The World Can't Wait - Drive Out The Bush Regime!

The following can be found at worldcantwait.net

Your government, on the basis of outrageous lies, is waging a murderous and utterly illegitimate war in Iraq, with other countries in their sights.

Your government is openly torturing people, and justifying it.

Your government puts people in jail on the merest suspicion, refusing them lawyers, and either holding them indefinitely or deporting them in the dead of night.

Your government is moving each day closer to a theocracy, where a narrow and hateful brand of Christian fundamentalism will rule.

Your government suppresses the science that doesn't fit its religious, political and economic agenda, forcing present and future generations to pay a terrible price.

Your government is moving to deny women here, and all over the world, the right to birth control and abortion.

Your government enforces a culture of greed, bigotry, intolerance and ignorance.

People look at all this and think of Hitler — and they are right to do so. The Bush regime is setting out to radically remake society very quickly, in a fascist way, and for generations to come. We must act now; the future is in the balance.

Millions and millions are deeply disturbed and outraged by this. They recognize the need for a vehicle to express this outrage, yet they cannot find it; politics as usual cannot meet the enormity of the challenge, and people sense this.

There is not going to be some magical "pendulum swing." People who steal elections and believe they're on a "mission from God" will not go without a fight.

There is not going to be some savior from the Democratic Party. This whole idea of putting our hopes and energies into "leaders" who tell us to seek common ground with fascists and religious fanatics is proving every day to be a disaster, and actually serves to demobilize people.

But silence and paralysis are NOT acceptable. That which you will not resist and mobilize to stop, you will learn — or be forced — to accept. There is no escaping it: the whole disastrous course of this Bush regime must be STOPPED. And we must take the responsibility to do it.

And there is a way. We are talking about something on a scale that can really make a huge change in this country and in the world. We need more than fighting Bush's outrages one at a time, constantly losing ground to the whole onslaught. We must, and can, aim to create a political situation where the Bush regime's program is repudiated, where Bush himself is driven from office, and where the whole direction he has been taking society is reversed. We, in our millions, must and can take responsibility to change the course of history.

Acting in this way, we join with and give support and heart to people all over the globe who so urgently need and want this regime to be stopped.

This will not be easy. If we speak the truth, they will try to silence us. If we act, they will try to stop us. But we speak for the majority, here and around the world, and as we get this going we are going to reach out to the people who have been so badly fooled by Bush and we are NOT going to stop.

The point is this: history is full of examples where people who had right on their side fought against tremendous odds and were victorious. And it is also full of examples of people passively hoping to wait it out, only to get swallowed up by a horror beyond what they ever imagined. The future is unwritten. WHICH ONE WE GET IS UP TO US.

The World Can't Wait! Drive Out the Bush Regime!

Endorsers of Statement include:
ACT UP, New York City Mumia Abu-Jamal, political prisoner, journalistImam Talib Abdur-Rashid, mosque of Islamic Brotherhood; Justice Committee, Majlis Ash-Shura, NYPam Africa, Move Organization and International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal After Downing Street CoalitionVicente "Panama" Alba, Organizer, Laborers Union Local 108, New York"Alberto Lovera" Bolivian Circle, New YorkAimee Allison, army conscientious objector (Gulf War90)/counter-RecruiterTom Ammiano, San Francisco Board of SupervisorsAnti-FlagAris Anagnos, Los AngelesArab American Community Coalition, Seattle WashingtonCarlos Arango, director of Casa Aztlan*Edward AsnerAsociacion Tepeyac de New YorkAxis of JusticeRosa Ayala, Justice for Janitors*William Ayers, professor and authorRussell Banks, writerFather Luis Barrios, Iglesia San Romero de Las Americas, New York Rev. Willie Barrow, Women Connecting*Ed Begley Jr.Harry BelafonteDave Berenson, Cleveland, OH, U.S. Green PartyMichael Berg, anti-war activistJessica Blank, writer, actorBlase Bonpane, authorBob Bossie, SCJ, 8th Day Center for Justice*Father Roy Bourgeois, MMSt. Clair Bourne, film maker Elombe Brath, Patrice Lumumba Coalition, NYCCatharina Breinholm, musician (Nina Hagen)Jane Bright, Co-founder, Gold Star Families for PeaceCarol Brightman, author, "Total Insecurity: The Myth of American Omnipotence"Dennis BrutusGabriel Byrne, ActorCampus Anti-War Network(CAN)Tim Carpenter, Director, Progressive Democrats of AmericaCenter for Constitutional RightsChicago ADAPTCHOICE USAWard ChurchillCitizens For Legitimate GovernmentKate Clinton, humoristClothing of American MindDavid Cobb, 2004 Green Party Presidential CandidateCode Pink: Women for PeaceSteve Colman, poetJohn Conyers, US RepresentativeCarlos Cornier, percussionist, Funkadesi, Old Town School of FolkMusicBarry Crimmins, writer/correspondent, Air America Radio Culture ClashCharles W. Dahm (Father Chuck), Pastor, St. Pius V, ChicagoChris Daly, San Francisco Board of SupervisorsJulie Delpy, ActressDC Anti-War NetworkDemocrats.comCarl Dix, Revolutionary Communist PartyLeonard "Len" Dominguez, Candidate for Cook County Commissioner, IllinoisDominican Women's Development Center, New YorkAriel Dorfman, writerTom Duane, NY State SenatorMichael Eric Dyson, author, "Is Bill Cosby Right?"Steve Earle, musicianNiles Eldredge, curator of the Darwin Show at the Museum of Natural History, NYCEdwin Ellis, President of Veterans for Peace, LA*Daniel Ellsberg, author of "The Pentagon Papers"Eve EnslerMichelle Esrick, actress, poet, filmmakerDonelle Estey, artist, Artists Against the WarChristian Ettinger, exec. prod. of film "The Weather Underground"Jodie Evans, Code Pink Nina Felshin, curator, writerLawrence FerlinghettiRev. John FifeJane FondaProf. Barbara Forrest, Southeastern Louisana University (testifed in Dover against intelligent design)Michael Franti, musicianAaron Freeman, comdianSamina Faheem Fundas, American Muslim Voice*reg e. gaines, poet, playwrightMartin Garbus, NYCDeborah Glick, NY State AssemblywomanTed Glick, Climate Crisis CoalitionGlobal Justice and Peace Ministries, Riverside Church,New YorkFrances Goldin, literary agentSam Greenlee, poetAndré Gregory, theater directorAndy Griggs, US Labor Against the War, Exec. Board of United Teachers of LA*Jose Guerrero, artist and muralist, ChicagoLawrence Guyot, former SNCC member and former Chairman of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic PartyPaul Haggis, Academy Award Winning Director/Writer of Crash, screenwriter of Million Dollar BabyHaitian Coalition for JusticeSuheir Hammad, poetSam Hamill, Poets Against WarKathleen Hanna, Le TigreDavid Harris, founder of The Resistance*, writerJon Hendricks, jazz singer/lyricistJon Hendricks, artistWarren M. Hern, MD, MPH, PhD, Director, Boulder Abortion ClinicEric Hilton, Thievery CorporationHip Hop CaucusDorothy Hoobler, PENMarie Howe, poet and writerImpeach Bush CoalitionMesha Monge Irizarry, Idriss StelleyFoundationIslamic Association of AmericaAbdeen Jabara, past president, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee*Rev. Jesse L. JacksonRon Jacobs, writerDahr Jamail, independent journalistPramila Jayapal, Executive Director, Hate Free Zone WashingtonAlan Jones, Dean of Faculty at Pitzer College*Bill T. Jones, dancerSarah Jones, poet and actorRickie Lee Jones, musicianEsther Kaplan, author of With God On Their SideJanis Karpinski, Brig. General (retired)Casey KasemM. Ali Khan, American Muslim CouncilC. Clark KissingerFrances Kissling, President, Catholics for a Free Choice*Yuri KochiyamaRon Kovic, author, Vietnam VeteranJonathan KozolJoyce Kozloff, artistJim Lafferty, Executive Director of the National Lawyer's Guild of Los AngelesRay Laforest, organizer, DC 1707, AFSCME*; member, Pacifica National Board*Beth LamontJessica LangeLewis Lapham, former editor, Harper's MagazineMartha Lavey, ChicagoMark Leno, California AssemblymanRabbi Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun magazineJames Levin, co-director of Cleveland Festival of Arts & Technology (Ingenuity)Simon Levy, director, "What I Heard About Iraq" at Fountain St. TheatreToby Devan LewisBruce Lincoln, professor, History of Religions, University of Chicago Margarita Lopez, New York City Council MemberHaki R. Madhubuti, chairman, publisher, Third World PressDevorah major, poet & novelistMake the Road by Walking, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NYMike Malloy, syndicated radio talk show hostLucinda Marshall, Founder Feminist Peace Network*Bill Martin, philosopherBill Martinez, Attorney, ProducerFather Matthius, Pastor, St. Pius V, ChicagoMalachy McCourt, actor & authorRosie Mendez, New York City CouncilAllen Michaan, owner, Grand Lake Theater, Oakland, CACynthia McKinney, US RepresentativeEllen McLaughlin, actress and playwrightCamilo Mejia, conscientious objectorDave Meserve, Arcata California city council memberCarol Migden, CA State SenatorCarly Miller, Clothing of the American MindMark Crispin Miller, author, "Fooled Again"Alderman Joe Moore, Chicago's City Council Millions More Movement, Pittsburg /Antioch CA organizing committeeBill Mitchell, co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace*Leon Mobley, musicianTom Morello, AudioslaveTracie Morris, poetAndrew Muñana, Images Salón, East Los AngelesSteve Murphy, editor of Tales of Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesCecil Murray, Retired Minister First AME Church, Los Angeles Craig Murray, former UK Ambassador to UzbekistanNational Lawyers GuildArmando Navarro, chair and professor, Ethnic Studies, UC RiversideThe Network in Solidarity with the People of the PhilippinesBill Nevins, teacher, AlbuquerqueNorthwestern College FeministsNot in Our NameMike and Julie NussbaumEfia Nwangaza, director, African American Institute for Policy Studies, Greenville, SCBrian O'Leary, PhD., author, former astronautBertell Ollman, prof. Dept. of Politics, NYUR. Tomás Olmos, President, Mexican American Bar Foundation, Los Angeles County*, Dean Emeritus, People's College of Law*Barbara Olshansky, Center for Constitutional RightsE. Rendel T. Osburn, Southern Christian Leadership Foundation*OuternationalMajor Owens, 11th Congressional District, D-NYOzomatliJose Padilla*, executive director, California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)Cristina Page, author of "How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America"Grace Paley, writerPatrick Henry Democratic ClubHarvey Pekar, American SplendorSean PennBill Perkins, New York City CouncilRosalind Petchesky, prof., Hunter College & Grad. Center, CUNYPeter Phillips PhD, Project Censored, Sociology Dept Sonoma State UniversityJeremy Pikser, screenwriter, BulworthHarold Pinter, Nobel Prize winning playwrightFrances Fox PivenSterling Plumpp, poetKevin Powell, writerSr. Helen Prejean CSJ, Moratorium Campaign to End the Death Penalty*Progressive Democrats of AmericaFrancine Prose, novelistPuerto Rican Nationalist Party - New York BranchQueers for Economic JusticeJerry Quickley, poet and playwrightMalik Rahim, New Orleans Community Organizer Michael Ratner, Center for Constitutional Rights*Reach Hip Hop CoalitionRaghava Reddy, stem cell biologist, biomedical scientist, film makerMaggie Renzi, filmmakerEric Resnick, Gay People's Chronicle* reporter, peace activist, one time candidate for US CongressAllan Rich, screenwriter/actorBoots Riley, The CoupWalter Riley, lawyerDennis Rivera, President of Local 1199 SEIUJoshua Rosenblum, Composer/ Director of Bush is BadMark Ruffalo, actorBobby Rush, US Representative, ChicagoDouglas Rushkoff, authorKalamu ya Salaam, Listen to the People Angelica Salas, executive director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles*JD Samson, Le TigreSonia SanchezRev. Henry Sanders, Fountain of Life Missionary Baptist Church, Watts, CASan Francisco Bayview NewspaperSapphire, poet, writerSheley Secrest, Attorney, President NAACP Seattle-King County BranchSusan SarandonJohn Sayles, filmmakerRinku Sen, Colorlines*Richard Serra, artistRev. Al SharptonLou Shaw, writer, creator of Quincy MDCindy SheehanMartin SheenStanley Sheinbaum, economist, LANancy Spero, artistDona Spring, Berkeley Council memberGloria SteinemMalcolm Suber, People's Hurricane Relief Fund*Serj Tankian System of a DownSunsara Taylor, Revolution newspaperStuds TerkelMarianne Torres, Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane*Dwight Trible, jazz vocalistGeorge Tuttle & Ben Cushman, grapegrowersGore Vidal, writerKurt VonnegutAlice WalkerMaxine Waters, US RepresentativeWavy GravyLeonard Weinglass, lawyerRev. Dave Weissbard, senior minister, The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, ILCornel West, Princeton UniversityRev. Phil Wheaton, Episcopal Co-pastor, Community of Christ, Washington DCJoan Wile, Director, Grandmothers Against the WarSaul Williams, poetStandish E. Willis, National Conference of Black LawyersS. Brian Willson. Veterans for PeaceKrzysztof Wodiczko, artistAnn Wright, former US diplomat, resigned in protest of Iraq warDaphne Wysham, Institute for Policy StudiesLeland Y. Yee, Speaker pro Tem, California State AssemblyJuanita Young, courageous resister, leader in October 22nd Coalition*Dr. Quentin Young, Health and Medicine Policy Research Group*Dave Zeiger, filmmaker, "Sir, No, Sir!"Zephyr, graffiti artist, writerRobert Zevin, Robert Brooke Zevin Associates, Inc.Howard Zinn, historian, "A Peoples' History of the United States"David Zirin, author, "What's My Name, Fool? Sports and Resistance in the United States"
*Organization for identification purposes only.

Mass Mobilization: Drive Out the Bush Regime!

The following can be found at worldcantwait.net

The Bush Regime Must be Stopped!On Thursday, OCTOBER 5TH 2006: All day and into the night, across the country, we must decidedly break the paralysis that still grips too much of American political life.

Taking off work, taking off school, shutting down campuses and coming together in mass gatherings, we must let the country and the world know that:

---millions of us reject this illegitimate regime that is as criminal as it is dangerous to humanity & the existence of this planet.

---we refuse to grow accustomed to a political climate that is becoming everyday more frightening & reactionary.

We are what we've been waiting for.

Despite Bush's popularity ratings now running lower than Nixon's, majority opposition to the unjust Iraq war and popular support for Bush being censured or impeached, the political will of the people is being betrayed and finds no voice. We are told to put our hopes into what powerful interests dictate as "electable".

Ask yourself this: Where will this country and the world be, on the day after the elections of 2006? Will we be debating:

What the minimum voltage level for the electrodes attached to prisoners' genitals is, in order to meet the definition of torture?

Whether war on Iran will use nuclear weapons, or just white phosphorous bombs and conventional forces like in Iraq?

Whether birth control should be outlawed in just a few states, or the whole country?

Whether gay parents should have their children taken away immediately, or just be prevented from adopting in the future?

Will hopes and energies have been squandered again, leaving us further locked into politics that is cementing this situation in place for generations?

Or do we need a powerful movement that is not afraid to give voice to the peoples' will, to speak the truth, building toward and bursting out society-wide on October 5th, that won't stop until the Bush regime is driven from power?

On October 5th we will make a breach in the walls being cemented all around us to say Enough! with mass political action that does not compromise with torture & unjust wars, that rejects bowing down to theocrats and the immorality of empire.

On October 5 join us in a day of honest, courageous resistance. What will you do to take responsibility for the future?

Change the course of history. This regime does not represent us and we will drive it out!

An Account of the Walkout - May 1, 2006

The May Day Walkout was a great success and a welcome break from Winnipeg’s usual chant-by-numbers activism that not only fails to, but AVOIDS rattling any cages. The mostly youthful crowd congregated at Memorial Park and all seemed to be in high spirits. By about 1:15pm the crowd had reached about 100 people. It was an interesting mix of local citizens, high school students, social activists and revolutionaries, which made for a refreshingly energetic march. People made their own signs with blank placards and markers that had been provided. There were a variety of banners, puppets, props, and other dazzling visual aides. After some brief speaking about the march route and other details, WPRM member Zaps did a short agitation piece about what Charging Bison was all about. This was met with a great response and it was clear that these people had an articulate grasp on why the weeks’ events were happening.

Most people seemed anxious as the march began, which really got things going quickly. We made our way down Broadway with chants that were a welcome break from "What do we want?[ insert cause here] When do we want it…" The days chants and shouts were far more radical, reflecting the mood of the primarily youth based march. "Not our country, Not our troops!" and "One solution! Revolution!" were among the more common shouted out not only by seasoned radicals, but especially by high school students as well, who were visibly excited to take part in an expression of resistance that goes deeper.

As we walked down Broadway, and towards the Provencher bridge, it seemed to be more of a party that a protest, as people joked and danced, even halting the whole march as one person stopped to tie their shoe. It was a great positive energy that is VERY rare at most events in the Winnipeg activist scene.

As we hit Tache and turned towards the base things began to get a little less light-hearted. People started to realize the army was right down the street. There was nervous excitement as we got close, not knowing what would happen when we got there, especially when it was announced that our march permit expired when we arrived!

The Radical Cheerleaders rocked some excellent provacative cheers towards the troops and the "human" wall of police in goofy trench coats, who blocked the 15 foot gate into the base. Even the soldiers seemed to get a kick out of the tongue and cheek attacks on what they have been trained to stand for.

Aside from the Radical Cheerleaders, the soldiers were completely indifferent to even the most on-point criticism of Canada’s role as an imperialist nation. This was very frustrating, however our message was conveyed clearly, with sincerity and conviction. After about an hour we felt that we had said what we wanted to and had made our point. We let the soldiers know that we would return, then began to vacate the base.

The event was surprisingly (and suspiciously?) under published, but was a great success anyways! The march drew a variety of different crowds, all united under an advanced grasp of what this type of training means. To see high school students and members from the neighborhood sharing this understanding is a great step in the right direction. This was not activism as usual, these people had a passion in their struggle, and they’re ready to change the world at the drop of a hat!

Lessons from the Struggle in Zine Form - More Arrests and Resistance

As some of you on this list may already know - police arrested, assaulted and beat up cyclists at the critical mass bike ride on friday. what is it that makes riding bikes a threat to the system? Excessive force is only the tip of this political monstrosity. THE PEOPLE WILL FIGHT BACK!

After some brief post-Operation Charging Bison resting days - it is time to intensify the political exposure of Canada - and everything this means for the people around the world - and what it means when you can't even take a peaceable bike ride downtown.

Stay tune for a massive legal aid fundraiser/political exposure night in June in Winnipeg.

also,

OCB ZINE - mini-magazine is almost done! It has been in the works since the last few days of the protests. It will have killer pics and colour layout - maximum political exposure - an eyewitness moment-by-moment account of both the Walkout and the May 3 Critical Mass. It has been compiled by various OCB dissidents, WPRM supporters and allies. The articles will be found soon up at wprmwinnipeg.blogspot.com

email us at WPRMWinnipeg@yahoo.ca to reserve a copy and we will find a way to get it to you.

It'll be sold as a fundraiser for 3$ and up - with all proceeds to WPRM-Winnipeg's mass work fund. Resistance isn't cheap - so all donations at this time will be gratefully accepted.

World People's Resistance Movement - Winnipeg
Box 1
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 2G1

MORE PICS!

Cheerleaders at Walkout May 1













Cops surrounding protesters
May 3
May 1 - Cheerleaders confronting troops and cops

May 3rd ARREST PHOTOS

Video of Charging Bison

Check out www.dwdtv.org for 5 short films uploadable from your computer about Operation Charging Bison by local film maker Jon McPhail.

These are definitely worth checking out, and includes shots of the arrests, including the police harrassment and arrest of a freelance journalist. The shot shows a cop knocking Jon Schledewitz's hat and glasses off, then one cops stealing his camera and another pulling him the other way. Other shots capture the outrage and chaos when police used overwhelming force to silence the anti-military bike ride.

May 1 Resistance Reports

The following three articles are from A World to Win News Service. The views expressed are those of their respecitve authors, and may not represent WPRM-Winnipeg. AWTW News Service is accessible at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/AWorldToWinNewsService/ or aworldtowin.org

1 May in the US: Over a million immigrants and allies take to the streets

8 May 2006. A World to Win News Service. Following is an article from the 14 May issue of Revolution, voice of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA.

Risking life itself to cross the border.
Hounded by La Migra (immigration police) and treated like criminals.
Crowded into decaying neighbourhoods.
Slowly dying in backbreaking fields and suffocating sweatshops.
The few rights you have are under assault.
They want to take away your very humanity.

May First 2006 in the United States of America: An undeniable force of over a million immigrants and their allies said ¡Basta Ya! Enough already!

People filled the streets in big cities, small cities, and rural towns – emptying factories and schools, closing restaurants and shops. More than half a million in Los Angeles. 400,000 in Chicago. Tens of thousands in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Milwaukee. Many thousands more from coast to coast, including small towns and rural areas in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas. The crowds were overwhelmingly Latino, but there were many different immigrant groups as well – from Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Ireland.

This was a massive outpouring of resistance to government's efforts to intensify the persecution and exploitation of undocumented immigrants in this country.

At great personal risk, many hundreds of thousands of immigrants, overwhelmingly proletarians, came out of the shadows and lifted their heads in defiance. Such an outpouring of resistance is something to uphold and celebrate. Such a heroic spirit is something to support and spread.

An upsurge of protest among immigrants has grown over the last several months. And it is changing the political landscape in this country. It is drawing millions into struggle against the government, against the system. And it is raising big questions about the nature of this system, how to fight, and what it will take to actually put an end to exploitation and oppression.

The actions of a minority are inspiring and opening the minds of many more. And for all those angry about the direction the Bush regime is taking this country, and the whole planet – there is an important example here.

Various anti-immigrant bills are being proposed in Congress. Fascist politicians like Congressman Tom Tancredo want to deny citizenship to the children born in the US whose parents are undocumented immigrants. And vigilantes like the Minutemen are patrolling the border with guns, hunting immigrants who they call a threat to the “fabric of America”. In such a situation this new movement of immigrants is not being paralysed by fear and driven deeper into the shadows. People are stepping out and saying: “¡Bush escucha! ¡Estamos en la lucha!” and “¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” (“Bush, listen up! We are in struggle!” and “The people united will never be defeated!”).

It is truly exciting and significant when hundreds of thousands of proletarians take to the streets, right here in the United States. And it was very fitting that these protests took place on May First – the revolutionary holiday of the international proletariat. Many of these demonstrations were billed as “A Day Without Immigrants” and the bit of truth this hit on was hard to miss as factories, restaurants, construction, landscaping, transportation and many other industries and services ground to a halt.

Significantly, this outpouring of protest found _expression in small towns and rural areas where there have been dramatic demographic changes over the last few decades. In many of these places, which have rarely, if ever, seen any kind of political protest, meatpacking plants and other industries have systematically recruited workers from Mexico and Central America. The Latino population of many of these rural counties has gone from zero in 1970 to 10-45% in 2000. In Dodge City, Kansas 1,500 immigrant proletarians marched down the main street and all five of the major beef packing plants in Kansas (which employ more than 12,000 people) were closed. In Emporia, a Kansas town of 25,000, which is 20% Latino, more than 1,500 people protested at the county fairground near the Tyson meatpacking plant where many immigrants work. Immigrants protested in Storm Lake, Iowa, where 20% of the town's 10,000 people are Latino. Tyson Foods, the world’s largest meat producer, was forced to shut down for the day. In dozens of other small towns, immigrants also took to the street on May First.

To the U.S. ruling class, the millions of immigrants who come across the border are something to fear and attack. But the revolutionary proletariat and its allies, welcomes these immigrant sisters and brothers, who are a strategic strength in the struggle for revolution.

There were lots of American flags at these demonstrations – reflecting widespread illusions about what the United States is all about and what it means for the masses of people here and around the world. In the midst of this, the red flag was taken up by thousands – including people who consciously see this as the flag of proletarian revolution. Some people carried the American flag and the red flag – reflecting the fact that this movement has not broken out of the bounds of acceptable bourgeois politics as well as the motion and potential in such a situation – and the need for revolutionary leadership.

Millions of non-immigrant people in this country who oppose the discrimination and mistreatment of immigrants have been inspired by this growing struggle for immigrant rights, and there were important expressions of this on May First. In Chicago, social workers who treat rape victims greeted the march with signs that said “Gracias” and “Thank You”. White church members provided water to protesters under a sign that read: “Yesterday’s Immigrants Support Today’s Immigrants – Your Journey is Our Journey”. A multi-national contingent of medical students chanted: “Our patients will be treated, papers are not needed.” And there were others who came out to these demonstrations with a similar message: “We Are All Immigrants” and “No Human Being is Illegal”. Such seeds of unity are significant and, if nurtured, can grow into something necessary, powerful and beautiful in the struggle against the system, in the fight for a better world.

On May 1, 2006, right here in the belly of the beast, it is truly exciting and significant that over a million immigrant proletarians took to the streets, in cities and towns throughout the USA, proclaiming their humanity and determination to fight for their rights. The sentiment that “we workers make society run” reflects a real truth, and at the same time, is not yet and needs to become class conscious – to recognize and act on the fact that as a class, the proletariat is the only class that can and must lead the fight to free all humanity. The outpouring of resistance by immigrants that marked May First this year is truly something that should be celebrated and joined. And it needs to be built off of, in a way that brings forth the class conscious leadership of the proletariat, prevents this movement from being channelled into ineffective bourgeois politics, and contributes in the most powerful way to the revolutionary struggle to free this planet from all oppression and exploitation.


1 May in Berlin

8 May 2006. A World to Win News Service. On 1 May this year, Kreuzberg, a traditionally proletarian district in Berlin, Germany, continued to be at the centre of the celebration of 1 May and once again witnessed a mass outpouring of revolutionary sentiment and militant struggle clearly targeting the system of imperialist exploitation and oppression. Home to thousands of German and immigrant working class families and rebellious youth, Kreuzberg was the scene of the mass rebellion in 1987 that inspired the rebirth of a revolutionary 1 May demonstration in Berlin.

The mood of the district on this day was different than usual. Youth and other people were moving from corner to corner in groups of three, four, five or more, seeking to hook up with the demonstration. A massive force of police had already poured into the area. Some were stationed on street corners, while others travelled around in vans and police cars. Large groups of anti-riot cops stood around in thick bullet-proof jackets and other gear, while more circulated in plain clothes. The police had practically surrounded the district. Dozens of people had been arrested after clashes with police the night before.

At 1 o’clock many people had already gathered at Oranienplatz where the march was to start, listening to the speeches and messages delivered by various speakers and activists of parties and organisations. Among the messages were those from the coalition of this demonstration’s organisers, the Revolutionary Communists (RK) of Germany, the Maoist Communist Party of Turkey and North Kurdistan (MKP), the Communist (Maoist) Party of Afghanistan, the Turkish Communist Party (M-L) Maoist Party Centre, the 8th March Women’s Organisation (Iran-Afghanistan) and others. They condemned the imperialists and their alliance against the people of the world, especially the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and the threat of attack against Iran. The speakers also declared their support for the struggle of the people of Nepal and the people’s war there advancing under the leadership of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

More than 4,000 people were at the rally and more than 3,000 of them left with the march through the streets of Kreuzberg. At the front of the march was a big banner that said, “Fight Internationally Against Exploitation and Oppression, No Liberation Without Revolution!” A loudspeaker broadcast militant songs and attracted residents to their windows. Many waved their hands in a sign of support.

The large number of German youth and youth of many other national origins (including Turkish, Palestinian, Kurdish, Afghani, Iranian, Nepali, Indian and others) was a sign of the internationalist character of the demonstration – perfectly fitting for the International Day of Labour.

In an interview, a demonstration organizer was asked if they were there for a riot. The answer was that they were not looking for a riot, but that they had a message of struggle for the people, and they would not let anyone prevent them from delivering it. In fact, in a deliberately provocative act, the police did not allow the march to finish at the point where it was supposed to end, but blocked the way to keep the demonstrators from entering Kreuzberg’s main street. The organisers and the demonstrators tried to go ahead with their plan, but the police had prepared and concentrated their forces around that point. The bulk of the demonstrators staged a sit-in in the street. They sang the Internationale so powerfully that it could be heard several blocks away. There was at least one arrest.

However, the demonstrators went on to join other May Day events, such as the street festival with concerts and other performances. Even though this festival had been intended to prevent people from taking part in the march and transform 1 May into a peaceful day of entertainment, at the end of the day youth clashed with police and again dozens were arrested. It seemed that many people are in no mood to compromise with the oppressors.


1 May & other demonstrations in Canada

8 May 2006. A World to Win News Service. The following is excerpted from Arsenal-Express, the electronic newsletter of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Canada (Organizing Committee) (www.pcr-rcpcanada.org) and an article by a supporter of the World People’s Resistance Movement- Winnipeg (www.wprmwinnipeg.blogspot.com).

Montreal
Close to 250 people answered the RCP(OC)’s call and took to the streets in Montreal to celebrate International Workers Day. Our organization called for a “revolutionary and internationalist demo” after having learned that the big trade unions had decided to move the May First demo to April 29.

The demonstrators gathered in the evening in the Park-Extension district. With its dozens of ethnic communities, the Park-Extension district is among the poorest in the country, reflecting today’s reality of the multinational proletariat in Canada.

Before taking the streets, the demonstrators, some of whom travelled several hundred kilometres to join to the march, listened to a speech from a Red Youth Front representative (RYF, www.frontrouge.org), who denounced the fate that capitalism holds for young proletarians. Pointing to the example of French youth who mobilized themselves last fall in the cités and more recently against the provision allowing the firing of workers under 26 without cause during their first two years at job, the comrade stated that the youth are right to rebel and that they have a world to win in the struggle for socialism, if they side with the proletariat.

A representative from the Filipino Youth Organization, Kabataang-Montreal, then condemned the recent takeover perpetrated by the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government in the Philippines and the illegal and arbitrary detention of Congressman Crispin Beltram, who is wrongfully accused of “terrorism” by the reactionary regime. The youth from the Filipino community actively support the revolutionary movement in their country of origin – a movement that fights for democracy and for ending imperialist domination.

Thereafter, a woman activist from the RCP(OC) read the May First statement from the Committee of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement, in both French and English. Lastly, our comrade François Thibault, who took part in the First International Road Building Brigade in revolutionary Nepal, stressed the need for building the general staff of the revolution – our revolutionary communist party that will lead the struggle for socialism and communism. Underlining that “the task of organizing for the revolution belongs to the revolutionaries and nobody else,” the RCP(OC) spokesperson invited all the demonstrators to assume this responsibility and take part in the Canadian Revolutionary Congress next fall.

Although modest, the demo was significant for more than one reason: while marching under the banner of revolution and proletarian internationalism on the same day when million others are doing so everywhere around the world, we clearly expressed our determination to fight all the way to end capitalism and build a new society free from any form of exploitation and oppression: a communist one.

Winnipeg
The World People’s Resistance Movement-Winnipeg held a 1 May demonstration in the context of a week-long series of protests against Operation Charging Bison, a training exercise for the Canadian Reserve Forces in Winnipeg, Manitoba (central Canada). They issued the following call:

“Will we accept the oppressing of the world’s people, through the armed forces of our government? Will we accept the ‘war on terrorism’ being fought in our name, which they say will last for generations to come? Will we accept the war in Afghanistan, propping up a theocracy clearly not in the interests of the masses? Or the overthrow of an elected government in Haiti? Will we accept the role Canada plays in the world? No! We must resist! Canada out of Haiti and Afghanistan! Walk out of school and work

One of the many protests against Operation Charging Bison was the 3 May Critical Mass bicycle ride. When the 50-plus biking contingent assembled in Old Market Square, the 12 police vehicles and numerous bike cops seemed to foreshadow what was to come. The group had only biked three blocks when three people were arrested for alleged traffic violations.

The ride coasted down Portage Ave, then headed north toward Camp Pioneer, where another series of confrontations would take place. As we rode within earshot of the troops the high-energy group chanted “Troops go home! Canada out of Haiti! Out of Afghanistan!”

At the camp protesters lined up in front of the fence and started agitating to the troops. Police outnumbered bikers, pinning them against the fence on the sidewalk. The police started pulling people off the sidewalk and off their bikes. They arrested four, and tried unsuccessfully to take others. People resisted by holding their friends and shouting at both the troops and the police.

Is this the type of democracy troops are being trained to enforce? Why, if it is freedom they are fighting for, would they not come to the aid of the protesters? Clearly it’s because they’re being trained to fight unjust wars against the world’s people – and not to protect people when they are being repressed by police.

Photos from the Walkout - May 1

Pics from Operation Charging Bison

A defiant show of strength after a bike cop stole someone's black flag. The riders chanted 'legalize flags,' and blocked traffic until the cop was forced to give the flag back. (May 3)
The police in front of "Camp Rendevous," where troops 'patrolled' - May 1 where the Walkout ended.




A tank for resisting unjust wars.

Week of Resistance: Charging Bison April 30-May 6

Cops dragging a young women at the Critical Mass anti-military protest May 3. The police arrested four people at 'Camp Pioneer.'
May 1 - The Radical Cheerleaders in action.
The ride on Portage Ave May 3.


Returning over the bridge from the Walkout Against War - May 1 - where 100 youth confronted the troops on the terrible tasks they are being trained to do.









Troops 'on patrol' at 'Camp Pioneer.' They looked on quietly as cops arrested four anti-military protesters.




The Radical Cheerleaders giving it to both the cops and the troops. These fearless women and their pom-poms of power denounced Canada's military - and also the police with a ditty called P.I.G.S.


After the seven had been arrested May 3 at a Critical Mass, the bikers rerouted to the Public Safety Buildings for a solidarity sit-in.

Help Build The World People's Resistance Movement!

Statement of the Provisional Organizing Committee (Europe)

Today’s, world is more sharply divided than ever before. On the one side are the rulers of the world’s big powers, the reactionary regimes they prop up and support around the world and the governmental apparatus and armed forces they use to maintain their position, impose their will on the people and carry out their unending drive for profit and domination.

On the other side are the vast majority of the world’s people who are subjected to this system -- our common enemy, a system known as imperialism, a system in which:
-- half of the people of the world earn less than 2 US dollars a day
-- every three minutes a woman is raped and women in general are still under the domination of men
-- people are discriminated against, pursued or even killed due to their origin, skin color or religious beliefs
-- war has been declared as a permanent part of the future of humanity
-- the environment and of the natural resources that form the basis of our lives and of those of future generations are destroyed
-- the imperialist occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq are continuing and countries like Iran, Syria and North Korea are being threatened with attack almost daily…

We, the people have come together to rebel against the numerous crimes of this system or even against the system as a whole and to struggle for another world. This struggle itself is international and requires both an internationalist spirit and international organization and unity.The World People’s Resistance Movement was brought into being to help build exactly that kind of political consciousness, unity of action and organization.

The WPRM is a growing movement open to all who genuinely oppose imperialism and support the just struggles of the people. The WPRM provides an international vehicle to promote and facilitate worldwide unity against the common enemy – the capitalist/imperialist system. We are currently organized mainly in Europe and South Asia and are focused today on opposing the imperialist crusade being carried out under the signboard of the “war on terrorism”. In addition the WPRM supports the struggles of the oppressed peoples and nations for liberation and all those fighting against any form of oppression this system brings down on people: workers, peasants, women, youth, students, intellectuals, artists, ethnic and religious minorities, prisoners, etc. We believe that people must never accept a world in which the biggest criminals on earth can burn down whole cities, but the people are forbidden to even light a candle! For this reason any struggle truly aimed against this system, including those where the oppressed and exploited haven taken up arms against the enforcers of the old order, has our unwavering solidarity.

Since its founding, the WPRM has joined with people – both organized and unorganized – in Europe, South Asia and elsewhere [like Canada, Mexico and Colombia -wprmwinnipeg.blogspot.com] in numerous demonstrations and other forms of resistance to oppose the US-led imperialist war against the world and other acts of aggression. We have vigorously opposed the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and have consistently supported the struggle of the Palestinian people against Zionist occupation and for national self-determination. In particular the WPRM has sought to rally world wide opposition to imperialist intervention aimed against the revolutionary People’s War in Nepal and has been campaigning to secure the release of the leaders of this struggle who are currently imprisoned in Nepal and India.

The WPRM supports the struggle to win the freedom of progressive, anti-imperialist and revolutionary prisoners everywhere.The WPRM does not seek to supplant or compete with any other people’s organization on a national or international level. All those on the same side of the barricades are welcome in the ranks of WPRM. We call on people everywhere to support the WPRM, to contact existing chapters in their areas, help establish new ones where none currently exist and to affiliate their existing organizations with the WPRM.

We say: North, South, East and West: Unite the People’s Struggles!
Provisional Organizing Committee (Europe)World People’s Resistance Movement (WPRM)

WWW.WPRM.ORG
Contacts:
WPRM (Europe): wprm@wprm.org
WPRM (Canada): wprmwinnipeg@yahoo.ca

SEVEN ARRESTED PROTESTING OPERATION CHARGING BISON

The following account is written by a WPRM supporter and Critical Mass participant:

Police arrested 7 youth at May 3rd's Critical Mass bike ride protesting Operation Charging Bison. Since the Canadian military set up on Sunday there have been small but determined protests every day. The arrests indicate a new turn in the struggle to confront Canadian imperialism and its military.

When the 50 plus biking contingent assembled in Old Market Square, the 12 police vehicles and numerous bike cops seemed to foreshadow what was to come. The group had only biked three blocks when 3 people were arrested for alleged traffic violations.

The ride coasted down Portage Ave, then headed north toward "Camp Pioneer," where another series of confrontations would take place. As we rode within earshot of the troops the high energy group chanted "TROOPS GO HOME! CANADA OUT OF HAITI! OUT OF AFGHANISTAN!

Two blocks away from the camp a bike cop rode up on one person and stole a black flag. Protesters gathered at the car where the flag had been 'detained,' shouting "Legalize flags! Legalize flags!" causing even some cops to smirk uncomfortably. The flag was eventually given back after a 10 minute delay.

At the camp protesters lined up in front of the fence and started agitating to the troops. Police out numbered bikers, pinning them against the fence on the sidewalk. The police started pulling people off the sidewalk and off their bikes. They arrested four, and tried unsuccessfully to take others. People resisted by holding their friends and shouting at both the troops and the police.

Is this the type of democracy troops are being trained to enforce? Why, if it is freedom they are fighting for, would they not come to the aid of the protesters? Clearly it's because they're being trained to fight unjust wars against the world's people - and not to protect people when they are being repressed by police.

The ride rerouted to the Public Safety Buildings downtown, where people sat in front of the doors chanting for the arrested friends to be released. All were released with traffic tickets, but one young women was charged with assault on a police officer.

Now the task of exposing the world system of imperialism is greatly magnified. And in the coming weeks and months, mounting a legal battle against the political charges will be important in exposing the brutality and naked aggression of the police. Moreso, the protests this week in Winnipeg have taken on a new and increased significance in the struggle for a world where imperialist armies won't need training - because they won't exist.

North, East, South, West - UNITE THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES!
wprm.org local: wprmwinnipeg@yahoo.ca
wprmwinnipeg.blogspot.com

Response to Shoddy Media

Re: Free Press Tuesday, May 2 "Hey peaceniks, show some gratitude"

I was disgusted by Lindor Reynolds misleading and shameful two cents on Operation Charging Bison - in concordance with the noticable lack of in-depth coverage across all major media in Winnipeg of the student walkout on Monday.

Lindor chose to represent the hundred plus group of vibrant, energetic, democracy-loving youth as "peaceniks, people who are able to ingore the fact that Canada...is already at war."

No Lindor, we are not "able" to ignore it. We are firmly opposed to it! We are against the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan because it is a theocracy with Sharia law written into the constitution. Did you miss the putting on trial of a Christian for converting from Islam? Or the fact that the "government" is comprised of warlords with private armies, who have alongside the Taleban terrorized the masses for years?

As for "peaceniks," your choice of words is misrepresentative and ridiculous. Did not the black flags, or kids in camo-pants, or globe flags mean anything to you? Perhaps not when it is easier to make the protesters look "ungrateful".

I can respect the human under the helmet, but will not put down a placard to thank soldiers unless they quit or resist orders to fight an unjust war. I will have no gratitude for the military, or shoddy journalism. And frankly, this don't question, support the troops blindly attitude is frightening - and has nothing to do with peace and democracy.

yours sincerely,
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