WWP holds Socialist Summit

By Michael Ladson & Betsey Piette
Philadelphia

Under a banner reading “Abolish Capitalism! Fight for Socialism! We need a revolution!” the Philadelphia branch of Workers World Party/Mundo Obrero hosted a Socialist Summit here Nov. 19.

Larry Holmes

One focus of the conference was the impact that the Occupy movement has had on the political climate of the U.S. in exposing how the capitalist state defends the rich while using brutal police repression against the movement. Several Occupy Philly participants were among the more than 40 people gathered at Calvary Church in southwest Philadelphia.

Berta Joubert-Ceci, a Philly WWP leader and editor of Mundo Obrero, addressed this new struggle and the need to open people’s minds to the long history of struggle in the U.S. She discussed the birth of May Day as a workers' holiday and its revival in 2006, both times led by immigrants.

Ramona Africa WW photos: Joseph Piette

“This city is the home of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who has spent three decades in prison after being framed for the death of a cop by the infamous Philadelphia police and the city’s ruling class,” Joubert-Ceci said. “His case must be part of Occupy Philly’s agenda, which must take up the pervasive racism in a city where the majority are people of color.”

During the first panel of speakers, WWP First Secretary Larry Holmes raised the Occupy movement’s transitions since mostly white students first set up Occupy Wall Street at Zuccotti Park on Sept. 17. Holmes opened his remarks with a “Mic check” call to “abolish capitalism.”

“Now there is a movement to Occupy the Hood," Holmes noted, referring to the protests that have sprung up in Harlem, the South Bronx and cities like Oakland, Calif. “We need to Occupy for Jobs. While white youth started OWS, it will inevitably be the most oppressed who lead this struggle.”

“Occupy no longer says ‘Police are our friends’ like they did at the beginning,” Holmes stated, “The brutal police attack on Nov. 15 that violently evicted protesters, with over 70 arrests, has changed that. The ruling class made a decision to cut off the movement at the head, and Homeland Security directed mayors in over 18 cities to carry out suppression of local occupations.”

Holmes noted that the youth have shown great courage in initiating the occupations and their movement has opened a door to the possibility of an enormous jump in class consciousness. It has exposed the great class divide that exists with its slogan of “the 99 percent versus the 1 percent.”

“While there is a danger that the revolutionary potential of this movement could be channeled into the arena of presidential elections, the militant actions on Nov. 17 in response to the state’s repression brought tens of thousands into the streets.”

Creating basis for class unity

Fred Goldstein, a member of the Workers World Secretariat and author of “Low-Wage Capitalism,” described the Occupy movement as a reaction to an historic economic crisis that is “creating the basis for class unity in the crushing of all workers together.”

Goldstein described the general assembly format used by Occupy as a revolt against capitalist “democracy” that has only furthered income inequality and national oppression. He quoted Lenin on the state, asking, “Democracy for who and against who?”

Goldstein added historical context to underscore the OWS movement’s potential to open the way for revolutionary change in the U.S. He noted that the French Revolution started in 1789 when members of the emerging bourgeoisie occupied a tennis court in Paris to confront the economic control of the feudal monarchy.

A second panel included lively talks on what capitalism is; how it relies on racism and other forms of bigotry to divide workers; why socialism is the alternative; why we need a revolution; plus a special report on Palestine.

Panelists included Betsey Piette, a contributing editor from Philadelphia to Workers World newspaper; retired postal worker Joe Piette, who since Oct. 6 has used his free time to staff an activists’ table at the “Rosa Parks” tent at Occupy Philly; Darryl Jordan with the People of Color Caucus of Occupy Philly; LeiLani Dowell, a managing editor of WW newspaper; Sharon Black from the Baltimore branch of WWP and the All Peoples Congress; and Palestinian activist Susan Abulhawa, author of “Mornings in Jenin,” who described the heroic resistance of the people of Palestine as an example for all oppressed to follow.

A final panel with Jamila Wilson, of the Philadelphia Economic Advancement Collective; Ramona Africa, from the MOVE organization; Dr. Weldon McWilliams, of the Askia Coalition; and Godfrey Sithole, from the African National Congress discussed the struggle for jobs, against police brutality and repression, and the importance of international solidarity.

The final speaker on this panel, Scott Williams, a youth organizer with WWP’s Philadelphia branch, urged those in the audience to consider joining Workers World Party. Michael Ladson concluded the Summit by inviting people to take part in upcoming demonstrations, meetings and classes on Cuba and “What is Marxism all about” sponsored by WWP.