscious ruling class policy, but the masses of oppressed people), there was a tremendous amount of demoralization and sense of defeat, and the introduction (including through deliberate ruling class policy and action) of massive amounts of drugs further intensified the desperate conditions of the basic masses and further reinforced the sense of demoralization. A lot of people were dying or being reduced to broken wretches on the basis of turning to drugs out of despair—the lack of hope, or the death, in immediate terms, of the hope that inspired so many people, on a real basis, through the course of the 1960s upsurge, which had now ebbed and been transformed. And this situation was made even more desperate and demoralizing with the growth of gangs in the ghettos and barrios of this country (as well as internationally), with youth drawn to the gangs in conditions of increasing deprivation and desperation and what was for most the illusion of getting rich, with the orientation of “get rich or die trying,” fueled by the growth of the drug trade and the influence of the putrid culture promoted throughout society that fostered and extolled the exploitation and degradation of others as the means for making it big, whether on Wall Street and on the world stage, or on the streets in the neighborhoods of the inner city.3

    In the face of all this, amidst a feeling of fatalistic hopelessness, there has been, on the part of large numbers of Black people, a retreat into religion. It is often claimed that religion is what has allowed Black people to endure and persevere through all the trials and tribulations—the very real horrors—they have been subjected to throughout their experience in America, and that this remains the case now. But this is a logic of defeat—it rests on the underlying assumption (spoken or unspoken) that the system will basically remain as it has been, and that Black people will continue to be despised and discriminated against, persecuted, brutalized and terrorized, and the best they can hope for is to somehow survive, and strive to thrive, through all this—or, if you suffer in this life but you “get right with the Lord,” or submit to Allah, you will be rewarded in some “next life.”

    Once more, the question is sharply posed: How can Black people be finally and fully emancipated from centuries of oppression, and how does this relate to ending all oppression, of all people, everywhere?

    The answer is that the possibility of this is real, but it can happen only on the basis of a scientific approach to changing the world and the scientifically-grounded understanding that this oppression is rooted in and caused by the system of capitalism-imperialism—the same system that is viciously exploiting and murderously oppressing people not just in this country but all over the world and is plundering the natural environmentand that this system must and can be overthrown through an actual revolution and replaced by a radically different and far better system: socialism, whose final goal is a communist world, without any oppression or exploitation of anyone, anywhere.

    As I have put it, expressing a simple and basic truth: “in fundamental terms, we have two choices: either, live with all this—and condemn future generations to the same, or worse, if they have a future at all—ormake revolution!”4

    And, in relation to this, I have also spoken to this profound truth:

    There is the potential for something of unprecedented beauty to arise out of unspeakable ugliness: Black people playing a crucial role in putting an end, at long last, to this system which has, for so long, not just exploited but dehumanized, terrorized and tormented them in a thousand ways—putting an end to this in the only way it can be done—by fighting to emancipate humanity, to put an end to the long night in which human society has been divided into masters and slaves, and the masses of humanity have been lashed, beaten, raped, slaughtered, shackled and shrouded in ignorance and misery.5

    But here is another way that, in fundamental terms, there are two choices: either cling to the mental slavery of religion and remain oppressed, or cast off the mental chains of religion while rising up to fight with a real chance to get finally and fully free, in putting an end to all oppression and exploitation.

    Religion may seem to give people comfort in the face of the oppression and anguish they are forced to endure, or to make people feel that with religion they can keep from “doing wrong”—or, even though they may “do wrong,” they still have some worth. And it is true that, for some people, their religious views are a motivation to fight against various forms of oppression, and many people who approach things from a religious standpoint have insights and knowledge that it is important to know about and learn from. But it is also true that, as a way of thinking and a guide to acting, religion relies on the invention of supernatural beings that do not exist but which are said to ultimately shape and control reality, including the fate of human beings. Religion calls on people to submit to those imaginary supernatural beings (or, to very human authorities speaking in the name of those imaginary supernatural beings) and to follow scriptures that in reality do not lead to ending oppression but actually promote and reinforce all kinds of degradation and horror. (This is something I have illustrated very concretely in the book Away With All Gods! Unchaining the Mind and Radically Changing the World, particularly with regard to the three main monotheistic [one-god] religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.6) In this way religion stands in direct opposition to taking up a consistently scientific approach to understanding reality and waging a scientifically-grounded fight to end all oppression.

    This is why the powers-that-be, whose very existence, wealth and power rest on oppression and exploitation, continually promote religion. It is why the very same slavemasters who prohibited Black people from learning to read (and severely punished those who did) actively encouraged their slaves to take up religion and get down on their knees in prayer. And it is why today, the ruling powers in this country are only too willing to provide a platform for, and parade around, any Black people who are inclined to engage in passionate “god-talk.” This may be painful to hear, but the question is: is it true, or not? Think about it.

    It is neither possible nor principled—and no one should ever try—to force people to give up beliefs they hold at any given time. In the most fundamental terms, emancipation—from every form of slavery and oppression—must be the voluntary and conscious act of people. But there is a great need and importance to waging ideological struggle, in a principled way but as sharply as necessary, to win people to take up a scientific approach to understanding, and changing, the world and break with ways of thinking that actually contribute to keeping them, and others, oppressed.

    Again, it is true that many religious people take part now in important struggles against oppression; and it is also true that many religious people will be among the millions taking part in the revolution to do away with this whole oppressive system. But this revolution, and the continuing struggle to end all oppression and bring about real and complete emancipation, must be led by those, among the most oppressed, and others as well, who have taken up a scientific approach to changing the world and have cast off the mental slavery of religion, along with every other way of thinking that promotes, or at least rationalizes and objectively justifies, oppression.

    A bitter truth is this:

    Oppressed people who are unable or unwilling to confront reality as it actually is, are condemned to remain enslaved and oppressed.7

    But, an even greater, emancipating truth is this:

    The notion of a god, or gods, was created by humanity, in its infancy, out of ignorance. This has been perpetuated by ruling classes, for thousands of years since then, to serve their interests in exploiting and dominating the majority of people and keeping them enslaved to ignorance and irrationality.

    Bringing about a new, and far better, world and future for humanity means overthrowing such exploiting classes and breaking free of and leaving behind forever such enslaving ignorance and irrationality.8

     


    1. In HOPE FOR HUMANITY ON A SCIENTIFIC BASISBreaking with Individualism, Parasitism and American Chauvinism (available at revcom.us), Bob Avakian speaks to this major change taking place during the 1960s:

    In the 1960s, masses of people all over the world, including in this country, were filled with hope and determination about the prospect of bringing into being a radically different and better world. Throughout the Third World, there were liberation struggles aimed at throwing off the yoke of colonial oppression that had been imposed on them for decades, generations and even centuries. And in the imperialist countries themselves—including, in particular, the U.S.—the generation that came of age in the 1960s had both the understanding of the need and a real belief in the possibility of bringing a radically different and better world into being, and was not interested in hearing all the arguments about why things had to be the way they are.  [back]

    2. HOPE FOR HUMANITY ON A SCIENTIFIC BASIS.

    In Bob Avakian Responds to Mark Rudd on the Lessons of the 1960s and the Need for an Actual Revolution (available at revcom.us), this point is emphasized:

    in moving from the limitations of the civil rights movement to the more advanced position of demanding Black liberation and linking this with liberation struggles in the Third World, those Black revolutionaries exerted a powerful positive force in influencing the movements of those times, including among educated youth, toward a more revolutionary orientation, even as that orientation was (in the parlance of those times) a “mixed bag,” involving a complex of conflicting tendencies, including the revolutionary communism that was coming from China as well as various revolutionary nationalist and other contradictory trends.  [back]

    3. HOPE FOR HUMANITY ON A SCIENTIFIC BASIS.  [back]

    4. In the speech Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution, from which this quote is drawn, Bob Avakian speaks to those crucial questions. The text and video of this speech are available at revcom.us. And in the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America, authored by Bob Avakian, (available at revcom.us) there is a sweeping vision and a concrete blueprint for a socialist society aiming for the final goal of communism throughout the world.  [back]

    5. This statement, along with other works by Bob Avakian speaking to the oppression of Black people and the road to their full emancipation, is available at revcom.us.  [back]

    6. Bob Avakian, Away With All Gods! Unchaining the Mind and Radically Changing the World, Insight Press, 2008.  [back]

    7. BAsics 4:1 (BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian).  [back]

    8. BAsics 4:17, emphasis added.  [back]

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/662/on-the-need-for-the-new-communism-not-dogmatic-posing-en.html

    On the Need for the Science of the New Communism, Not Dogmatic Narrow Nationalist Posing

    An Answer to a “Phony Left” Attack on the August 1 Statement by Bob Avakian, ON THE IMMEDIATE CRITICAL SITUATION, THE URGENT NEED TO DRIVE OUT THE FASCIST TRUMP/PENCE REGIME, VOTING IN THIS ELECTION, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR REVOLUTION

    | revcom.us

     

    The response by Noche Diaz to a Facebook post by a dogmatic narrow Black nationalist, claiming to be a “Revolutionary Marxist‑Leninist‑Maoist,” is very important. In responding to this dogmatic attack on Bob Avakian’s Statement of August 1, Noche hits the main points very well. And it is worth looking further into the claim by this dogmatist that both the bourgeois political parties are fascist—that there are the outright fascists of the Republican Party and the “liberal” fascists of the Democratic Party (whatever that means). If this were true, it would mean that we have been living under fascism for decades now, and the Trump/Pence regime represents nothing essentially different.

    People who make ridiculous claims like this are playing around in their own heads and not dealing with the actual reality. This kind of thinking is typical of dogmatists: in place of a scientific analysis and synthesis of reality, and its motion and development—and where the interests of the masses of humanity lie on that basis—we get the attempt to impose on reality “religious articles of faith” (such as: never, under any circumstances, vote for a bourgeois politician). Especially in today’s extreme circumstances, with the momentous stakes involved, this kind of thinking is not simply foolish but very harmful.

    If there were really fascism ruling over us during the administration of Obama and Biden, for example—as the extension of a fascism that had been in power for decades, under both Republican and Democratic administrations—then there could have been nothing like the mass outpouring of protest against the police murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson. Such protests would simply have been outlawed. Any attempt to hold such protests would have been immediately and thoroughly crushed, and anyone taking part would have been sent to prison, or to concentration camps, and perhaps quickly executed. This is precisely the kind of thing Trump would want to do, what he is making real moves toward doing now, and what he would very likely do, on a truly monstrous scale, if his regime—which is nothing less than fascist—is able to make further leaps in fully consolidating its fascist rule.

    It is true that, in the “Ferguson uprising,” and today in the beautiful rising against white supremacy, police brutality and murder, there has been vicious repression carried out by police (and National Guard troops), ordered by Democratic Party politicians. That is a reflection of the fact that we live under a dictatorship all the time—the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie (capitalist class). But, before the Trump/Pence regime, this has been a dictatorship that has been exercised in the form of bourgeois democracy (democracy that is based in, conforms to and remains within the confines of the capitalist system and rule by the capitalist class over the masses of people). That contradiction—between the outer democratic appearance and the inner essence of dictatorship—has real meaning. It means that, so long as the form of bourgeois dictatorship is “democratic,” in order to maintain that democratic shell, the political and legal representatives of the ruling class have to allow certain “civil rights and liberties” to be exercised, up to a point, and at least make a pretense of respecting a “rule of law” that is not simply and nakedly the exercise of brute force over society as a whole, and against any attempt to oppose what the government is doing.

    The reason that some people think that any kind of severe repression equals fascism is basically because they are fooled by the outer appearance of democracy—and in their minds “democracy” means that there is not supposed to be any repression, or at least not any severe repression—so when there is such repression, even in “normal times,” they believe that this is something other than democracy, when in fact the exercise of bourgeois dictatorship includes plenty of brutal repression when that dictatorship is exercised in the “democratic” form. But that is still qualitatively different than an actual fascist bourgeois dictatorship, which essentially drops all pretense of “democracy” and rules openly through violence and terror.

    At times, times like now, the contradiction between the appearance of democracy and the essence of dictatorship can become very acute for the bourgeois ruling class. The fascists—the actual fascists concentrated in the Trump/Pence regime who are now in power, not the imaginary “liberal fascists” in this dogmatic narrow nationalist’s head—have been acting with a vengeance, and in an accelerating way, to resolve this contradiction by moving towards undisguised dictatorship, relying openly on terror and violence against those who oppose this regime and everyone this regime regards as a threat, without the pretense of allowing dissent and protest.

    To act as if it makes no difference to the masses of people—and to any movement against oppression and injustice, let alone any movement for an actual revolution—whether these very real fascists succeed in fully consolidating their fascist rule, is not simply to be out of touch with reality. It is to be out of touch with—and acting against—vital, indeed life-and-death, interests of the masses of people, not just in this country but throughout the world.

    The reason for referring to this person as a “dogmatic narrow Black nationalist” is not simply because of their positive reference to the New Afrikan Black Panther Party. This line of argument—that there is really nothing new, or qualitatively different, in the fascism of the Trump/Pence regime—is something that is representative of a certain outlook, particularly among some bourgeois and petty bourgeois Black people who refer to the horrific oppression that is already being inflicted on Black people in this country to deny (or minimize) the very real danger—the far worse horror for Black people, for all oppressed people and ultimately for all of humanity—that is posed by the Trump/Pence regime and what it is moving to do, and will be in a greatly strengthened position to do, if it remains in power, and especially if it is given a re-election “mandate.” 

    This calls to mind a routine by Richard Pryor. He talks about how some Black people say, “I ain’t scared of no NAZIs, I’ll tell those NAZIs...” You won’t tell those NAZIs shit, Pryor retorts—except maybe, “Oh, nice boots you got there.” In other words, all this downplaying of the danger posed by real (not imaginary) fascists, who are already in power, will lead to craven capitulation to them when confronted with the reality and the full force of even more firmly consolidated fascist rule.

    As Bob Avakian emphasizes in his August 1 Statement, using all appropriate means to remove this fascist Trump/Pence regime from power—including but emphatically NOT RELYING ON voting for Biden, if it comes to that, but with primary reliance on the continuing mobilization of masses of people around the demand that Trump/Pence must be OUT NOW!—is of crucial and urgent importance to prevent the full consolidation of fascist rule, with the even greater horrors this will involve, and to build toward the revolution that is needed as the fundamental solution to all the ongoing outrages caused by this system of capitalism-imperialism which, as Bob Avakian has also repeatedly emphasized, has given rise to this fascism.

    See also:

    A Facebook Exchange between a Dogmatist and Noche Diaz

    Stop Your Windy Nonsense, the World Is Being Turned Upside Down

    Read more

     

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    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

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    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/662/fascism-open-bloody-dictatorship-without-pretending-people-have-rights-en.html

    Fascism Is Open Bloody Dictatorship, Without Even Pretending That People Have Rights*

    | revcom.us

     

    It is true that, in the “Ferguson uprising,” and today in the beautiful rising against white supremacy, police brutality and murder, there has been vicious repression carried out by police (and National Guard troops), ordered by Democratic Party politicians. That is a reflection of the fact that we live under a dictatorship all the time—the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie (capitalist class). But, before the Trump/Pence regime, this has been a dictatorship that has been exercised in the form of bourgeois democracy (democracy that is based in, conforms to and remains within the confines of the capitalist system and rule by the capitalist class over the masses of people). That contradiction—between the outer democratic appearance and the inner essence of dictatorship—has real meaning. It means that, so long as the form of bourgeois dictatorship is “democratic,” in order to maintain that democratic shell, the political and legal representatives of the ruling class have to allow certain “civil rights and liberties” to be exercised, up to a point, and at least make a pretense of respecting a “rule of law” that is not simply and nakedly the exercise of brute force over society as a whole, and against any attempt to oppose what the government is doing.

    The reason that some people think that any kind of severe repression equals fascism is basically because they are fooled by the outer appearance of democracy—and in their minds “democracy” means that there is not supposed to be any repression, or at least not any severe repression—so when there is such repression, even in “normal times,” they believe that this is something other than democracy, when in fact the exercise of bourgeois dictatorship includes plenty of brutal repression when that dictatorship is exercised in the “democratic” formBut that is still qualitatively different than an actual fascist bourgeois dictatorship, which essentially drops all pretense of “democracy” and rules openly through violence and terror.

    At times, times like now, the contradiction between the appearance of democracy and the essence of dictatorship can become very acute for the bourgeois ruling class. The fascists—the actual fascists concentrated in the Trump/Pence regime who are now in power—have been acting with a vengeance, and in an accelerating way, to resolve this contradiction by moving towards undisguised dictatorship, relying openly on terror and violence against those who oppose this regime and everyone this regime regards as a threat, without the pretense of allowing dissent and protest.

    To act as if it makes no difference to the masses of people—and to any movement against oppression and injustice, let alone any movement for an actual revolution—whether these very real fascists succeed in fully consolidating their fascist rule, is not simply to be out of touch with reality. It is to be out of touch with—and acting against—vital, indeed life-and-death, interests of the masses of people, not just in this country but throughout the world.

     


    * This is an excerpt from the article “On the Need for the Science of the New Communism, Not Dogmatic Narrow Nationalist Posing,” which is available at revcom.us.  [back

     

    See also:

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
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    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

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    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/662/trump-fascism-a-far-greater-horror-for-black-people-humanity-as-a-whole-en.html

    Trump Fascism:
    A Far Greater Horror for Black People, All Oppressed People, and Humanity as a Whole*

    | revcom.us

     

    This line of argument—that there is really nothing new, or qualitatively different, in the fascism of the Trump/Pence regime—is something that is representative of a certain outlook, particularly among some bourgeois and petty bourgeois Black people who refer to the horrific oppression that is already being inflicted on Black people in this country to deny (or minimize) the very real danger—the far worse horror for Black people, for all oppressed people and ultimately for all of humanity—that is posed by the Trump/Pence regime and what it is moving to do, and will be in a greatly strengthened position to do, if it remains in power, and especially if it is given a re-election “mandate.” 

    This calls to mind a routine by Richard Pryor. He talks about how some Black people say, “I ain’t scared of no NAZIs, I’ll tell those NAZIs...” You won’t tell those NAZIs shit, Pryor retorts—except maybe, “Oh, nice boots you got there.” In other words, all this downplaying of the danger posed by real (not imaginary) fascists, who are already in power, will lead to craven capitulation to them when confronted with the reality and the full force of even more firmly consolidated fascist rule.

    As Bob Avakian emphasizes in his August 1 statement, using all appropriate means to remove this fascist Trump/Pence regime from power—including but emphatically NOT RELYING ON voting for Biden, if it comes to that, but with primary reliance on the continuing mobilization of masses of people around the demand that Trump/Pence must be OUT NOW!—is of crucial and urgent importance to prevent the full consolidation of fascist rule, with the even greater horrors this will involve, and to build toward the revolution that is needed as the fundamental solution to all the ongoing outrages caused by this system of capitalism-imperialism which, as Bob Avakian has also repeatedly emphasized, has given rise to this fascism.

     


    * This is an excerpt from the article “On the Need for the Science of the New Communism, Not Dogmatic Narrow Nationalist Posing,” which is available at revcom.us.  [back

    See also:

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
    Read: www.revcom.us
    Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

     

    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

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    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/651/bob-avakian-radical-change-is-coming-en.html

    RADICAL CHANGE IS COMING:
    WILL IT BE EMANCIPATING, OR ENSLAVING—
    REVOLUTIONARY, OR REACTIONARY?

    by Bob Avakian

    | revcom.us

     

    Editors note: This article written by Bob Avakian in June 2020 during the Beautiful Rising is highly relevant right now, especially in the context of recent events, and we highly recommend this to our readers.

    For those who cannot help but hunger for a “return” to some kind of “normalcy” as an answer to the madness of Trump, Pence and the rest—forget it, it is not going to happen!

    And nobody should want a return to the “normalcy” of this system. The “normalcy” of this system has always included the barbaric oppression of Black people and other people of color, with systematic terror, brutality and murder to enforce this oppression. It has always included vicious discrimination, bigotry and violence against immigrants, women, LGBTQ people, and any others regarded as inferior and “alien.” It has always included unjust wars for empire, and continuing crimes against humanity. It now poses a threat to the very existence of humanity through its increasing devastation of the environment and the ever present threat of nuclear war.

    The outpouring of protest in response to the cruel, sickening murder of George Floyd—yet another link in the seemingly endless chain of murders of Black people and other oppressed people by police, acting with a smug sense of impunity, without fear of punishment—this powerful outpouring of outrage, bringing together not only Black people but others, of all races and genders and from all parts of the world, has begun to change the whole political landscape and culture, seizing the initiative in a very positive way from the ruling Trump/Pence regime and its fascist “base,” and challenging the whole paralyzing notion that the brutal reality of this system and its “norms” is the only possible reality and everyone just has to find their place within this and “do for self” as best as possible.

    Faced with this rapidly changing situation, Trump has reacted with predictable threats, bullying and intensified repression, while others—who represent the same system but feel it is important at times like this to harness, “pacify” and “domesticate” the outrage—speak once again in terms of meaningless “reforms” and advocate a supposedly “softer” but still vicious version of the “law and order” which oppresses masses of people and represses any who dare to stand up against this oppression. Recognizing that it is likely to further inflame things to simply call for a return to the way things were before this outpouring of righteous rebellion broke through the suffocating routine of life under this system, there are voices representing a section of the ruling class, such as CNN’s Chris Cuomo, who are now speaking of the need for “a new normal” that will supposedly be more “just.”

    But there is no “normal” of this system that does not involve systematic injustice, continuing outrage and horror, for people here and all over the world.

    And the fascist Trump/Pence regime, which now controls key levers of power, and has called forth and cohered a mass base of fanatical followers, will accept no “new normal,” except one that carries the monstrous oppression of this system to even more barbaric extremes. If anyone is looking to the scheduled election in November as the way to solve things—painlessly and without turmoil and upheaval—first of all, it is not even certain that this election will actually be held. There is a definite possibility that Trump will find a way to “postpone” it, seizing on the continuing coronavirus crisis and/or some other pretext. (Yes, using COVID-19 as an excuse for canceling the election would be hypocritical, given the reckless way the Trump/Pence regime has approached this from the beginning—but who should be surprised by hypocrisy on their part?!)

    Even if the election is held, there is a real chance that Trump could “legitimately” win, given the character of the “opposition,” from Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.

    And anyway, Trump is already preparing the ground to say the election was “rigged” if he is not declared the winner. Remember how, before the last election, he refused to say he would abide by the results if he lost? Now, he is proclaiming that in Michigan, and some other states, preparations for people to vote by mail is massive “fraud”—when, in fact, this is not only legal but highly sensible in the conditions of the coronavirus. At the same time, Trump and the Republican Party are making other moves to suppress votes, especially of people very likely to vote against them. And all this will almost certainly go on, in an even bigger way, as the time for the election approaches.

    Further, if the election is held and Trump is not declared the winner but refuses to accept the results and insists he is still president, what about all those fascist followers of Trump, some of whom are already parading around with weapons and threatening people, including elected officials—what do you think they will do if Trump calls “fraud!” and calls on them to rally to his support? Remember how, during the 2016 campaign, Trump threatened his opponent, Hillary Clinton, talking about what “those Second Amendment people” might do to her? Remember how Trump has openly talked about how he has lots of supporters, among the police and the military, and among bikers and other “tough” people? And then, just recently, Trump has threatened to use the military to violently suppress protests against police brutality and murder.

    Even if the election takes place and Trump loses, and he is prevailed upon to accept the results, and his MAGA-hatted madmen and women do not “rise up in arms” in the short run, do you really think they are just going to “go away,” or slink off passively, waiting for the next election?

    Whatever takes place in relation to the election scheduled for November, nothing good will happen, and really terrible things are bound to happen, if those who cannot stand what is going on now with this regime—and the very real threat of far worse—do not find the ways, even in the conditions of COVID-19, to powerfully manifest that they are determined to drive this regime from power, without waiting for, and regardless of what goes on around, the scheduled November election.1

    Digging down even deeper, the basic fact has to be faced that—even while Trump might very well use extra-legal (that is, illegal) means to remain in power—this fascist regime actually came to power in the first place not through a military take-over or some other violation of the principles and functioning of this “great democracy,” but through the “normal workings” of this system. And those “normal workings” will continue to wreak havoc in the world and on the masses of people in the world, through destruction of the environment, wars, massive displacement and desperate migration of people, on top of the ongoing savage inequalities, crushing exploitation and murderous oppression “written into the DNA” of this system and carried out by its brutal enforcers.

    Because of all this:

    in fundamental terms, this notion of a “return to normalcy” is an illusion that will be exploded by the nature and workings of the system of capitalism-imperialism to which the masses of humanity are subjected.2

    For some time now, in speaking to the conditions of women, I have been calling attention to the fact that, with the changes in the U.S. and the world economy:

    The whole question of the position and role of women in society is more and more acutely posing itself in today’s extreme circumstances—this is a powderkeg in the U.S. today.

    And:

    It is not conceivable that all this will find any resolution other than in the most radical terms and through extremely violent means. The question yet to be determined is: will it be a radical reactionary or a radical revolutionary resolution, will it mean the reinforcing of the chains of enslavement or the shattering of the most decisive links in those chains and the opening up of the possibility of realizing the complete elimination of all forms of such enslavement.3

    This is true not only with regard to women, as important as that is, but for all those who are oppressed, degraded and brutalized under this system. It is true not just for the U.S., but throughout this highly interconnected but terribly unequal world, dominated as it is by this system of capitalism-imperialism.

    In the beautiful outpouring of determined resistance to institutionalized racism and police terror, marked by a growing sense that this is somehow bound up with the very nature of this system and the many other injustices it continually perpetrates, we can see the potential for the revolution that can shatter those chains of oppression and open the way to a radically different and far better world, on an entirely new foundation. What remains to be done is to develop that potential into reality, bringing forward greater and greater numbers of people—through this present upsurge sparked by the murder of George Floyd, and through many diverse spheres of life and many different streams of struggle—who are fired with a determination to put an end to all oppression and are gaining the scientific understanding that this system of capitalism-imperialism is the source of all these inter-connected horrors, and are driven by the need and inspired by the possibility of bringing this system down and bringing that far better world into being.

     


    1. Many of the points spoken to in this article regarding the dangers posed by the Trump/Pence fascist regime, and the possibility of this regime remaining in power regardless of what happens with the election scheduled for November, are spoken to and elaborated on very compellingly in The Worst-Case Scenario is Continuing to Accept a Fascist America by Coco Das, which is available at revcom.us, reposted from RefuseFascism.org. [back]

    2. The Deadly Illusion Of “Normalcy” And The Revolutionary Way Forward. This article by Bob Avakian is available at revcom.us. [back]

    3. This quote and the one above it are from a statement by Bob Avakian that was first published in 1985 and has been cited in a number of works since then, including Unresolved Contradictions, Driving Forces for Revolution, Part III: “The New Synthesis and the Woman Question: The Emancipation of Women and the Communist Revolution—Further Leaps and Radical Ruptures,” which is also available at revcom.us. Emphasis has been added here to the second quote. [back]

    See also:

    THE DEADLY ILLUSION OF "NORMALCY" AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAY FORWARD
    by Bob Avakian

    Read more

    See the full film, excerpts and Q&A of this film

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
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    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/652/bob-avakian-on-civil-war-and-revolution-en.html

    Bob Avakian on
    CIVIL WAR AND REVOLUTION

    | revcom.us

     

    Editors' Note (March 9, 2021): The following piece by Bob Avakian was written in the first week of the beautiful rising against the murder of George Floyd and white supremacy.

    I began the article “Radical Change Is Coming with this blunt statement:

    For those who cannot help but hunger for a “return” to some kind of “normalcy” as an answer to the madness of Trump, Pence and the rest—forget it, it is not going to happen!1

    I went on to speak to ways in which the fascist forces aligned with Trump (and Pence) are preparing to react, quite possibly with violence, if the election does not go Trump’s way (or if Trump cancels the election and there is an outpouring of resistance to this). In fact, for more than 20 years now, I have been analyzing the fascist nature of the kind of forces that have rallied around Trump and how they have been increasingly talking about, and preparing for, a civil war.

    This is obviously a very serious question. But something even more serious is reflected in a statement I read somewhere recently—that if only one side (the fascist side) is waging a civil war, then it is not really a civil war but murder, and genocide. This is another way of saying what was crudely expressed by the fascist Congressman from Iowa, Steve King, who declared:

    Folks keep talking about another civil war. One side has about 8 trillion bullets, while the other side doesn’t know which bathroom to use.2

    Recently, powerful figures within the Republican Party have turned against King, feeling that his expression of this and other fascist positions is a little too crude, and King has been defeated in his bid for re-election in a Republican primary election. But, expressed more or less crudely, King’s fascist views and stands are shared by the core of the Republican Party and its “base.” And, as I have pointed out previously, there is a “demented insight” in the comment by King quoted here. While the people King is ridiculing are righteously supporting the rights of trans people, gays, women, and others, at the same time far too many are

    attempting to resolve the conflict with what is represented by the Trump/Pence regime and its fascist “base,” with its “8 trillion bullets,” through relying on (or seeking a return to) what have been the “norms” of the bourgeois order in this country (and, on the part of some, this involves a call for “restoring civility”) while the fascists are determined to trample on and tear up these “norms” and are perfectly happy to have those who oppose them adopt the stance of “civility” (accommodation) toward their unrelenting fascist offensive.... And so, while things could be heading toward a civil war, and it could come down to that even in the not-too-distant future, the present lineup is very unfavorable for anybody who represents anything decent in the world.3

    And here is another big part of the picture:

    while a lot of what King describes applies in a certain demented way, particularly to progressive or so-called “woke” middle class people, there is another kind of problem with regard to more basic oppressed people, and in particular the youth—a big problem that their guns are now aimed at each other. And without going more fully into this right now, this is something that needs to be radically transformed in building a movement for an actual revolution.4

    This whole situation needs to be radically transformed—and with a very definite urgency! We have once again seen the potential for this in the recent determined actions of masses of people whose outrage at the ongoing police murders of Black men and women erupted in response to the cold-blooded execution of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (And a strategically favorable element in this outpouring of outrage is that, at the same time as it has involved significant numbers of Black people, it has also involved large numbers of people of other “races,” including a great many white people, especially youth.) As I said in Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution, upsurges like this exert a very powerful positive force and influence, and show the potential for revolution, and it is crucial that the righteous resistance and rebellion of masses of people “be transformed...into revolutionary understanding, determination, and organization.”5

    Looking at this from the strategic standpoint of working for the revolution that is needed to deal with the root causes of all this, it is also important to act on this understanding:

    To a significant degree now, the conflict between the sections of society upholding this fascism and those opposing it, from various different perspectives, is shaping the terrain on which the struggle for revolution must be carried out; this conflict is likely to intensify, and could erupt further in violent confrontation, and in any case it would be a significant factor in the context of an all‑out struggle between revolution and counter‑revolution.6

    It is not time, right now, for the all-out fight between revolution and counter-revolution: the conditions for this—most of all, a revolutionary people in the millions in a situation of deep crisis for the whole system—have not yet been brought into being. But there is a pressing need to work to accelerate and “hasten” the development of things toward a revolutionary situation. A big part of working to bring that revolutionary situation into being, at the earliest possible time, is waging a determined battle against the injustices and outrages continually perpetrated by this system.7 And

    this political battle also needs to be waged in bold and determined opposition to the “base” that is being mobilized by the fascist section of the ruling class—this is important in its own right now, and is important preparation for and will have an important bearing on the “civil war between two sections of the people,” once conditions have fully ripened and the all-out struggle is underway.8

    For, when it comes down to it:

    The all-out struggle will not just mean going up against the institutional forces of the old ruling class but will also involve “a civil war between two sections of the people,” requiring the revolution to both defeat and disintegrate but also, as far as possible, win over parts of the armed forces among the population that started out on the other side.9

    With regard to winning over parts of the armed forces among the population that started out on the other side: First, and fundamentally, the advance of the revolution in the actual fight would have a very powerful positive impact and effect on the thinking of people broadly. Along with that, there would be the powerful moral clarity and authority of the revolutionary forces fighting with right on their side and in ways consistent with the emancipatory goals of the revolution. And then there are specific measures—such as the cancellation of all debt that people have owed to banks and other financial institutions in the old society—that the revolutionary forces would make known as their official policy. Such policies would be in line with and flow from the basic goals of the revolution and the radically new society the revolution is aiming to bring into being; and making such policies known, and actually implementing them wherever and as soon as the basis exists to do that, could play an important part in winning sections of society which started out on the counter-revolutionary side to actual involvement in, or support for—or at least a “friendly neutrality” toward—the revolution. Still, it will be the case that certain die-hard reactionary elements of the population, including many among hardcore fascist forces, will remain stubbornly committed to the counter-revolution; and the revolutionary forces would need to take this into account as part of their overall strategic approach and operational principles, in waging the all-out fight, once the conditions for that had been brought into being.

    A one-sided civil war—waged only by the forces of fascism against everyone and everything they hate and are determined to wipe out or beat into submission—would be a disaster. Ignoring the reality that these fascists are definitely prepared to carry out such a civil war, if they see it as necessary to achieve their objectives, will only make such a disaster more likely. And nothing good will come from relying on those, like the leaders of the Democratic Party, who refuse to call out this fascism for what it is and oppose it on that basis, because doing so would call into question the “legitimacy” of their whole system, which has given rise to this fascism.

    What is urgently needed is a massive struggle against the fascism of the Trump/Pence regime and determined opposition to the “base” it is mobilizing in its support. This struggle needs to be waged in a serious way, in accordance with the actual stakes involved—not seeking or initiating violence but also not cowed into submission by the actions of the fascists.

    And what is needed, in working toward the fundamental solution to all this, is to wage this anti-fascist struggle as part of accelerating—“hastening”—the development of things toward the point where it will be possible to carry out the revolution, the all-out fight, to finally put an end to this whole system of capitalism-imperialism, with all of the horrors it has already brought about for the masses of humanity—and the even worse horrors it will unleash if it is allowed to continue—when all this is completely unnecessary and there is the basis and possibility for a radically different and far better world.

     


    1. Radical Change Is Coming: Will It Be Emancipating, Or Enslaving—Revolutionary, Or Reactionary? This article by Bob Avakian is available at revcom.us. [back]

    2. This statement by Steve King is cited in Hope For Humanity On A Scientific Basis, Breaking with Individualism, Parasitism and American Chauvinism, by Bob Avakian, author of The New Communism, which is also available at revcom.us. [back]

    3. Hope For Humanity On A Scientific Basis. [back]

    4. Hope For Humanity On A Scientific Basis. [back]

    5. The text and video of this speech by Bob Avakian (Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution) is available at revcom.us. [back]

    6. From Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution (Part II, “How We Can Really Make Revolution”).The text and video of this speech by Bob Avakian are available at revcom.us. [back]

    7. As pointed out in a footnote to the article by Bob Avakian “Boomers”—“X,Y,Z”: The Problem Is Not “Generations,” It’s The System (also available at revcom.us):

    In a number of works—including Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution; Breakthroughs: The Historic Breakthrough by Marx and the Further Breakthrough with the New Communism, A Basic Summary; HOPE FOR HUMANITY ON A SCIENTIFIC BASIS, Breaking with Individualism, Parasitism and American Chauvinism; and Bob Avakian Responds To Mark Rudd On The Lessons Of The 1960s And The Need For An Actual Revolution (all of which are available at revcom.us)—Bob Avakian speaks further to “why there was no revolution” at the height of the 1960s upsurges and “major changes, largely of a negative kind, that have taken place over the decades since.” Among these observations are the following (from Bob Avakian Responds To Mark Rudd):

    An actual revolution requires two essential factors: a revolutionary situation, and a revolutionary people in their millions. And these two factors are closely interconnected.

    A revolutionary situation involves not just a crisis in society in some general sense but a situation where the system and its ruling powers are in a profound and acute crisis and millions and millions of people refuse to be ruled in the old way—and are willing and determined to put everything on the line to bring down this system and bring into being a new society and government. Key components and signs of a revolutionary crisis are that the violence used to enforce this system is seen by large parts of society for what it is—murderous and illegitimate—and that the conflicts among the ruling forces become really deep and sharp, and masses of people respond to this not by falling in behind one side or the other of the oppressive rulers, but by taking advantage of this situation to build up the forces for revolution.*

    [* Bob Avakian has also characterized a revolutionary situation this way:

    What is a Revolutionary Situation? A deep crisis and sharpening conflicts in society and in the government and ruling circles, where they cannot find a way to resolve these conflicts—in society and among their own ranks—which do not make things worse for them and call forth more resistance and further undermine people's belief in their "right to rule" and in the "legitimacy" of their use of force to maintain their rule; programs of "reforming" the system are shown to be bankrupt, totally unable to deal with what more and more people recognize as profound dysfunction and intolerable injustice of the whole setup; those, in society as well as among the ruling class, who are trying to enforce the existing system are on the political defensive, even if lashing out; millions of people are actively seeking radical change, determined to fight for it, willing to put everything on the line to win it, and searching for a force to lead them in doing so; and a solid core of thousands is united around a leadership, an organized vanguard force with the vision and method, strategy and plan—and deepening ties among masses of people—to actually lead the fight to defeat and dismantle the violent repressive force of the existing system and its power structure, and to bring into being a new revolutionary system that can provide the means for people to radically transform society toward the goal of abolishing oppression and exploitation.] [back]

    8. Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution. [back]

    9. Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution. [back]

     

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
    Read: www.revcom.us
    Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

     

    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

    Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



     


     

    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/651/it-takes-science-and-leadership-to-truly-get-free-en.html

    To Those Rising Up and Awakening:
    It Takes Science and Leadership to Truly Get Free

    | revcom.us

     

    This is written especially to those who have been righteously standing up and fighting back against murder by police and the oppression of Black people more generally, and to all those who have taken heart and inspiration from this, who are newly encountering the Revolution. Welcome! We stand side by side with you in this struggle and unite with your outrage and fury against centuries of oppression that truly must be NO MORE. This outpouring of resistance must continue and it must grow. People must stay in the streets, and this upsurge must get bigger, broader, deeper, and even more determined. At the same time, the big question that now presents itself—one that literally millions of people are asking—is: What will it take to truly put an end to police brutality, murder by police, and the oppression of Black people, once and for all?

    The answer is that it will take far more than just people staying in the streets and fighting back, as critically important as that is. And this oppression can never be ended by trying to make a few reforms to a system that is completely rotten to its core. As with any big problem—whether a natural disease like COVID-19 or a social disease like racial oppression—solving that problem will take a deep understanding of the cause of that problem and the solution to it. In other words: It will take science. And it will take leadership. So let’s talk about what science and leadership have to do with changing the world.

    Many people hear “science” and think biology and ecology; climate change and the environment; chemistry and physics; labs and microscopes; medicine, technology and new inventions. All of these are very important examples of—or closely related to—science. But for some reason, many people don’t think you need science to understand and change human society as a whole, or even that you can apply science for this purpose. This makes absolutely no sense. Science means investigating reality, gathering evidence, analyzing that evidence, identifying patterns, and drawing conclusions about reality on that basis. Why would it possibly be that this scientific method can’t or shouldn’t be applied to understanding and changing society? Because human society is complicated? All the more reason you need science to understand it!

    Many people hear “leadership” and think of an activist with a bullhorn or a person leading a protest. These can be important and necessary examples of leadership, but leadership in the most important sense is something much bigger than that: Leadership in that sense is a matter of identifying and leading others to see the most fundamental problems confronting humanity and the solutions to those problems. Leadership is a matter of saying “Here’s why we’re in this situation and here’s how we can get out of it.

    In Bob Avakian (BA), we have the science, the leadership, and the understanding of problem and solution we need to not only emancipate Black people but all of humanity from centuries of oppression. Sound like a bold statement? GOOD. It’s meant to be. And it’s backed up with more than 50 years of substance.

    BA came forward as a revolutionary in the 1960s, working and struggling alongside the Black Panthers. In the decades since he has been working tirelessly on bringing forward and continuing to develop the deep, scientific understanding of the need to NOT reform but rather overthrow and completely sweep away this system through an actual revolution; the strategy for bringing into being the conditions necessary to make that revolution and win in those conditions; and the vision for a completely new and radically different system, society, and world. Underlying all of this is BA’s scientific method, which he continues to apply to the biggest questions facing humanity while leading a movement for revolution. A deep understanding of and visceral hatred for the oppression of Black people and the ways that Black people suffer, and a burning desire to see Black people free of this oppression, is at the core of BA and everything he is about, and is a constant thread that runs through his life and work over decades.

    People throughout society and throughout the world need to know about BA. Thousands now and ultimately millions need to follow him in order to make an actual revolution to get free of this monstrous system and bring a far better society, world, and future into being.

    See for yourself. Start with BA’s powerful new statement, “NOTHING LESS!Read it and spread it to everyone you know. Go to revcom.us to see the latest articles from BA on an incredibly broad range of topics related to revolution and radically changing the world, and learn more about and find out how to get involved in the revolution BA is leading. Check out BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian, the handbook for revolution, and the film Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Could Really Make Revolution. Go to the BA portal to get deeper into his extensive works. Learn more as you get involved in spreading this throughout society. Write to us to find out how you can specifically learn more and get involved. Write to us with your questions and let us know what’s on your mind.

    One last thing: Make no mistake—hell yes, this is controversial. Once again, we say: GOOD. Think about this: Could there ever be a genuine movement for an actual revolution that didn’t offend anyone or make them uncomfortable!? There are all kinds of people out there who might talk a big game but are scared of an actual revolution, who want to get in on this system and try to get a better deal for themselves, or who just plain don’t know what they’re talking about. There are people who would have you believe that if the skin color of a person who has a way out for humanity is white, you shouldn’t listen to that person. Needless to say, these people are not going to like BA and what he stands for. And they’re going to come up with all kinds of lies, cheap shots, and slander to attack BA and cover their own asses. This kind of behavior is despicable, it is very harmful and it must be taken seriously and fought against. But it is not at all surprising.

    So let’s end with a question back to you: Are you going to listen to lies and bullshit from the mouths of people who—in one form or another—want to keep the world basically the way it is? Or will you have the courage, integrity, and intellectual honesty to go directly to the source, get into BA, and see for yourself? Just how badly do you want to end oppression, change the world, and get free once and for all?

    BOB AVAKIAN: A RADICALLY DIFFERENT LEADER—A WHOLE NEW FRAMEWORK FOR HUMAN EMANCIPATION

    Bob Avakian (BA) is the most important political thinker and leader in the world today.

    Read more         

    Watch BA's whole speech:

    Watch clips from speech

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
    Read: www.revcom.us
    Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

     

    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

    Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



     


     

    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/666/great-thanks-to-all-who-donated-to-the-revolution-tour-livestream-en.html

    Great Thanks to All Who Donated to the Revolution Tour Livestream

    | revcom.us

     

    These are statements that were sent in to the September 20 Livestream, which raised $15,000 for the National Get Organized for an ACTUAL Revolution Tour.

    Retired Teacher Makes $2K Matching Challenge

    “There comes a time...” was an expression of determination during the Civil Rights era, meaning, the moment had arrived for decisive action against an intolerable system – in that case Jim Crow. Jim Crow was ended but history has shown that the system of U.S. white supremacist capitalism is incapable of eliminating racial oppression or solving any of the major problems confronting humanity.

    Today the rise of Trump Pence fascism is a signal that this capitalism system not only cannot solve the problems of injustice, poverty, staggering polarization of wealth, climate destruction, etc. but in an effort to save itself is rapidly plunging the world into a death spiral.

    The Revolution Tour has gone into the areas in this country where people brutalized by this racist system are rising against injustices. The Revolution Tour has bravely joined with people in struggle to bring them that which this system works ceaselessly to deny them – an understanding, based on the vital and insightful works of Bob Avakian, of what lies at the root of the oppression, and based on that understanding and historical experience, how to work for a different social order, a revolutionary socialist/communist society which can ultimately liberate humanity from this system’s death grip.

    The time has come for a movement to uproot the whole oppressive system. It’s actually long overdue. Everyone who values justice and humanity should rally to support the work of these courageous and conscious revolutionaries by contributing funds to assist them in this crucial work. This is why I’m contributing $2,000 as a matching fund, and why I’m challenging you to match and surpass it. Every contribution lends material support to this vitally important effort. It also, beyond that, strengthens the morale of people, sometimes driven to despair by heartless brutality of the system, to see the potential for another world to exist.

    ***

    A Physicist Supports the Revolution Tour to Dis-Elect Trump

    I am making a $1,000 matching fund challenge for the Revolution Tour, a critical phase in the organizing for an actual revolution. I am making my annual $1,000 contribution 6 months early because dis-election of Donald Trump is so critical. Another 4 years would consolidate his objective of a fascist America, the most powerful and influential country on Earth. Science, evidence, logic and justice have already been under attack. The first group Hitler exterminated were the Communists. Scientists fled Germany. Trump’s oppression of all opposition would delay the revolution until it might be too late. The coming climate catastrophe and glorification of ignorance and stupidity unchallenged will have ushered in a new Dark Age of world barbarity and unmitigated pestilence, if not the extinction of the human species. 

    As far as we presently know, homo sapiens are the only species in the universe that have realized science. (At least some of them have.) The loss of homo sapiens might have astronomical consequences, possibly setting back the progress of the emergence of intelligence in the universe by a billion years.

    It might be possible to say that with the success of this tour, we may be able to save humanity in time, and at the same time possibly save the present emergence of intelligence life in the universe.

    ***

    Statement and Pledge from a Group of Immigrant Women in Support of Tour

    In addition to this statement, they have pledged to raise $200, $50 of which had been raised at the time of the livestream.

    Saludos a todos de la Gira Revolution Nacional.

    Nos inspira cómo el Club Revolución ha estado en la primera fila de la lucha de clases: El Club Revolucion con valentia y audaz fue a Portland y Kenosha, difundiendo la revolución y el liderazgo de B.A.

    Como inmigrantes nos enfrentamos la opresión, la discriminación y la demonización durante generaciones y generaciones y en las discusiones de los artículos de B.A. hacemos conciencia, que la opresión racial es como cemento que se vierte en los cimientos de un edificio, y este edificio es el capitalismo-imperialismo estadounidense, ala vez que nos hacemos conciencia de que el fascismo no proviene desde afuera, si no que es un producto de este sistema y es un monstruo diferente. Si el fascismo consolida su dominio, seria un desastre para todos en este planeta y un desastre para el planeta mismo. Puede sofocar la lucha por la justicia social. Así que tenemos que eliminar este monstruo y expulsar al régimen de Trump Pence. Este es un paso urgente que debemos dar para hacer la revolución. Y nos alegra que la Gira de la Revolución Nacional esté sacando este impulso en todas partes, especialmente donde la gente se está alzando en lucha. 

    Las mujeres inmigrantes que estamos aprendiendo y discutiendo acerca de cómo sería una revolución real, hemos sido por años las más impactadas, en el abuso laboral y estas situaciones se han agravado por la pandemia, con pérdida de trabajo, o pérdida de horas de trabajo de nosotras, o nuestras familias y aún así estamos haciendo un esfuerzo, porque entendemos que es importante apoyar donando para les compañeres en el frente de la lucha en la gira revolución, e invitamos a otres a hacer un esfuerzo para apoyar, con un pequeño donativo multiplicado en cientos o miles de personas puede aportar mucho para advancer el trabajo de la Gira Revolution Nacional.

    Buena suerte y cuídense.

    En lucha,

    Un grupo de mujeres inmigrantes que han estado participando en clases que discuten los artículos y obras de BA.

    ——

    Greetings to all in the National Revolution Tour

    We are inspired by how the Revolution Club has been in the frontlines of the class struggle—boldly and courageously going to Portland and Kenosha, spreading revolution and the leadership of BA.

    As immigrants we face oppression and discrimination and demonization for generations and generations. But from BA we learn that racial oppression is like cement being poured into the foundation of a building, and this building is American capitalism-imperialism. We also learned that Fascism does not come from outside. It is a product of this system, and it is a different extremely dangerous monster. If Fascism solidifies its rule, it means disaster for everybody on this planet, and disaster for the planet itself. Fascism can lead to the end of the struggle for justice. So we have to remove this monster, and Drive out the Trump Pence Regime. This is an urgent step we have to take for making revolution. And we are glad that this thrust is being taken out by the National Revolution Tour everywhere, especially where people are rising up in struggle.

    The immigrant women who are learning and discussing about what a real revolution would look like, have been for years the most impacted, in labor abuse and these situations have been aggravated by the pandemic, with job loss, or loss of working hours of we, or our families and even so we are making an effort, because we understand that it is important to support by donating for our comrades in the front line of the struggle in the revolution tour, and we invite others to make an effort to support, with a small donation multiplied in hundreds or thousands of people it can contribute a lot to support of the Revolution Tour.

    Good luck and take care.

    In Struggle,

    A group of immigrant women who have been participating in classes that discuss the articles and works of BA 

    ***

    Healthcare Workers’ Statement on These Critical Times: 

    We are healthcare workers who are outraged over how the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as many other outrages, have been handled by the fascist, genocidal, racist and anti-science Trump/Pence regime.

    We strongly support the Revolution Tour, which is playing a key role in the urgent fight to mobilize millions into the streets to drive this regime from power—as a crucial part and urgent requirement of the overall work of building for Revolution—Nothing Less! They’ve been in the midst of the beautiful rising against police murder. Here’s a video of the Revolution Tour in Portland.  

    On Sunday, Sept. 20th, we invite you, your family and friends to support a fundraising livestream in support of the tour. We are donating and we encourage you to donate as well. 

    You can watch it and donate hereThe Revolution Tour is bringing the deepest understanding to people nationwide of the nightmare that we are in and what the solution is. The criteria is not whether you support revolution, but whether you see the danger to humanity and see the need to act to stop this threat to humanity. 

    Medical workers have stepped up many times over the past 3 years:

    • Demanding PPE, exposing the criminal lack of federal action
    • Facing down and blocking rabid anti-maskers 
    • Doctors and others who lay down in the street at an immigrant detention center in San Diego and were arrested after being turned away from giving free flu shots, 2019.
    • Nurses who put hundreds of medical shoes in front of the White House earlier this year to protest the hundreds of healthcare workers killed unnecessarily by COVID-19.
    • A Black woman nurse was the whistleblower on the sterilization abuses at the ICE detention centers.
    • Science is liberating, let's stand firm!

    The newest outrage of this fascist regime is that ICE has been carrying out forced sterilizations of immigrants in the detention centers. Forced sterilization is a crime which has always been a part of this country’s history. [This was done to Black women, Latinx, Indigenous women and poor white women in the 20th century]

    Hitler learned from the U.S. when in the Nazi death camps women were subjected to forced sterilizations.   

    So, we are challenging people to step up now, and as healthcare workers and support this tour. It is up to us—there will be no magical hero stepping forward to do this going forward. Only the people can put a stop to this regime. 

    ***

    A Matching Challenge from an Immigrant

    An immigrant supporter of the National Tour for an ACTUAL Revolution in Southern California has donated $250 and would like to issue a challenge to others nationally to "match it or raise it" towards the $15,000 goal of the livestream.

    ***

    From A Revolution Club Member

    Enough is Enough

    We need a Revolution PERIOD—Humanity Needs the Revolution Tour & the Rev Clubs, and all who want any future worth living-in need to get with this revolution.

    I am giving $400 but wish I could give $4,000.

    The 5 Stops can't be ended without actual Revolution—so every reform or Band-Aid just doesn't make the cut—the emancipation of humanity & the planet is what everyone should be working on—this is a challenge to match my $400 donation right now—send in $20, $50, $100 because this work must be supported and millions need to find out about this revolution with your help.

    ***

    An Artist Who Donated Paper Maché Artwork for the Tour Fundraising

    To the National Get Organized for an Actual Revolution Tour:

    Thank you for the opportunity of saying a few words about my non-monetary contribution to the fund drive for this very important Tour which I have been following and think is super important. So I wish you the best and will continue contributing as much as possible in this and other ways.

    While I have for years now been learning and working with different mediums such as paints, drawing, paper mache, engraving etc., I made these figures out of paper mache because I was already working with this medium along with other people on making a large Trump head that we needed by September 5, for the United Nationwide Mass Protest. To work on this, for us a large project, we asked the artist Alfonso Piloto Nieves Ruiz to teach us how to do this.

    Piloto put out a call for a workshop. Besides our group working on the Trump head, there were people working on a tribute to Breonna Taylor, and a bust and head of the local ICE representative and children in cages, and another group working on a Oaxacan jaguars head.

    During this workshop, which lasted weeks, and were held outdoors and abided by COVID-19 rules, a couple of Pilsen’s most well-known muralists and other artists stopped by to check out what we were doing. (Piloto had announced the workshop suddenly and a lot of people could not make the commitment, but there was a lot of interests.) In conversations with some of them and in explaining why we were making our project, and making sure they all got leaflets and stickers, we spoke about the importance of art, and not as some afterthought or something that is just going to add some color to the protest, but about how important it is that art be integral, organic, to the struggles.

    We also spoke about how the pandemic has devastated many artists from the community as it came at the same time the neighborhood was being rapidly gentrified. (In the last few days it was announced that one of Little Village’s most iconic malls, with 150 vendors, is going to be demolished and a Target is to be built in its place. The same area where a few months ago a tower from an old factory was demolished creating a dust cloud that made many people sick and resulted in at least one death. With an asbestos cloud hanging over the neighborhood for days. All to open way for new condos.) But we also spoke about the need for more artist to be part of the struggles, some people said we need a movement of artist.

    So it was during these weeks that I heard of the Tours fund drive and I decided to make something that may be auctioned or sold. (A few months ago I donated to the Rev Club 2 other figures made for 10-24-2015 holding a banner of Stolen Lives that could also be for the fund drive.) So, as I was thinking on what to make, I decided on something that reflected what the Tour is about. Kind of like when you make a poster announcing an event. So one of the figures is expressing the fact that the world needs BA’s new communism, and is holding up the book and has a bullhorn to let everybody know, as well as back-pocketing a copy of Revolution newspaper. And the other figure expresses that the only way humanity can get free of this system is by overthrowing it, not reforming it, and is wearing a Revolution Nothing Less shirt.

    Once again, I wish you the best, and hope these figures can make a small contribution.

    ***

    Retired Library Tech (SF Bay Area) 

    Initially I had planned to donate $300 to RNL [Revolution, Nothing Less] and the Tour. Fascism, the thing I have most feared Is here and is rushing to consolidate. The essence of america is retribution! This has to end. There is something we can do. Support the Tour, Refuse Fascism, and RNL. Donate! We need to reach out and connect others to what BA has brought forward. What we do makes a difference. I have decided to donate $500 and to contribute in whatever way I can to the beautiful and scientific RNL. To the future of humanity!

    See also:

    At a time when the future of humanity hangs in the balance:
    Become a Sustainer of the National Revolution Tour!

    Read more

    Donate to the Get Organized for an ACTUAL Revolution Tour

     

     

    Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



     


     

    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/665/bob-avakian-for-the-liberation-of-black-people-en.html

    BOB AVAKIAN FOR THE LIBERATION OF BLACK PEOPLE
    AND THE EMANCIPATION OF ALL HUMANITY

    | revcom.us

     

    One of the things that comes through most powerfully in Bob Avakian’s memoir1 is that a profound hatred for the oppression of Black people has been a defining part of Bob Avakian’s life from the time, as a teenager, he learned about the lives of the Black people with whom he developed deep ties of friendship. Never feeling that, because he is white, “it is not his place” to be involved in the struggle against this oppression—but, on the contrary, determined to contribute whatever he could to this struggle—Bob Avakian (BA), from the time he worked closely with the Black Panther Party in its revolutionary days in the 1960s, has made the liberation of Black people a defining part of his life’s commitment and work. As he developed as a revolutionary communist, and emerged as the foremost revolutionary leader and thinker in the world, this commitment has become even deeper and has been strongly interwoven with a dedication to the emancipation of all humanity from every form of oppression and exploitation.

    As BA has written about his life’s work:

    Why was I doing the work I was doing? Once again, we’re back to for whom and for what. I wasn’t doing this work for myself. When I was young, in middle school and then even more so in high school, my life got changed in a very major way by coming into contact with people that I hadn’t really known that much before, in particular Black people. I started learning about their situation and how that relates to what goes on in this society as a whole. I was drawn to the culture—not just the music and the art overall, but the whole way of going through the world—of the Black people who became my friends, and the world they introduced me to. And I came to the point of recognizing: these are my people. Now, I knew they had a different life experience than I did. But these are my people—I don’t see a separation—it’s not like there are some other people “over there” who are going through all this and somehow that’s removed from me. These are my people. And then I began to recognize more deeply what people were being put through, the oppression they were constantly subjected to, the horrors of daily life as well as the bigger ways in which the system came down on them. And as I went further through life and began to approach the question of what needs to be done about this, and was introduced to taking up a scientific approach to this, I realized that my people were more than this. I realized that my people were Chicanos and other Latinos and other oppressed people in the U.S.; they were people in Vietnam and China; they were women...they were the oppressed and exploited of the world...and through some struggle, and having to cast off some wrong thinking, I have learned that they are LGBT people as well.

    These are my people, the oppressed and exploited people of the world. They are suffering terribly, and something has to be done about this. So it is necessary to dig in and systematically take up the science that can show the way to put an end to all this, and bring something much better into being. You have to persevere and keep struggling to go forward in this way. And when you run into new problems or setbacks, you have to go more deeply into this, rather than putting it aside and giving up.

    So this is why I’ve been doing the work that I’ve been doing.2

    Bob Avakian grew up in Berkeley, California. Unable, because of a life-threatening illness, to be directly involved in struggles taking place against racial oppression for several years after graduating from high school in 1961, BA nevertheless closely followed and strongly supported the civil rights movement in the early 1960s, and at the same time was influenced by and supportive of the militant stand and role of Malcolm X. This was reflected in an article that BA wrote at the age of 19 in 1962 supporting the struggle of Black people. (This article was submitted to the liberal magazine Saturday Review. Although the article was not published, the editor-in-chief of the magazine, Norman Cousins, personally replied—indicating that, although the magazine had chosen not to publish this article, he recognized that the article spoke, in a strikingly compelling way, to very important questions.)

    Having recovered from his illness, in 1964, BA became actively involved in the Free Speech Movement at the University of California in Berkeley, where he was a student. The central issue of this movement was the right of students to carry out activity on the campus in support of the civil rights movement. BA was among the 800 who were arrested during the occupation of the university administration building, which was the high point of the movement and led to winning its demands.

    As the civil rights movement increasingly gave way to a more militant Black liberation movement in the second half of the 1960s, BA was strongly influenced by this. He left the university and dedicated his life to working for radical change. As a result of direct contact and discussions with Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, the founders of the Black Panther Party, and getting to know Eldridge Cleaver (who also became a leader of the BPP), BA worked closely with the Black Panther Party from its earliest days and at the height of its revolutionary role and influence.

    In 1967, BA attended rallies, and spoke at one of the rallies, held by the BPP in North Richmond to protest the killing there of Denzil Dowell, part of the long and continuing chain of murders of Black people by police.

    In 1968, when Huey Newton was facing murder charges as a result of a shoot-out with Oakland cops, BA spoke—along with a number of key figures in the Black liberation movement, including Stokely Carmichael, Rap Brown, James Forman, and leaders of the Black Panther Party— at a Free Huey rally held in the Oakland auditorium on the occasion of Huey Newton’s birthday.

    BA worked tirelessly to build support, including among white people, for the demand to “Free Huey!” At a “Free Huey” rally at the courthouse in Oakland where Huey Newton’s trial was being held, BA was arrested for “desecrating” (burning) the American flag.

    During this time, at the invitation of BPP leaders, BA wrote a number of articles for the Black Panther newspaper.

    At a rally of thousands, led by the Black Panther Party, on May First, 1969, BA spoke of the need for revolution and called on white people in particular to more actively take part in movements for revolutionary change in the U.S., and to support such movements throughout the world.

    By the beginning of the 1970s, millions of people in this country were in favor of some kind of revolutionary change, but they faced profound challenges. How could this revolution be made—or was it even possible to make a revolution here, up against such powerful forces of oppression and repression? Which were the key forces that had to be mobilized to have a real chance to carry out such a revolution? What kind of leadership was needed, and what methods and approaches should that leadership be based on? The difficulties in confronting and seeking the answers to these hard questions, combined with brutal and often murderous repression by the powers-that-be, led many revolutionary organizations, including the Black Panther Party, to split and end up departing from the road that could lead to real revolution.

    By this time, partly because of the influence of the Black Panther Party, which had popularized the “Red Book” of quotations from the Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong, BA had become convinced not only that revolution was necessary, and was possible, but that it had to be led by a vanguard force that based itself on the scientific method and approach of communism, as it had been developed initially by Karl Marx, then further developed by V.I. Lenin, the leader of the Russian Revolution in the early part of the 20th century, and then in turn further developed by Mao, who led the Chinese revolution and the new, socialist society in China, until his death in 1976. BA led in the formation of the Revolutionary Union at the end of the 1960s, with the aim of working toward the establishment of the vanguard party of revolution, based on the science of communism. During the first part of the 1970s, BA was both the practical leader and the leading theoretician of the Revolutionary Union, writing much of the essays and polemics for its theoretical journal Red Papers. This included major articles, particularly in Red Papers 5 and 6, that involved groundbreaking scientific materialist analysis of the situation of Black people, historically and down to the present—how and why their particular conditions of oppression had changed, from the time of slavery to the present era, and how this objectively put Black people in a potentially powerful position to be a driving force not only for their own liberation but for the communist revolution whose fundamental aim is the abolition of all oppression and exploitation. These articles included powerful polemics, arguing against positions and programs that would not lead to, but would actually work against, this liberation and the revolutionary transformation of the world as a whole.

    In 1975, with BA’s leadership, the Revolutionary Communist Party was founded, with the aim of being the vanguard force for the revolution that was, and continues to be, profoundly necessary. Over the decades since then, BA has fought to keep that Party on the revolutionary road and to bring forward new revolutionary forces to revitalize and strengthen the vanguard forces for the revolution that is now, all the more urgently, required. While continuing to provide practical guidance to the revolutionary forces, BA, through summing up the experience (positive and negative) of the communist movement, and drawing from a broad range of human experience, has brought forward a new synthesis of communism (also referred to as the new communism) which, most decisively, has established communism on an even more consistently scientific basis. As BA’s Official Biography explains, the new communism “is a continuation of, but also represents a qualitative leap beyond, and in some important ways a break with, communist theory as it had been previously developed. It provides the basis—the science, the strategy, and the leadership—for an actual revolution and a radically new society on the road to real emancipation.”3

    A defining part of this new communism is the emphasis it gives to the struggle for the liberation of Black people, and the relation of this to the ending of all oppression. And this has continued to stand out in BA’s leadership role and work over the decades, up to the present.  At revcom.us there is a special section, Bob Avakian on The Oppression of Black People & the Revolutionary Struggle to End All Oppressionwhich contains clips from films and selections from the writings of BA on this question. The following are just a few examples of important works and leadership by Bob Avakian, over the past few decades, that speak to this decisive question.

    The book Reflections, Sketches & Provocations, written by Bob Avakian during the 1980s, contains a number of commentaries, speaking in a number of dimensions to the oppression of Black people and the struggle against this oppression, including support for rebellions following the murder of Black people by police. This book begins with the essay “Hill Street Bullshit, Richard Pryor Routines, and the Real Deal,” which powerfully exposes how terror against Black people, and other oppressed people, is “part of the job” of the police—and is “a reward” for carrying out the role of maintaining the “law and order” that keeps the oppressed in their desperate and miserable conditions. Going deeper, it speaks to how this is rooted in this system of capitalism-imperialism, which has had this oppression built into it from the very beginning.

    In the 1990s, BA raised the idea that there should be a day, every year, when people mobilized to protest police brutality, mass incarceration and repression by the government. This proposal was taken up and a broad coalition, including family members of people killed by police, was formed to initiate, in 1996, the National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation. At its height, over the next decade, this National Day of Protest, held every October 22nd, rallied thousands of people in dozens of cities across the country. And activities by people who have been part of this coalition have continued since then.

    During the past two decades, BA has given a number of filmed speeches, and written articles, essays and books, in which the liberation of Black people and its crucial relation to the communist revolution, aiming for the emancipation of all humanity, has been a major question.

    BA’s 2003 speech Revolution: Why It’s Necessary, Why It’s Possible, What It’s All About, begins with a searing exposure and condemnation of lynching, and speaks to the horrific reality of slavery and the oppression of Black people down to today, including the continual murder of Black people by police.3

    In 2006, BA gave a series of 7 Talks, in which once again the oppression of Black people, and the struggle for their liberation, is a major theme. One of these 7 Talks, Communism and Jeffersonian Democracy, begins by speaking to the experience of Black people in this country; and the question of slavery and the overall oppression of Black people is, of course, a major part of this talk. It is in Communism and Jeffersonian Democracy that the following is clearly stated:

    There would be no United States as we now know it today without slavery. That is a simple and basic truth.

    (This is also the very first statement in BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian, the handbook for revolution.)3

    At the beginning of BA Speaks: Revolution—Nothing Less!, in 2012, this point is stated emphatically:

    Let’s start with just one great crime of this system: police murder—after murder—after murder—of Black people and Latinos, especially youth.3

    This is part of the powerful exposure in this speech of the role that continuing murders by police play in enforcing this monstrous system of exploitation and oppression, the system of capitalism-imperialism.

    At the beginning of his October 2017 speech The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go! In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE To Accept a Fascist America, A Better World IS Possible,  BA speaks powerfully to the horrors of slavery in this country—including the rape by slavemasters of huge numbers of enslaved women. This speech shows how the murderous oppression of Black people, continuing down to today, is one of the main roots of the fascism that has come to power in this country with the Trump/Pence regime; and, in this speech, BA repeatedly returns to the critical importance of the fight against this oppression.3

    BA’s 2018 speech Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution begins this way:

    In 2012 in Revolution—Nothing Less! I talked about the outrageous murder of Ramarley Graham earlier that same year—shot down in his own house in the Bronx by the New York City police. He was only 18 years old. Do I have to tell you what “race” he was?! His mother kept saying: “This has to STOP!” And his father repeated over and over: "WHY did they kill my son?! WHY did they kill my son?!" New York cops then loudly rallied around their fellow pig who murdered Ramarley in cold blood, viciously taunting Ramarley's family and loved ones, demonstrating yet one more time the ugly truth that, in the way this country has been built, and for the powers-that-be in this country, the humanity of Black people has never counted for anything—they have never been valued as human beings, but only as things to be exploited, oppressed, and repressed. Six years later, and with cold-blooded murders by police continuing in an unbroken chain, I will say again what I said then: How many more times does this have to happen? How many more times do the tears and the cries of anguish and anger have to pour forth from the wounded hearts of people?! How many more times, when another of these outrageous murders is perpetrated by the police, do we have to hear those words that pour gasoline on the already burning wounds: “justifiable homicide, justified use of force” by police?! How many more?!3

    In that 2018 speech, BA not only powerfully exposes once again the horrific oppression that this system of capitalism-imperialism inflicts on Black people, and on other oppressed people in this country and throughout the world, and the grave danger this system poses to the very future of humanity; he also lays out in this speech (and in a more recent article A Real Revolution—A Real Chance To Win, Further Developing the Strategy for Revolution3) the strategic approach that could make it possible for this system to be finally overthrown through a revolution in which millions and millions of people are led to fight to put an end to this system and bring a radically different and much better system into being.

    In the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America, authored by BA, a sweeping vision and concrete blueprint for that radically different and much better system is set forth. And the principles and means for finally putting an end, at long last, to the oppression of Black people is a major part of that Constitution.3

    This year (2020), BA has written as many as 30 articles in which this decisive question—the oppression, and the struggle for the liberation, of Black people—is a recurring subject.3

    In the speeches and writings of BA overall, there is not only powerful, penetrating exposure and uncompromising condemnation of brutal and murderous oppression but, even more importantly, there is scientific analysis of how all this is rooted in this system of capitalism-imperialism and of the need, the possibility, and the means for making revolution to overthrow this system and finally put an end to all the outrageous and unnecessary suffering that the masses of humanity are continually subjected to under this system.

    ***

    It is a very precious thing for the oppressed of the earth when they have a leader whose life is dedicated to their emancipation, and who has the determination, and the scientific method, developed over decades, to point the way, and continue to carve out the path, to achieving that emancipation. BA is such a leader. As emphasized in the article Bob Avakian: A Radically Different Leader—A Whole New Framework For Human Emancipation:

    As a revolutionary leader, BA also embodies this rare combination: someone who has been able to develop scientific theory on a world-class level, while at the same time having a deep understanding of and visceral connection with the most oppressed, and a highly developed ability to “break down” complex theory and make it broadly accessible.3

    One of the things that most distinguishes BA’s role as a revolutionary leader is his willingness—indeed, his insistence—on telling people the truth, even when they may not want to hear it. This comes through in the way BA exposes and refutes unscientific ways of thinking—all kinds of “conspiracy” theories and superstitious ideas—that lead people, including the most bitterly oppressed people, away from understanding the world as it actually is, and keep them from seeing not just the need, but the possibility, of radically changing the world, in a way that will lead to ending oppression. A big problem that BA has taken on, straight-up, is the role of religion as a mental chain on the masses of Black people, and other oppressed people, and the need to break this chain in order to most powerfully wage the struggle to finally be free of all oppression. BA has repeatedly emphasized that, in order to end oppression, “you have to want revolution badly enough to be scientific about it.”

    Science means judging whether something is true, or not, by whether there is evidence that it actually corresponds to reality—and not believing something because it makes you feel good to believe it, or not refusing to believe something because it makes you uncomfortable. In the article Conspiracy Theories, Fascist “Certitude,” Liberal Paralysis, Or A Scientific Approach To Changing The World, BA has spoken directly to this problem:

    many of the basic masses, who are bitterly oppressed under this system, also are suspicious of and even are inclined to reject science and scientifically-grounded analysis. But this also leaves you vulnerable to all kinds of unfounded “conspiracy theories” and other wrong and harmful ideas, including the notion that nothing people do will make a difference because “it’s all in god’s hands.”3

    In the 2014 Dialogue with Cornel West (REVOLUTION AND RELIGION: The Fight for Emancipation and the Role of Religion), which took place during the upsurge of protest and rebellion in response to the murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, while speaking to the importance of uniting people broadly in the struggle against oppression, including people who hold religious views, BA also emphasized that the revolution that is needed to finally put an end to oppression must be led with a scientific, not a religious, outlook and method.3

    From the start of the article Bob Avakian On Emancipation From Mental Slavery And All Oppression, written this year (2020), BA does not hold back in speaking to these critical questions:

    In 1863, mid-way in the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln finally issued the Emancipation Proclamation and, as a result of the Civil War, Black people were formally freed from literal, physical slavery. But today the question is: When, and how, will Black people finally be free from all forms of slavery and oppression? And this poses straight-up this big question:

    When will Black people finally emancipate themselves from the mental slavery of religion?!....

    Once more, the question is sharply posed: How can Black people be finally and fully emancipated from centuries of oppression, and how does this relate to ending all oppression, of all people, everywhere?

    The answer is that the possibility of this is real, but it can happen only on the basis of a scientific approach to changing the world and the scientifically-grounded understanding that this oppression is rooted in and caused by the system of capitalism-imperialism—the same system that is viciously exploiting and murderously oppressing people not just in this country but all over the world and is plundering the natural environmentand that this system must and can be overthrown through an actual revolution and replaced by a radically different and far better system: socialism, whose final goal is a communist world, without any oppression or exploitation of anyone, anywhere.3

    ****

    From his early years, forging close personal ties with Black people and increasingly learning about their lived experience, to his development as this rare leader who has brought forth the most advanced scientific revolutionary theory with the new communism—a defining part of the life and work of Bob Avakian has been the liberation of Black people from centuries of oppression, and the understanding of how this relates to, and is a crucial driving force in, the communist revolution to finally abolish every form of oppression and exploitation, everywhere.

    BA himself has expressed this in the following poetically powerful statement:

    There is the potential for something of unprecedented beauty to arise out of unspeakable ugliness: Black people playing a crucial role in putting an end, at long last, to this system which has, for so long, not just exploited but dehumanized, terrorized and tormented them in a thousand ways—putting an end to this in the only way it can be done—by fighting to emancipate humanity, to put an end to the long night in which human society has been divided into masters and slaves, and the masses of humanity have been lashed, beaten, raped, slaughtered, shackled and shrouded in ignorance and misery.

     


    1. From Ike to Mao and Beyond, My Journey from Mainstream America to Revolutionary CommunistA Memoir by Bob AvakianInsight Press, 2005. [back]

    2. Bob Avakian, THE NEW COMMUNISM: The science, the strategy, the leadership for an actual revolution, and a radically new society on the road to real emancipation, Insight Press, first printing, 2016, pp. 321-22. In addition to THE NEW COMMUNISM, in other recent works by BA—in particular Breakthroughs: The Historic Breakthrough by Marx, and the Further Breakthrough with the New Communism, A Basic Summaryand Hope For Humanity On A Scientific Basis, Breaking with Individualism, Parasitism and American Chauvinism—the oppression and the struggle for the liberation of Black people, and its relation to the emancipation of humanity as a whole, is a prominent subject. These works are available at revcom.us.  [back]

    3. All of these works are available at revcom.us. (Information about how to acquire the print and e-book editions of BAsics can be found at revcom.us. Audio of the 7 Talks is available in BA’s Collected Works at revcom.us; and Communism and Jeffersonian Democracy has been published in a print edition, the text of which can also be found in BA’s Collected Works at revcom.us.)

    The film of the Dialogue between Cornel West and Bob Avakian, REVOLUTION AND RELIGION: The Fight for Emancipation and the Role of Religion, is also available in BA’s Collected Works at revcom.us.

    The article Conspiracy Theories, Fascist “Certitude,” Liberal Paralysis, Or A Scientific Approach To Changing The World (longer and shorter versions) is available at revcom.us as well.

    The importance of Bob Avakian as a revolutionary leader, who has further developed communism as a consistently scientific method and approach, is a central theme in SCIENCE AND REVOLUTION: On the Importance of Science and the Application of Science to Society, the New Synthesis of Communism and the Leadership of Bob Avakian, An Interview with Ardea Skybreak. Ardea Skybreak is a scientist with professional training in ecology and evolutionary biology, who is also the author of the important book THE SCIENCE OF EVOLUTION AND THE MYTH OF CREATIONISM, Knowing What’s Real And Why It Matters. Each of these books by Ardea Skybreak is published by Insight Press, and the Interview with Ardea Skybreak (SCIENCE AND REVOLUTION) is also available at revcom.us

    The following articles, written by Bob Avakian this year (2020), which speak to the oppression of Black people and the struggle to end this oppression, are available as well at revcom.us:

    Donald Trump—Genocidal Racist (Parts 1-10) 

    Racial Oppression Can Be Ended—But Not Under This System

    Police And Prisons: Reformist Illusions And The Revolutionary Solution

    Anything But The Truth—Bob Avakian Exposes Lies, Distortions, Distractions and Evasions About the Murderous Oppression of Black People

    Lynching, Murder By Police—Damn This Whole System! We Don’t Have To Live This Way!

    Bob Avakian On Emancipation From Mental Slavery And All Oppression

    Colin Kaepernick, LeBron James And The Whole Truth

    Donald Trump Isn’t “Tough,” He’s A Bloated Bag Of Fascist Feces

    Bloated Bag Of Fascist Feces Trump Isn’t “Tough”—Part 2: Who Really Has Heart?

    Trump And Pigs: A Racist Love Affair

    Fucker Carlson, Fascist “Fox News” And The Broadcast Of White Supremacy

    Bob Avakian on Black Trump Supporters: What If Jews Had Supported Hitler?!

    Bob Avakian On: A Beautiful Uprising: Right And Wrong, Methods And Principles

    On Statues, Monuments, And Celebrating—Or Ending—Oppression

    Fascists Today And The Confederacy: A Direct Line, A Direct Connection Between All The Oppression

    Patriarchy And Male Supremacy, Or Revolution And Ending All Oppression

    Sounding Like Southern Segregationists: It’s Not Just Trump—It’s Democrats Too

    Bob Avakian Brings Out the Truth: Barack Obama Says Police Murdering Black People Should Not Be Normal—Unless He’s President

    Bob Avakian On Ugly Words & Phrases

    Bob Avakian On Tulsa Racist Mobs

    A Real Revolution--A Real Chance To Win: Further Developing the Strategy for Revolution

    [back]

    Get to know BA

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/667/donald-trump-genocidal-racist-by-bob-avakian-en.html

    10 Part Series:

    Donald Trump — GENOCIDAL RACIST

    | revcom.us

     

    Part 1:

    Genocide means killing off a whole people, or a large part of that people. Genocide is what the Europeans did to the native peoples in America, while stealing their land. Genocide is Hitler and the NAZIs murdering six million Jews.  Donald Trump is a genocidal racist.

    Donald Trump hates Black people and everybody who is not a “white, English-speaking, Christian American.” If he could, he would kill off a whole lot of them, and put many of the rest in jail for life, or drive them out of the country.

    Trump has spouted and shouted vicious racism for years, and decades.

    Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, who knows him well, said this about him:

    “I can only imagine the envy with which Donald watched” the cop killing George Floyd. “I can only imagine that Donald wishes it had been his knee on Floyd’s neck.” (emphasis added)

    Think about that.  

    What do you think Trump will do if he can get his “knee” even more firmly on the necks of Black, Brown, and Native peoples?

    Yes, even after slavery was ended, Black people have been continually subjected to horrific oppression and terror, right down to today—but the fully unleashed rule of genocidal racism, which is what Trump is aiming for, would be a horror on a whole other level. The slow genocide of Black people which has already been going on—through things like mass incarceration and continuing murder by police—can quickly become a much faster and more complete genocide if Trump and his regime succeed in remaining in power and carry forward more fully their fascist program.

    And, as I have said in my August 1 Statement,* the hour is getting late, but it is not yet too late, to defeat the fascism concentrated in the fascist regime of Trump (and Pence) and to wrench something positive out of this increasingly terrible situation. But that requires fully facing up to what this regime of genocidal racist fascism represents and what it is aiming to do, and using all appropriate means to remove this regime from power—above all the mobilization of masses of people, to get in the streets, starting now, in the thousands, and stay in the streets, becoming millions, powerfully putting forward the unifying demand that this fascist regime must be OUT NOW!

    And, as I emphasized in that August 1 Statement, in the most fundamental terms, it requires working to create more favorable conditions for, and to build up the organized forces for, the revolution that is needed to finally put an end to this system, which has from the beginning rested on genocidal racism and other horrific forms of oppression—and which now, with this fascist regime, is moving to take this to even more monstrous levels, posing a very real and grave threat to the very existence not only of Black people but the masses of oppressed humanity and ultimately humanity as a whole.  

    This is not hype or exaggeration in any way—it is the cold hard fact we are faced with—and it demands that, in the name of and for the future of humanity, we act on the basis of fully confronting this reality and moving, in our millions and millions, to change this reality, before it really is too late.

    (If you think this is an exaggeration, and the danger is not as great as what is said here, then you don’t know who Donald Trump really is. In part 2 and the rest of this series of articles, further evidence will be brought out to show that Donald Trump is indeed a genocidal racist whose fascist regime is a threat to the very existence not only of Black people, but to the masses of oppressed humanity, and to humanity itself—and, once again, what we are urgently called on to do in the face of this.)

     


    *STATEMENT BY BOB AVAKIAN, August 1, 2020, ON THE IMMEDIATE CRITICAL SITUATION, THE URGENT NEED TO DRIVE OUT THE FASCIST TRUMP/PENCE REGIME, VOTING IN THIS ELECTION, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR REVOLUTION.  [back]

    See each part for a downloadable poster

    Download pamphlet of complete series (PDF printer spread)

     

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    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

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    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/665/posters-pamphlet-donald-trump-genocidal-racist-en.html

    Spread them Everywhere

    Pamphlet and Posters of
    “Donald Trump—GENOCIDAL RACIST”

    | revcom.us

     

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
    Read: www.revcom.us
    Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

     

    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/650/bob-avakian_nothing-less-en.html

    | revcom.us

     

    A statement from Bob Avakian

    revolutionary leader, author and architect of the revolutionary new communism.

     

    To all those who have risen up so powerfully and are demonstrating to say “No More!” after the murder of George Floyd, and all the other cold-blooded murders by police.

    To all those who have drawn inspiration from this righteous uprising.

    To all those who have had the blinders forced from their eyes and have been provoked to think anew about what kind of country it is that we live in.

    This has raised the biggest questions about what is needed for people everywhere to live fully as human beings:

    AN END TO INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM
    AND MURDER BY POLICE—NOTHING LESS!

    AN END TO ANY WAY PEOPLE ANYWHERE ARE
    USED, ABUSED, AND BRUTALIZED—NOTHING LESS!

    We need a world without white supremacy and male supremacy—a world where no one is regarded as “alien”—a world without war, where people from all over the globe, with a beautiful flowering of diversity, act together for the common good and are truly caretakers of the earth.

    THIS IS NOT JUST A DREAM.

    The possibility for this is being powerfully demonstrated in this uprising of the people, of all different races and genders, from all parts of the world—refusing to remain silent or stay passive while all this oppression and brutality goes on.

    To Make All This Real
    We Need: REVOLUTION—NOTHING LESS!

    A strategic plan for how to make this revolution, and a sweeping vision and concrete blueprint for a radically different and much better world, where all this can become possible—can be found in the work I have done, including the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America.

    You can learn more about this revolution and become part of making it a reality by going to revcom.us and joining with the revcoms.

    We do not need to live in this world where so much of humanity suffers so unnecessarily under this system of capitalism-imperialism that cannot exist without exploiting and degrading people, suffocating their humanity and killing them without mercy.  We can do much better!  Don’t listen to talk about how “it can never happen.” 

    Look around you—what seemed impossible yesterday is happening right now!  Revolution, why should we settle for anything less?

    WWW.REVCOM.US          

    Share everywhere.

    Download PDF of this flier, print and spread:

     

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
    Read: www.revcom.us
    Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

     

    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

    Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



     


     

    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/652/bob-avakian-racial-oppression-can-be-ended-en.html

    RACIAL OPPRESSION
    CAN BE ENDED—
    BUT NOT UNDER THIS SYSTEM

    by Bob Avakian

    | revcom.us

     

    Everywhere we go, and in everything we do, we revcoms boldly put forward: REVOLUTION—NOTHING LESS!

    This is not just a slogan—though it is a very good and very important slogan. It is the concentrated statement of a very profound truth, which is also captured in our slogan: This System Cannot Be Reformed—It Must Be Overthrown!

    But what do we mean in saying that this system cannot be reformed, and why is that true? In Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution, I speak to the “5 STOPS”—deep and defining contradictions of this system—and all the terrible suffering to which this system of capitalism-imperialism subjects the masses of humanity, and why all this cannot be ended under this system.1 Here I am going to focus on the systematic and murderous oppression of Black people, and racial oppression overall—which has been sharply exposed with the outpouring of outrage sparked by the murder of George Floyd—and discuss the basic reasons why this oppression cannot be eliminated under this system, but can (only) be ended through revolution.

    The continuing terror and murder carried out by the police particularly against Black people (as well as Latinos and Native Americans) is not fundamentally because the police are racist—although, speaking of the police overall, that is certainly true. The fact that the police are racist is itself an expression and a function of the fact that terror and murder against Black people (and other people of color) is required by this system—is necessary in order to maintain the “order” of this all-around oppressive system—and this would be much more difficult to carry out if the police were not racist.

    The Fundamental Causes of This Oppression

    But, going deeper, why is this terror and murder necessary for this system, in order to ensure its “order” and its ongoing functioning? The answer is that, from the beginning of this country, white supremacy has been poured into the foundation and built into the institutions and the ongoing functioning of this system. Specifically with regard to Black people, the centuries of oppression they have suffered—from slavery days to the days of Jim Crow segregation and Ku Klux Klan terror, to the present time, with the continuing systematic discrimination against Black people, in every part of society (employment, housing, education, health care, and on and on)—all this has resulted in a situation where masses of Black people today, and in particular youth, have been robbed of a means for a decent life, with many maintained in conditions of desperate poverty and deprivation. This, again, is not simply because those who are in the seats of power and deciding government policy are racist (though that is true of most of them). It is fundamentally because of the nature of the system itself and the historically-evolved requirements and dynamics of this system of capitalism-imperialism.

    Now, that is a big mouthful (“the nature of the system itself and the historically-evolved requirements and dynamics of this system of capitalism-imperialism”), so let’s break it down. This country was founded on the enslavement of masses of African people, as well as the genocidal subjugation of Native Americans and theft of their land (and its further development involved the conquest of huge parts of Mexico, reducing people of Mexican origin to second-class status as well). This required the propagation of racism to “justify” all the horrific oppression. Then, when the Civil War broke out over the question of slavery, and even when slavery was abolished as a result of that Civil War, given that white supremacy had been, and remained, such a crucial part of the “glue” holding the country together, the only way to “put it back together,” on the foundation of the capitalist system, was to once again forcefully assert white supremacy. That is why, very soon after the end of the Civil War, Black people were subjected to the system of Jim Crow segregation (backed up by systematic terror, punctuated by repeated lynchings), while the genocidal aggression against and theft of the land of Native Americans was stepped up, and immigrants from Mexico were subjected to ongoing discrimination and violence by the enforcers of this system.

    Generations later, during World War 2, because of the needs of the rulers of this country in waging that war, large numbers of Black people were able to migrate to the North and get jobs in industries that served the war effort. And then, largely as a result of the fact that the U.S. was on the winning side of that war—and the fact that the war was not fought on its territory and it experienced no damage to its industrial facilities and infrastructure—there was an expansion of the economy in this country after the war. In this situation, significant numbers of Black people were able to continue getting employment in large numbers, including some better-paying jobs in factories (making steel, cars, and so on).

    But, at the same time, because of the white supremacy built into the system over centuries—and the fact that really moving to overcome this would tear apart the fabric of the system and crack its very foundation—Black people continued to be subjected to systematic discrimination, including in employment (with “last hired and first fired” an accurate description of the situation of Black people with regard to employment). To cite another ugly example, government policy with regard to housing involved conscious, deliberate discrimination: after World War 2, loans were given to white people to enable them to buy their own homes, and increasingly move to the suburbs, while this was denied to Black veterans (and others) and instead Black people were piled into segregated housing projects in the inner cities. And this was part of the continuing systematic segregation and discrimination to which Black people were subjected.

    As a result of the Civil Rights movement and then the more radical Black liberation movement in the 1960s, some concessions were made, and there has been an increase in the number of “Black faces in high places” and a growth of the Black middle class, although their situation is far more precarious than that of white middle class people (something which was cruelly demonstrated in the 2008 crisis, which resulted in large numbers of Black people losing their homes and much, if not all, of any savings they had). And, in more recent times, huge numbers of factories and other sources of jobs for people in the inner city have closed down, often moving their operations elsewhere—particularly to countries in the Third World (Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia) where the desperate situation of masses of people, including children, has left them vulnerable to being super-exploited, at near-starvation wages.

    All this, together with increased automation and “cybernation” of production, when combined with the ongoing segregation and discrimination built into this system, has led to a situation where huge numbers of Black people, and especially youth, have, for generations now, not only been unemployed but are left with no prospect of meaningful employment in the regular (“formal”) economy.

    The “Toxic Combination” of Capitalism and Racism

    Here we see the “toxic combination” of systematic, historically-evolved segregation and discrimination, enforced with brutal violence by the powers-that-be, together with the basic functioning and requirements of the capitalist economy—which involves the greater and greater concentration not just of wealth, but of the means of production (technology, factories and other physical structures, sources of raw materials, and so on) in the possession and under the control of large-scale capitalist enterprises and financial institutions, which are locked in cut-throat competition with each other, not just within a particular country but increasingly on a global scale, and are therefore driven to ruthlessly exploit people and constantly search for ways to even more viciously super-exploit large numbers of desperate people, including children, in a worldwide network of sweatshops. (For example, cell phones and computers depend on the mineral coltan which is mined under horrific conditions by people, including large numbers of children, in the Congo in Africa; and a large part of the clothes that are bought in the U.S. are produced by huge numbers of women working in horrific conditions in the Asian country of Bangladesh.)

    In this situation, and especially with the growth of the international drug trade, and its deep penetration into the U.S., many of those, in particular youth, who found themselves locked out of the “formal economy,” have turned to drug-dealing, as well as other criminal activity—something which has been encouraged by government policy that has actually resulted in the movement of large amounts of drugs into the inner city, even as the authorities seize on this situation to carry out systematic repression against the youth in particular, with such things as “stop and frisk.” The result of all this has been a huge increase in mass incarceration, as well as the continual murder of large numbers of “minority” youth by police.

    At the same time, the way that the U.S. has continued to dominate Mexico, as well as other parts of Latin America, and to distort the economies, corrupt the governments and bring ruin to the social relations among the people in those countries—all this has resulted in large numbers of people being forced to flee those countries and migrate to the U.S., where they are vulnerable to being viciously exploited in factories and farmlands, and other parts of the economy of this country. And large numbers of the younger generations of these immigrants have also formed (or joined existing) gangs and become involved in the drug trade and related crime.

    More recently, however, in at least many of the inner-city neighborhoods, for a number of reasons—including the fact that the “crack epidemic” had taken a terrible toll on people—there has been a decrease in the trade in cocaine and the high profits this brought for the relatively small number of “higher-ups” in the drug trade hierarchy. For a period, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s, given their desolation and desperation, the drug trade was a “major employer” of youth in the inner cities, female as well as male, and a major source of at least a basic income for many (even if the promise of “getting rich” remained an illusion for most). Now, even this source of employment and income—as perverse and harmful as it is—has dried up or greatly diminished for many. This has further added to the miserable situation of massive numbers of inner-city youth in particular who have no future—under this system—no future but prison, an early death or a life of desperate hustling, in one form or another, in the attempt to survive and care for loved ones.

    All this cannot be changed—cannot be transformed and overcome—within the confines of this system. Despite what any politician (“liberal” or outright fascist like Trump) may say, there is no way that this system could “reverse itself,” bring large parts of industry back to the inner city and provide meaningful employment, with “a living wage” for all those it is now depriving of this. Even if the government had the “political will” to try to do this, doing so (with the employment of millions of formerly unemployed or “underemployed” people at a “living wage”) would seriously undermine the competitive positions of American capitalists in the global economy. And, if they attempted to do this while at the same time trying to seriously overcome the whole historically-evolved relations of white supremacy, this would completely disrupt the social “cohesion” that “holds this country together,” with white supremacy a crucial part of this.

    It is one thing for “good-hearted people”—and in particular many white people—to say (and sincerely mean) that it is wrong for the police to just wantonly, cruelly murder people, and to mobilize in protest against this. But imagine what would happen if, under this system and with the way its economy functions, the government tried to adopt policies that would deal with the long-term unemployment of Black people in the inner cities, who have not only been denied jobs but also the training for the jobs that do exist—imagine what the reaction would be of many white people who would in fact lose their better-off positions as a result of these policies. Imagine what would happen if these kinds of policies were applied not just to employment, but to education, and on down the line. (We have already seen the “backlash” that was fostered in response to even minimal efforts to implement “affirmative action” programs in employment and education.)

    Again, this is not simply a matter that “white people are racist.” Many are racist, although many do not want to be. But the deeper problem is that given the basic way the capitalist economy works, and how everyone is encouraged to be “out for yourself”—and, more fundamentally, the fact that people are actually driven and compelled to compete with each other in every significant part of life, including employment and education—it would actually create destructive chaos and conflict among the people, and tear apart the “cohesion” of the society, to try to really and fully undo and overcome the reality and effects of centuries of racist oppression—under this system.

    This most definitely and emphatically is NOT an argument for holding back from struggling against every form of discrimination, inequality and oppression in every part of society. Fighting back against oppression, and wrenching concessions from the powers-that-be, is very important—in enabling masses of people to feel their own strength in standing up and standing together in opposing oppression, and drawing people from all parts of society to join in this struggle—rather than feeling isolated, beaten down and hopeless. And it is important in contributing to the ability of masses of people to gain the understanding and build up the organization necessary for the final all-out struggle to bring down the whole oppressive system. But that is just the point—as important as these mass struggles are, if they are not built toward, and do not finally get to the point of, taking on the whole system, with the aim of bringing it down, and bringing something much better into being, then, as I have emphasized before, even where concessions are won, “so long as this system remains in power, there will be powerful forces who will move to attack and undermine, and seek to reverse, even these partial gains,” and people will remain oppressed and once more weighed down with a feeling of demoralization, as they are once again divided and pitted against each other.2

    The basic and crucial point is that the fight against racial oppression (and all oppression) must not remain confined within the limits of this system, and instead must be carried out and carried forward as part of the overall struggle toward the goal of abolishing this system. The fact that this oppression cannot be abolished under this system is not a reason for giving up in despair—it is a compelling reason why this system must be and can be abolishedand it is the fundamental basis for why people can be won to wage the revolutionary struggle to finally bring it down!

    All this is why there will not be any real and meaningful move by the powers-that-be (and any of its politicians and political parties) to overcome the centuries-long experience and legacy of brutal racist oppression and the situation it has led to today, where millions and millions of Black youth and other youth of color have no prospect of a decent future—under this system.

    As I have pointed out before: “So what does this system do with youth that have no future and no prospects? It contains them.... contains them violently.”3

    And all this is why there is systemic and systematic police terror directed at Black people and other people of color. It is why this is brought down not only on the youth (and others) in the inner cities, but why it can and does lead to harassment, brutality and murder of any Black person, anywhere, even those with more education and status in society. If the system needs the police to “violently contain” the masses of people in the inner cities—and it does—then this is bound to “spill over” and be applied to Black people, and other people of color, more generally. The police have neither the interests, nor the ability, nor the will to make distinctions between “good” ....... (fill in the blank as to what racist terms they use) and “bad” ones. And, beyond that, the “random” nature of the brutality and murder makes it all the more effective in terrorizing people—making everyone, even the “better off,” feel, correctly, that they could be a target of this.

    There IS a Solution: Revolution and a Radically New and Different World

    It is for all these reasons that racist oppression will continue so long as people are living under the domination of this system of capitalism-imperialism. It is not only right but crucially important to rise up and wage a determined fight against this, but it is also crucial to recognize that this racist oppression will never be, can never be, eliminated under this system—and, to finally put an end to it, we need a radically different system.

    We need a radically different economic system—a socialist economic system (mode of production) that is geared to and proceeds by developing and utilizing the means of production collectively, to meet the needs of the masses of people, materially (for employment, food, housing, health care, and so on) as well as their needs intellectually and culturally, and to provide them with the means not only to live a life worthy of human beings, but also to scientifically understand the basis and need, and to more and more consciously take part in, carrying forward the transformation of society to finally and completely eliminate all relations of oppression and exploitation, and to support that struggle throughout the world. And, as one of its highest priorities and goals, this will involve the determined struggle to overcome and finally eliminate racial oppression in every aspect of society.

    The radically different socialist economy (mode of production) will provide the foundation on which the ongoing process of uprooting racial oppression, and all oppression, can be waged on favorable ground, and can finally succeed in overcoming all this. The following from my work Breakthroughs speaks to this key relation and process:

    Ultimately, the mode of production sets the foundation and the limits of change, in terms of how you address any social problem, such as the oppression of women, or the oppression of Black people or Latinos, or the contradiction between mental work and manual work, or the situation with the environment, or the situation of immigrants, and so on. While all those things have reality and dynamics in their own right, and aren’t reducible to the economic system, they all take place within the framework and within the fundamental dynamics of that economic system; and that economic system, that mode of production, sets the foundation and the ultimate limits of change in regard to all those social questions. So, if you want to get rid of all these different forms of oppression, you have to address them in their own right, but you also have to fundamentally change the economic system to give you the ability to be able to carry through those changes in fundamental terms. To put it another way: You have to have an economic system that doesn’t prevent you from making those changes, and instead not only allows but provides a favorable foundation for making those changes.4

    The Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America provides a sweeping vision and concrete blueprint for such a radically different economic system, and for government institutions, laws and a legal system, as well as an approach to education, science, art and culture that go along with this mode of production and contribute to its continual development, opening the way to finally eliminating all oppression and exploitation.5 And in Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution (as well as other works of mine) the basic strategy is spelled out for carrying out the revolution that will make it possible to apply this Constitution in working to bring about a world free of all the unnecessary suffering and madness to which the masses of humanity are subjected under the domination of this system of capitalism-imperialism.

    This is why, and this is how, racial oppression, and all the oppression, which is built into this system of capitalism-imperialism, can be ended—but only through a revolution to abolish this system.

    This is why we continue to emphasize this basic truth: we have two choices: either, live with all this—and condemn future generations to the same, or worse, if they have a future at all—or, make revolution!

    This is why we continue to boldly raise the slogan: REVOLUTION—NOTHING LESS!

     

    1. The text and video of this speech by Bob Avakian (Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution) is available at revcom.us. [back]

    2. The statement quoted in this part of this article is from Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution. [back]

    3. Bob Avakian On Police Brutality And Murder: Consent Decrees Won’t Stop This—We Need A Revolution! This excerpt from a Question and Answer Session with Bob Avakian, after his presentation in 2018 in Chicago of the speech Why We Need An Actual Revolution And How We Can Really Make Revolution, is also available at revcom.us. [back]

    4. This statement is contained in Breakthroughs: The Historic Breakthrough by Marx, and the Further Breakthrough with the New Communism, A Basic Summary, by Bob Avakian, which is available at revcom.us. It originally appeared in the book by Bob Avakian, The New Communism: The science, the strategy, the leadership for an actual revolution, and a radically new society on the road to real emancipation, Insight Press, 2016. Italics in the original. [back]

    5. The Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America, authored by Bob Avakian, is also available at revcom.us. [back]

    Watch BA's whole speech:

    Watch clips from speech

    THE NEW COMMUNISM

    The science, the strategy, the leadership for an actual revolution, and a radically new society on the road to real emancipation, by Bob Avakian

    Download PDF of book here

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
    Read: www.revcom.us
    Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

     

    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

    Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



     


     

    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/rnl-show-episode-33-announcement-en.html

    Episode 33 of
    The RNL Show—Revolution, Nothing Less!

    | revcom.us

     

    Share this widely

    "We Won! Trump Lost. But It's Not Over, Trump/Pence Must Go!"

    The Revolution, Nothing Less Show

    Trump was dealt a defeat in the elections! All over the country people poured out to celebrate. As the Biden/Harris team prepares to transition toward their term, the fascist-in-chief and his regime is not conceding but is on the offensive to stay in power. There is a political battle on our hands, and the fight isn’t over yet.

    This episode includes: 

    • Andy Zee, Coco Das, and Sunsara Taylor will speak on the importance of the Refuse Fascism Pledge to the People of the World that was printed in the New York Times on Monday, November 9, and to some crucial lessons in this hour.
    • Bob Avakian on where the American fascist movement behind Trump and Pence comes from. From the 2017 speech called The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go! In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE To Accept A Fascist America, A Better World IS Possible!
    • Excerpts from Refuse Fascism’s November 3 Election Night Livestream hosted by Andy Zee and Coco Das from the Editorial Board of Refuse Fascism, with conversations with political analyst Jared Yates Sexton; Sara Atkins, who is the Director of Activism of the organization Torah Trump Hate; and Joshua Shanes, who is a Jewish Studies professor and scholar.
    • Sights and sounds from across the country on Saturday, November 7, on the day when Biden defeated Trump in the Electoral College and became president-elect.
    • The song “Amerikkka Goddamn” by Outernational!

     

    Subscribe: YouTube.com/therevcoms
    Follow: @therevcoms
    Become a patron: patreon.com/therevcoms

    Subscribe to the YouTube channel, leave a comment, and spread the word all over social media to help extend the reach of The RNL Show — Revolution, Nothing Less!

     

     

     

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    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/trumps-trying-to-stay-in-power-hell-no-en.html

    Trump’s Trying to Stay in Power? Oh HELL NO!

    | revcom.us

     

    Right now, WE—the 77 million-plus in this country who voted out the Trump/Pence regime and the millions more across the globe who celebrated this—are on the offensive. WE have the momentum. WE have the political initiative. They—the Trump/Pence regime and its supporters—are on the defensive. They have been politically knocked back on their heels. They have been thoroughly defeated and thoroughly repudiated. BUT... WE can’t let up. We have to STAY on the offensive, because they are trying to pull some dangerous BS to stay in power, and in the name of humanity, we cannot let that happen.

    Trump refusing to concede an election he lost by more than 5 million votes in the popular vote and a clear and convincing margin in the Electoral College? Oh HELL no! Trump’s smirking Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, saying there will be a “smooth transition” to a “second Trump administration”?! Oh HELL no! The Trump regime whipping up its dangerous supporters and going to court with completely baseless and absurd allegations of supposed “fraud”? Oh HELL no! The Trump regime seeking to actively block a transition to the Biden administration in a deranged effort to remain in power? Oh HELL no! This is completely unacceptable. It cannot stand, and it will not stand.

    It’s this simple: If you were in the streets celebrating Trump’s defeat in the election—or if you took heart from these celebrations—then follow your own logic. Think for a second about all of the reasons that you were so overjoyed. If you do that, you will see that you—and we—must STAY in the streets until Trump’s defeat is cemented and his entire regime leaves office. We demand Trump/Pence Out Now! Trump, Pence, Pompeo, William Barr and the rest won’t commit to leaving office in January? Then they can leave NOW. Actually, the Trump/Pence regime should have been out of office a long time ago, and Refuse Fascism has been saying that—and working to organize people on that basis—for years. But if you ever had any doubt about this, you should have none left now. Think about it: Why should this regime be allowed to stay in office one single day longer when they are threatening, refusing to accept and actively attacking the election and its results?  

    Bring your energy... your joy... your anger... your determination... your dance moves... your pots and pans... BACK INTO THE STREETS to demand: Trump/Pence and the whole regime, OUT NOW!! 

    A Pledge to the People of the World: In the Name of Humanity, We Refuse to Accept a Fascist America.

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
    Read: www.revcom.us
    Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

     

    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

    Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



     


     

    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/refuse-fascism-statement-from-editorial-board-en.html

    Reposted from RefuseFascism.org

    A Statement from the Editorial Board of RefuseFascism.org on November 14, 2020

    | revcom.us

     

    The election is over. Biden won. Trump lost. Now he and his fascist regime need to go. Trump, awash in his bitter fascist delusion, has not conceded. Pence, Barr, Pompeo play a preposterous yet deadly game with their hands on the levers of power talking of a “smooth transition to a second Trump term.”

    This is not a game, but dangerous. Blocking the transition to Biden has real cost in lives: in COVID deaths and in international dimensions. Refusing to concede, to peacefully transfer power IS fascist. Whipping up their followers behind the lie of an election fraud is as dangerous as it is absurd.

    The people won a righteous victory over Trump. A weight lifted from our shoulders, we danced and celebrated with good reason. These fascist charlatans must continue to feel the heat of our righteous demand that they must goEvery move they make to illegitimately hold on to power and overturn the election must be met by our side standing up—in the streets—defiantly with justice and an electoral victory behind us to say: NO! Trump/Pence OUT NOW!

    After all that the people went through to win this election: voter suppression, intimidation, lies, innuendos, robo-calls, standing for hours in line risking COVID infection, we must not cede any ground to Trump’s bogus yet damaging claims. We have pledged to the people of the world: In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE TO ACCEPT A FASCIST AMERICA. TRUMP AND PENCE MUST GO!

    We recognize that even beyond their moves to overturn the election, this regime still poses grave danger to humanity. They have put flunky loyalists to Trump atop the Defense Department. They have blocked information on COVID to the Biden transition. Trump’s rabid MAGA base must continue to feel deflated, demoralized, and unable to unleash their white supremacist fury on society. It is on us to turn our celebration of their defeat into our determination to not allow them to dominate the public space or public discourse. Their time IS, and must be, over.

    Going forward from today we must be organized and we must mobilize so that every move they make to delegitimize, to overturn this election is strongly opposed. We must not—as some of our progressive friends say, move on. Not now. It is the fascists in power who must be compelled to move on.

    Get connected with RefuseFascism.org—get linked up via text message by going to refusefascism.org, clicking “sign up” and filling out the form. Go to refusefascism.org to see latest developments and our calls to action. Over the next weeks we will be holding forums to dig more deeply into the roots of the fascism that has grown and hardened over the past four years, and is still with us as tens of millions voted for Trump. We will sponsor cultural events online to raise our sights to build on the victory won. We will continue to sound the alarm. If you, if we, are not OK with the white supremacy, xenophobia, patriarchy of this fascism and with every move they make to stay in power and advance their hateful movement and vicious program, join us. Stay vigilant and mobilized and take the streets! ¡Adelante! TRUMP/PENCE OUTNOW!

    Appearing in the New York Times on Monday, November 9:
    A Pledge to the People of the World

    See the full ad and share this announcement

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
    Read: www.revcom.us
    Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

     

    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

    Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:



     


     

    Permalink: https://revcom.us/a/673/sights-and-sounds-nov-14-en.html

    Sights and Sounds of November 14 in Washington D.C. and Around the Country

    | revcom.us

     


    Washington D.C. in front of the White House on election night. Photo: SkyNews.com

    Reposted from RefuseFascism.org

    A Statement from the Editorial Board of RefuseFascism.org on November 14, 2020

    The election is over. Biden won. Trump lost. Now he and his fascist regime need to go. Trump, awash in his bitter fascist delusion, has not conceded. Pence, Barr, Pompeo play a preposterous yet deadly game with their hands on the levers of power talking of a “smooth transition to a second Trump term.”

    This is not a game, but dangerous. Blocking the transition to Biden has real cost in lives: in COVID deaths and in international dimensions. Refusing to concede, to peacefully transfer power IS fascist. Whipping up their followers behind the lie of an election fraud is as dangerous as it is absurd.

    The people won a righteous victory over Trump. A weight lifted from our shoulders, we danced and celebrated with good reason. These fascist charlatans must continue to feel the heat of our righteous demand that they must goEvery move they make to illegitimately hold on to power and overturn the election must be met by our side standing up—in the streets—defiantly with justice and an electoral victory behind us to say: NO! Trump/Pence OUT NOW!

    After all that the people went through to win this election: voter suppression, intimidation, lies, innuendos, robo-calls, standing for hours in line risking COVID infection, we must not cede any ground to Trump’s bogus yet damaging claims. We have pledged to the people of the world: In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE TO ACCEPT A FASCIST AMERICA. TRUMP AND PENCE MUST GO!

    We recognize that even beyond their moves to overturn the election, this regime still poses grave danger to humanity. They have put flunky loyalists to Trump atop the Defense Department. They have blocked information on COVID to the Biden transition. Trump’s rabid MAGA base must continue to feel deflated, demoralized, and unable to unleash their white supremacist fury on society. It is on us to turn our celebration of their defeat into our determination to not allow them to dominate the public space or public discourse. Their time IS, and must be, over.

    Going forward from today we must be organized and we must mobilize so that every move they make to delegitimize, to overturn this election is strongly opposed. We must not—as some of our progressive friends say, move on. Not now. It is the fascists in power who must be compelled to move on.

    Get connected with RefuseFascism.org—get linked up via text message by going to refusefascism.org, clicking “sign up” and filling out the form. Go to refusefascism.org to see latest developments and our calls to action. Over the next weeks we will be holding forums to dig more deeply into the roots of the fascism that has grown and hardened over the past four years, and is still with us as tens of millions voted for Trump. We will sponsor cultural events online to raise our sights to build on the victory won. We will continue to sound the alarm. If you, if we, are not OK with the white supremacy, xenophobia, patriarchy of this fascism and with every move they make to stay in power and advance their hateful movement and vicious program, join us. Stay vigilant and mobilized and take the streets! ¡Adelante! TRUMP/PENCE OUTNOW!

     

    The Latest


    Washington D.C.

    RefuseFascism.org protesters righteously stood up to the fascist thugs who had gathered for the "Million MAGA March" in a Trump-supported action described by RefuseFascism.org's Sunsara Taylor as "an outrageous and illegitimate attempt to overturn the election."

    As soon as these courageous protesters began non-violently gathering shortly after 11:30 am near Freedom Plaza, they were set upon by misogynist MAGA goons. Sunsara Taylor told the Guardian, Trump‘s "mob of supporters descended on us as soon as we set off. They assaulted some of us. They grabbed. They shoved. Every single person had hands put on them by multiple MAGA meatheads, but we held it together. We marched together." They chanted: "Trump pack your shit! You're illegitimate!"


    The people won a victory when Trump lost and Biden won. In the midst of MAGA thugs, Refuse Fascism's banner is raised high for the people of the world.


    In the early hours of November 14 in DC, the anti-people fence in front of the White House displayed a giant banner, along with numerous other "eviction notices." Photo: @nukestrat

    Chicago

    Los Angeles


    Marching through the streets of LA: Trump/Pence Out Now!


    Voices of Conscience and Resistance

    Appearing in the New York Times on Monday, November 9:
    A Pledge to the People of the World

    See the full ad and share this announcement

     

    Follow: @TheRevcoms
    Read: www.revcom.us
    Watch: youtube.com/TheRevComs

     

    Together, WE passed $40,000 in revcom's Winter fundraising campaign to “Transform Revcom.us’ Web Technology and Presence”!

    Reaching this goal is a real achievement and a victory for the people of the world, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated efforts of many people working creatively and collectively to meet this pressing need: those who donated whether large or small contributions, who fundraised, who spread the campaign, who sent statements, who raised comments, questions, criticisms or suggestions – and of course those who worked so hard on modernizing and upgrading our web technology and presence. It all made a difference!

    The Ongoing Need for Sustainers

    During this four month fund drive, Revcom.us continued to incur thousands of dollars of costs each month for our office, maintaining our existing site and other expenses. But thanks to our existing monthly sustainers we were able to meet these expenses and use all the funds raised in the drive to transform the website.

    So we encourage all our donors and those who’ve not yet donated to become monthly sustainers at whatever level you can afford.

    Remember, humanity’s fate truly hinges on millions taking up the revolutionary science, strategy, and new communism brought forward by Bob Avakian which they can find at revcom.us.

    You’ve read this article and now you need to be part of making sure revcom.us is able to make an urgently needed leap and transformation.

     

    Get a free email subscription to revcom.us: