Getting ready for the fight ahead

The following report was given by Joelle Fishman on behalf of the CPUSA Political Action Commission to a meeting of the CPUSA National Committee on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Thank you, Joe, for the analysis and for boldly projecting our response to the fascist danger with Resistance 2.0. This report from the Political Action Commission is focused on developing that resistance and projecting our role in these challenging circumstances.

First, a look at what we did in 2024 while we continue to study and learn. We developed a report for the national leadership which included a discussion of the vote, and district reports are still coming in.

We fought hard to implement our united front policy this year. We pinpointed the fascist danger and exposed Project 2025 as an agenda for the billionaire ruling class elite. We issued our own 2024 platform around which we can continue to organize.

It didn't come easy, but we fought it through. I want to join in congratulating our party and appreciating all the work on the ground. New leaders are emerging out of this challenge. I would like to also acknowledge the members of the Political Action Commission for their tireless dedication and commitment to help the National Committee carry out our policy.

This entailed creating literature and materials for our election hub at CPUSA.org, developing day-to day-assessments, special campaigns, a virtual training on get-out-the-vote techniques, participating with efforts of the Education Department, expanding People's World and our social media presence, and supporting districts and clubs and the YCL with all their needs.

We made new friends and worked side by side with AFL-CIO and SEIU unions, Working Families Party, Poor People's Campaign, Indivisible, Power to the Polls, Seed the Vote, abortion rights organizations, and so many more. Together, we knocked on thousands of doors, participated in phone banks, voter registration drives, tabling events, and traveled to Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona. A special appreciation is due to our heroic comrades in those presidential battleground states.

We have to take note of the down ballot results that we targeted. All our efforts materially contributed to victories in seven House battleground races, five Senate battleground races, three state and local races, and on ballot questions in three states. Where there were not election day victories, we contributed to laying important groundwork for future victories.

All that work is the foundation for Resistance 2.0. We're not starting from scratch, and we're not alone. In fact, we're being sought out. Our united front approach against fascism and for real, multi-racial democracy, and our working-class socialist vision is bringing new members to our doors.

The news of the presidential outcome was horrifying for ourselves and the world. No sooner were the results announced then untraceable racist text messages filled the inboxes of Black youth and then Latino and LGBTQ youth, provoking great fear and anger. Yet, we know from history and experience that the best antidote to fear and suffering, the best response to a setback, is to build community and organize, organize, organize.

When the Klan attacked Freedom Summer and murdered James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, the civil rights movement did not end. Instead, hundreds more young people came to Mississippi to take their place.

Today we say, "We will not go back. We'll only get stronger."

Phase one of Resistance 2.0 began the day after the election and will continue through January 20. This window of time is an opportunity to shore up our foundations and solidify our working relationships with the anti-fascist people's movement. The stronger the mobilization now, the greater the possibilities to mitigate some of the worst and even stop some of the threats coming from Trump and MAGA.

Some of our clubs have already helped organize protests to protect communities. The Women's March has announced national actions on January 18, 2025, upholding the right to bodily autonomy.

The threat to democracy calls for a combination of mass protests and mobilizations, along with utilizing all legal and legislative possibilities. As Senators-elect Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt-Rochester told Win With Black Women, they are ready to fight, along with other champions in Congress, responding to the people's movement on the ground.

The demand to Joe Biden and the Senate that the maximum number of judicial appointments be made immediately came from the Working Families Party mass call of 140,000 the day after the election. Organizers, union leaders, and progressive elected officials all said "We Won't Go Back," as did 10,000 on the Win With Black Women call, and 20,000 with Indivisible.

Indivisible raised the alarm that the House was about to vote to allow the Treasury Department to go after any nonprofit they deemed terror-financing. Thousands of young voters flooded Congress with calls to vote no. Yesterday, the vote failed. This victory underscores the importance of continuing to organize, because we know they'll come back.

The rising demand to pass Bernie Sanders' resolutions to block arms to Israel is also part of Resistance 2.0. Sen. Elizabeth Warren signed on yesterday saying, "The failure by the Biden administration to follow U.S. law and to suspend arms shipments is a grave mistake."

Also this week, a long-fought victory was won when the NLRB declared all captive audience meetings unlawful, in a ruling against Amazon. Many unions have declared they will continue escalating their organizing drives, and they are already under attack.

Resistance 2.0 is an accelerated fight for survival against the billionaires' greed. We have wonderful tools in our media, including our online classes, that can assist in raising class consciousness and anti-racist, anti-sexist consciousness, and hold capitalism responsible for living on the edge.

The door knocking and community building from the election campaign should not stop. Our clubs can continue in a specific precinct or area, perhaps with a print edition of People's World. It is an opportunity to talk about the situation a family is facing and to help respond and organize around needs like food insecurity, low wage jobs, housing costs, the fear of losing Social Security, or healthcare.

Resistance 2.0 requires a deepening of solidarity and unity by the working class and the broad movement to protect each other and have the back of all those targeted for attack.

This includes standing with Black, Latino, and LGBTQ youth to reject the racist text messages about slavery and deportation; standing with federal workers - largely African American, whose jobs are on the line once Trump takes office; standing with teachers and students for the right to public education; and standing with DC for statehood and home rule.

It includes standing with immigrant communities across the country facing the terrifying threat from the Trump administration of mass deportations and family separation. As immigrant families and organizations come together to strategize, solidarity from the entire community is key. Ideas for an action plan developed by our Immigrant Rights Subcommittee were in the report sent before this meeting and will be posted at the Resistance 2.0 hub at CPUSA.org. The commission is prepared to assist any district or club that needs help.

The Trump-MAGA crowd will likely overreach. Some people who voted for Trump are going to say, "Hey, wait a minute, I didn't sign up for this." So when they overreach, we do outreach, and bring more people in.

Resistance 2.0 challenges our party to learn and grow, to support new leadership coming forward, to run our own candidates locally, and to welcome new members, knowing that together we will get through this and come out stronger on the other side.

Images: Climate activists protest the rise of fascism by CPUSA Anna Hass Morgan club in Columbus (Twitter/X); CPUSA members go door-to-door to GOTV in Michigan (CPUSA Michigan); People march against Trump with Make the Road NJ and others (CPUSA NJ); Not Another Bomb campaign kicks of national day of action at Ford Field Park in Dearborn, Mich. by CPUSA Michigan (Twitter/X)

Comments

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.