Statement by Borotba (Struggle), revolutionary Marxist organization banned by the Ukrainian government.

Stop the armed conflict in the rear! The unity of anti-fascist forces is the key to our common victory

June 24 — The whole world is closely following the events unfolding in connection with the actions of Yevgeny Prigozhin and part of the Wagner private military company.

The long conflict that existed between Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu has grown into a stage that threatens the entire state.

Yevgeny Prigozhin has previously attracted sympathy for his sharp criticism of the plagues of oligarchic capitalism, corruption, as well as individual failures and erroneous decisions during the special military operation. However, with the development of the confrontation with the military leadership of the Russian Federation, this criticism began to acquire an exaggerated character, and the motives of a personal confrontation with Sergei Shoigu began to come to the fore, and not criticism of the socio-economic situation and military organization.

The situation when a private, non-state-controlled organization, in fact, a private army, has become an important factor of power is in itself unhealthy. As a result, regardless of possible subjective intentions, Prigozhin actually started an armed rebellion by a private person against the state.

We, as critics of the capitalist system, could not previously disagree with many of the critical speeches of Yevgeny Prigozhin. Also, the steadfastness and courage of the Wagner PMC fighters in the confrontation with the fascist regime of Ukraine could not but arouse sympathy. But having embarked on an adventurous action, moving the armed confrontation deep into Russia, Yevgeny Prigozhin threatened the front, which the Kiev regime and its masters in the West will definitely take advantage of.

The situation is developing rapidly, and we hope that all sides of the confrontation will show prudence and prevent bloodshed tens of kilometers from the front line. We are convinced that the country’s top leadership is capable of finding a way out of this dangerous situation. Conclusions must be drawn on the fight against the vices of the state and social system, inherited from the 1990s but preserved even in the conditions of the special military operation.

We address the soldiers and officers fighting at the front: Comrades! We are few, but we are among you. We are aware of the difficulties that arose and are arising in the process of organizing military operations, mistakes, and injustices, part of the responsibility for which, of course, lies with the military leadership. We never called for hiding difficulties and varnishing reality to please the authorities. We experienced it just like you. But we are convinced that armed adventures will not lead to an improvement in the system but can only lead to our common defeat.

We hope that the fighters of PMC “Wagner,” who supported their commander, will look at the situation with a cool head and realize that this path leads nowhere. Similar situations have already happened in history — the rebellion of the Left Socialist-Revolutionary Party, the speech of M.A. Muravyov in 1918, the rebellion of Nestor Makhno, who refused to join the united Red Army, the Kronstadt uprising, the rebellion of the anarchists of Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War. Regardless of the intentions, sometimes honest and idealistic, such actions have always fallen into the hands of the darkest forces.

Now it is important to end the armed conflict inside the country as soon as possible to unite efforts in the fight against the Kiev regime and NATO imperialism. In the conditions of confrontation with imperialism, internal contradictions must be resolved in a peaceful democratic way, on the basis of a broad public discussion with the participation of the people, and not by conspiracies from above and personal adventures.

Long live unity and solidarity!

Translated by Melinda Butterfield

Reprinted from Struggle/LaLucha

Source: Borotba

By Palestinian Youth Movement

The Palestinian Youth Movement is inviting you to participate in signing and circulating our petition to Free Walid Daqqah. This petition is the first step of our Free Walid Daqqah Campaign.

Our three key demands for this campaign are:

1. The immediate release of Walid Daqqah,
2. Providing Walid Daqqah with urgent life saving medical care, and
3. Granting his family visitation rights.

Walid Daqqah  is a Palestinian writer and organizer who has been in Zionists prisons since 1986, making him one of one of the longest-held political prisoners in Zionist detention. Last year, Daqqah was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis, a rare form of bone marrow cancer that disrupts the body’s normal production of blood cells. Israel refuses to release Walid Daqqah or provide him access to life-saving medicine and treatment which has led to increased deterioration in his health. Earlier this year, Daqqah underwent surgery to remove part of his lung. He was briefly placed in intensive care, but then Zionist authorities quickly transferred him back to his prison clinic, again denying him proper treatment. The Zionist occupation is killing Daqqah through deliberate medical negligence.

Political Prisoners are the compass of our struggle, as they are at the forefront of resistance to zionism and imperialism. For this reason, we center the prisoners’ struggle in our national liberation movement and we fight along their side. Despite the Zionist entity’s efforts to diminish the Palestinian revolutionary consciousness, Palestinian youth successfully continue to rise in resisting the violent Zionist regime. In reaction to this, the Israeli occupation has increased mass incarceration of Palestinians and placing them in administrative detention. We know that the liberation of our land depends on the freedom of Walid Daqqah, along with all political prisoners.

We ask that you sign onto this petition calling on international actors to take action, and circulate it widely among your networks. Please also circulate our social media post about Walid and article /petition with the hashtag #Free_Walid_Daqqah.

Until Liberation, PYM

June 2023

STRIKE ROUNDUP: MONDAY EDITION! Today was another great day of striking, with even more Starbucks stores joining in today – including 4 in the St. Lewis area (whoa!!!)

SBWorkersUnited

Want to know why we’re striking and what stores are striking next this week? Click the link in our bio!

#tobeapartner#strikewithpride#pride#pridemonth#nycpride

#pridenetwork#trans#starbucksunion

“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July” · Mr. Ossie Davis A Voice Ringing O’er the Gale! The Oratory of Frederick Douglass Read by Mr. Ossie Davis

℗ 2009 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Hear Nizar Banat talking about the Palestinian Authority: Traitors: Nizar Banat, Palestinian Activist, murdered by Palestinian Authority Speaks

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike continues, and there’s an opportunity for solidarity in our region. “Captain America” is filming today in downtown DC and WGA East, will be picketing.

WGA East is looking for volunteers for the picket lines today and tonight. Sign up for a shift:

• Wednesday from 4:30–8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday from 7:30–11:00 p.m.
• Wednesday from 10:30 p.m.–1:30 a.m.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Open Letter and Call to Action: Protect Madison – Air Quality Is A Health Equity Issue

Over the past, Freedom, Inc. has received an outpouring of requests for M-95 masks and air purifiers from our elderly members and those with young children. They have seen the news about the Canadian wildfires creating dangerous conditions for us here in the Northeast about the “red sky” and the asthma flare-ups and hospitalizations of their children and grandparents, aunts, and uncles. They are wondering why the mayor or county hasn’t said or done anything.

As Freedom, Inc. prepares to mobilize over $50,000 in rapid response mutual aid over the next few days, we are wondering the same thing. Where are our leaders in this impending public health and safety crisis?

Since the beginning of June, wildfires in Canada have impacted multiple provinces and states, resulting in air quality advisories and putting people at higher health risk. The severity of the situation was demonstrated earlier this month when an orange haze covered New York City. It is evident that Canada’s wildfires are intensifying, and this is only the beginning of the wildfire season.

On the afternoon of Monday, June 26th, the air quality in Madison plummeted from moderate to unhealthy, with an air quality index (API) of 164, with particulate matter small enough to enter our lungs. Madison reached an exposure level of PM2.5, putting people at a higher risk of infection and worsening existing respiratory problems. These significant public health concerns must be addressed, and actions must be taken to limit the health risks to the Madison community, particularly among the economically, socially, and health vulnerable.

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is the most significant environmental health risk today and is estimated to contribute to 7 million premature deaths annually. Approximately 91% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality is unhealthy.

The worsening air quality is a health equity issue that disproportionately affects marginalized communities, including Black people, people of color, refugees, immigrants, and poor people. These communities are more likely to live near factories and dumpsites and have less access to resources like filtered air ventilation, air purifiers, masks, and health insurance that would protect them from poor air quality.

The lack of timely response from local governments to address these safety and health concerns is telling of the current budgeting patterns and priorities of our local government. We continue to see an overwhelming amount of resources meant for public safety being poured into the police force, an institution that cannot fight forest fires, or improve the air quality. While our local leadership continues to fund them at disproportionate rates to actual life-affirming infrastructure, such as housing and food security, we all continue to suffer the consequences as they are unable to respond in a timely manner to our actual health and safety needs. Public safety for our communities means divesting from the police and pouring into resources that actually keep us safe. Public safety for our communities looks like holistic healthcare, financial stability, and housing for all. Public safety for our communities is community control. By the community, for the community.

Given the hazardous air quality in Madison, we call upon the elected officials of Madison and Dane County to protect the local community by issuing an emergency shelter-at-home order anytime the AQI climbs above 151, levels considered ‘unhealthy’ by federal environmental and health agencies. An Emergency shelter-at-home order will minimize the exposure of Madison residents to harmful air pollution, ultimately reducing the risk of respiratory infections and other health problems.

Further, the Capitol Building and other government buildings must be open to unhoused people who are at an increased risk of exposure to worsening air quality. Local recreation centers, churches, malls, and other facilities should also be available to anyone in the general public who does not have access to air filters or other pollutant mitigation equipment or families lacking physical space at home, particularly families with children.

Of course, shelter-at-home orders do not impact all people the same. People who can afford to take off work or work remotely are not impacted like those who do manual labor, outdoor labor, or people who simply cannot afford to miss work. As such, we advocate for investment in public health by guaranteeing the income of low-to-no-income individuals who are financially impacted by shelter-at-home orders.

In addition, those designated as “essential workers,” who cannot shelter at home due to the public interest of their work, must be provided with adequate personal protective equipment and hazard pay.

Freedom, Inc. will continue to protect our community by providing life-saving services and resources. We will continue to push elected officials to invest in our communities. We will pour resources into providing rapid response resources to combat health equity issues. Because we under that, WE KEEP US SAFE.

Love & Power,
Freedom, Inc.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998