Socialism conference in LA draws workers, students and activists

On Saturday, Nov. 11, over 150 people participated in a day-long socialism conference in Los Angeles hosted by the Party for Socialism and Liberation. The conference was titled “Fighting the Capitalist Offensive and Building a Revolutionary Movement.” It featured speakers, workshops and much political discussion. It was held downtown at the headquarters of the immigrant rights organization Hermandad Mexicana Naciónal.

Although most participants came from the Los Angeles area, people traveled from Long Beach, Ventura, Orange

Gloria La Riva speaks about socialist Cuba and the revolution in Venezuea.

County, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C. and New York City to attend. Some participants were seasoned activists, but a large number were new to the struggle and came to find out more about an alternative to the capitalist system. The conference was conducted entirely in both English and Spanish. Translators worked hard to ensure that everyone could understand the political views discussed throughout the day.

‘Fighting the capitalist offensive’

The conference began with an opening plenary of speakers. All are experienced activists in the struggle for socialism and against war and racism. Carlos Alvarez and Aadi Downey of the PSL co-chaired.

Muna Coobtee of the PSL and the Free Palestine Alliance framed the conference by striking out at the capitalist system: “Left to its own devices, capitalism has only one goal: the maximum exploitation of the earth, its resources, land, animal and plant life, and all of its people and their labor for the maximum financial gain, or profit.”

Next, Raul Murillo of Hermandad Mexicana Nacional welcomed the conference participants by urging continued struggle for immigrant rights in the days and months ahead. “What we must strive for is equality and amnesty,” said Murillo.

The national leadership of Tendencia Revoluciónaria in El Salvador and Jim Lafferty of the National Lawyers Guild sent special solidarity statements to the conference and the PSL.

Then, three leaders of the Fente Amplio Progresista de Los Angeles spoke about the class struggle in Mexico, focusing on the people’s movement in the state of Oaxaca. They thanked the PSL for its continued support and solidarity in the struggle.

Karina Garcia, PSL member and Political Chair of the Chicano Caucus at Columbia University, outlined how she and hundreds of other students defeated the racist Minutemen when they came to Columbia on October 4. She explained that the Minutemen are just like the KKK, but they have traded white hoods for guns at the border. Garcia urged everyone to join the movement against fascist elements in the U.S. Click here to listen to Garcia’s talk.

Juan Jose Gutierrez, director of Latino Movement USA, described the material basis for immigration to the U.S. He blamed the capitalist system for the extreme exploitation felt by immigrants, especially undocumented workers, and urged unity in the fight against the system. Click here to listen to Gutierrez’s talk.

Eugene Puryear, PSL member and Howard University student, defined and discussed the Black liberation movement and how it is an essential part of the struggle for socialism. Puryear emphasized that reparations for African Americans is a necessary demand for revolutionaries. He also described how building class unity among the multinational U.S. working class is a key task for socialists. Click here to listen to Puryear’s talk.

Brian Becker, PSL leader and National Coordinator of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, gave the keynote address of the opening plenary. He talked about the meaning of the November 7 capitalist midterm elections and how what is really needed is a socialist movement for revolutionary change in the United States.

Becker said, “The results of the Congressional elections showed that the U.S. people want an end to the war in Iraq

Brian Becker leads a workshop on Lenin’s “State and Revolution.”

. Because the imperialist establishment has its grip firmly on the levers of real power in this country, however, the elections are being utilized to replace one team of managers with another. Our challenge as a movement is to build an independent workers’ movement that is not tied to the Democrats or the Republicans. To build the struggle, we have to have confidence in the people themselves—that we will become the masters of society, that we will be its leaders, that we don’t need millionaire/billionaire proxies—that’s the struggle for socialism.” Click here to listen to Becker’s talk.

After the talks, the panelists all fielded questions from curious participants who asked about the elections, the Minutemen, different tactics in the movement and the Palestinian struggle against apartheid and racism.

Discussing Marxism and action

During lunch, conference organizers and participants had time to meet each other and discuss politics. People engaged in informal conversations with socialist activists about a wide range of topics: how to get involved, why become a revolutionary organizer, and more.

Participants also heard a brief program, chaired by PSL organizer and Cal. Poly Pomona student Christen Westbery. She introduced award-winning filmmaker and PSL organizer Travis Wilkerson, who discussed the importance of the PSL’s magazine, Socialism and Liberation, and its new website, PSLweb.org. Wilkerson stressed the importance of reaching the working class with materials of agitation and propaganda, including the magazine, the website, films, newspapers and photos.

Marcella Daneshinia oriented the conference on the workshops to come in the afternoon. The conference then broke into five different workshops for two hour-long sessions to facilitate discussion. The workshops were (1) Why socialism is possible in the U.S.; (2) The challenge to U.S. imperialism in Latin America; (3) Resistance forces in the Middle East and Asia (including Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, the Philippines and North Korea); (4) Lenin’s “State and Revolution”—What it means today; and (5) Building a revolutionary youth and student movement. More than 45 young people participated in the youth and student workshop, sharing ideas and planning upcoming actions and Marxism study groups.

Joneric Concordia, a leader in the Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines, was a featured presenter in the workshop on the Middle East and Asia.

In each workshop, participants asked candid questions and engaged in a dialogue with movement leaders and other

More than 45 young workers and students participated in a workshop dedicated to building a revolutionary youth movement.

conference attendees.

‘Building a revolutionary movement’

In the afternoon plenary session, the theme was “building a revolutionary movement.” Jennifer Caldwell and Enrique Vasquez, both PSL organizers, co-chaired.

Keynote speaker Gloria La Riva, PSL leader and coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, discussed the U.S. government attacks on Cuba and the recent United Nations vote to end the blockade. She also discussed the issue of state power and what it means to have a socialist revolution in the context of Venezuela’s still-capitalist but revolutionary society. She urged support for the Cuban Five, five men sent from Cuba to the United States to stop terrorist acts against the Cuban people.

Marcial Guerra, revolutionary activst and organizer, discussed the historic role of the working class as the agent for revolutionary change. Guerra noted that the duty of revolutionary socialists is to help bring class consciousness to the powerful working class in the United States.

Aimee Shreshta, youth PSL activist and student at Mission College, told everyone how to get involved with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. She urged everyone to join the PSL in the movement for revolutionary change.

Next, Ian Thompson, the editor of PSLweb.org, summarized the importance of the conference, reviewed what had happened throughout the day, and talked about the important role of a revolutionary Marxist party in the struggle for socialism.

He reviewed the necessity of having a Marxist-Leninist party, like the Bolsheviks in Russia, to help lead the struggle and seize hold of a revolutionary crisis when it happens. Thompson explained, “As Lenin said, we should build a revolutionary party. If we wait, it will be too late. Without a revolutionary party, a revolutionary opportunity can never be transformed into a revolutionary victory. Preparing for the revolution is what a revolutionary party does and it is what we are doing today and in everything we do. Join the PSL and help us achieve this goal.”

The conference was a huge success and a step forward for the socialist movement in LA. It demonstrated the profound

yearning of many to learn about and to get involved in the struggle for socialism. The Party for Socialism and Liberation looks forward to helping build the movement and winning new members to its ranks.

Get involved today

Check PSLweb.org regularly for updates and current news from a revolutionary Marxist perspective. 

The next PSL-sponsored event in LA is a November 17 forum on the crisis facing Palestinians in Gaza. There will also be a Marxist analysis of the elections and a report on the socialism conference. Join us on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m., at 1800 Argyle Avenue, #400 in Los Angeles.

The PSL is also holding regular classes on Marxism beginning this Saturday. This week’s class will be “What is Socialism—An Introduction.” Please contact us at 323-810-3380 or [email protected] for more information.

There is an alternative to capitalist exploitation. Join us in the struggle for socialism!