The
Party for Socialism and Liberation in Albuquerque, N.M., brought the message of
Martin Luther King Jr. —opposition to the triplet evils of racism, poverty and
war—to a city-sponsored rally ostensibly held to celebrate the legacy of King.
The
Albuquerque chapter of the PSL participated in the march on Jan. 15, the 82nd
anniversary of Dr. King’s birthday. The PSL members joined several hundred
others in a 16-block march down the Albuquerque street bearing Dr. King’s name.
The
rally was organized by the City of Albuquerque, and, as such, featured
self-congratulatory speakers that supported the status quo rather than focusing
on King’s opposition to war and belief in social and economic equality.
Speakers
at the rally included Congressman Martin Heinrich, Congressman Ben Ray Luján and Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry. Berry
has promoted anti-immigrant policies such as immigration-status checks in every
arrest. Berry proclaimed with a straight face, “New Mexico is famous for its
diversity,” and used his speech to try to paint himself as a champion of equal
rights. The event was attended by several dozen police officers and uniformed
ROTC members.
The PSL
contingent brought placards proclaiming “Equality for all” and “Say no to
racism,” and marched behind a Veterans for Peace vehicular caravan until
reaching the plaza where the rally was held.
Along
the way the party’s program received a warm reception among members of the
public at the rally. PSL members connected with other progressive groups at the
rally and spoke to rally participants about socialism. PSL member Joel Gallegos
said he felt the politicians acted disingenuously in claiming to honor King’s legacy
and then using the rally to promote their own political careers.
Party members
made use of a megaphone to chant slogans such as “Hey hey, ho ho, racism has
got to go,” and “Money for jobs and not for war – that’s what King was fighting
for!” The latter slogan, in particular, was antithetical to the message that the
rally’s organizers hoped to convey.
Preston
Wood, of Albuquerque’s PSL and the ANSWER coalition, concurred with Gallegos
that the political agenda of the rally did nothing to honor the legacy of Dr.
King.
“We are
frankly surprised and dismayed that today’s rally is made up mainly of
self-serving politicians who have never spoken out against racism and remain
silent in the face of glaring injustice,” Wood said.
“Both
the Democrats and the Republicans here today openly endorse the U.S. war drive
and its genocidal policies of aggression against the peoples of Afghanistan,
Iraq and so many other places,” he continued. “ANSWER, like many others here, looks
forward to continuing the struggle to revive the true legacy of Dr. King and to
help build a mass movement of poor and working people for jobs, equality and
social justice.”
