International Call For Anti-Imperialist May Day

It has been more than one hundred years since the first International Worker’s Day on May 1st. It is a day of struggle and celebration that historically has brought millions of people from political and worker’s movements to the streets.

This May 1st, 2020, will not be the same. The necessary policies of social isolation imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic will prevent us from gathering in the streets and squares and from picketing our places of work to show to the governments, the bosses, the banks, and to the totality of the ruling class, that we sustain this world.

For the organizations and networks that are calling for the International Week of Anti-imperialist Struggle, there is no doubt that in the context of the current public health crisis, it’s important to avoid public gatherings and break the chain of infection of the Coronavirus. We equally believe that it is essential to struggle in these moments to force governments and international organizations to put life before profit.

To continue this struggle, we have creatively reinvented our actions in the last couple of weeks, using the tools of communication and social media that our networks and people’s organizations engage with, to strengthen our role in the battle of ideas against our enemies.

This May 1st, we reaffirm that the struggles of the Working Class are alive and active; we will not stay silent as the ruling class tries to use the pandemic as a cover to persist in its atrocities and its attacks on our rights.

We call upon all anti-imperialists: networks, movements, trade unions, parties, political leaders, members of parliament, intellectuals, artists, and religious leaders to raise their voices on this May 1st, 2020.

1. We denounce imperialism and the attempt of right-wing governments and transnational corporations to offload the costs of the current global crisis onto the working-class; It is the workers of the informal economy that disproportionately bear this burden, in particular women, Afro-descendant people, Dalits, migrants, refugees, and all of the sectors that occupy the peripheral areas of the system.
2. We defend the right to a dignified life with full employment and labour rights. Capital attempts to offload the costs of the public health crisis through layoffs, evictions, salary cuts to formal workers, as well as the exclusion of millions of informal workers with no fixed income or guaranteed labour rights. At this moment, agricultural workers, under challenging conditions and the domination of capital, confront the risk of shortages and continue to produce food to sustain the cities under quarantine. It is urgent to continue building organizations of the working class that can allow for improvements to their conditions of life and work and struggles for their emancipation.
3. We demand that governments put all public and private resources at the service of controlling and alleviating the effects of this pandemic, strengthening the instruments of social protection that neoliberal policies have hollowed during the past several decades, principally: labour and union rights; social rights of income distribution; public and free health and education systems, with public production of science and technology; and policies of distribution of land and housing;
4. We demonstrate our solidarity with all health workers, who are putting their lives at risk to save the millions of victims who have COVID-19. We stand in solidarity with their demand for increased state investment in public health and universal access to healthcare.
5. We demand policies to fight the patriarchy so that women can lead a life free of violence. Domestic violence has increased globally during lockdowns; governments and people’s movements must address this. We demand an end to the attacks on the rights of women workers; this is even more pressing during this pandemic since women make up around 75% of healthcare workers. We also demand the reorganization of domestic labour and care work and for men, governments, and communities to take responsibility for the sustainability of life.
6. We demand an end to the US imperialist attack on the legitimate government of Nicolás Maduro and the Venezuelan people. Amid the pandemic, the US government has tightened the sanctions against Venezuela. The US government has accused the president, and other members of his government of narco-terrorism, proposed an absurd plan of “transition” to take Maduro out of the presidency, and mobilized troops naval ships of the US Southern Command very close to Venezuelan borders.
7. We demand an end to the criminal financial and economic sanctions imposed by the imperialist US government against 39 countries. These sanctions are focused with the most considerable force against Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran, where their people already suffered from a lack of medicine and medical supplies before the pandemic. These countries under sanctions, also face hybrid wars as punishment for maintaining their political independence, their sovereignty and self-determination, and for refusing to submit to US hegemony.
8. We affirm our commitment to defeating the coordinated international efforts of neo-fascist and far-right movements, that propagate hate, xenophobia, racism, misogyny, authoritarianism, and that amid the pandemic seek an economic, political, and ideological confrontation against China on a global level.
9. We call for a deep-rooted and fraternal debate about what alternative society the people of the world want as we face this current pandemic and the broader dilemmas of humanity. Our crisis has been constant since at least 2009, but now it has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
10. We call to build internationalism, unity, and solidarity among the peoples of the world, following the example of anti-imperialists that came before us, as well as the heroic example of the Cuban, Venezuelan, and Chinese people.

Finally, we reaffirm that in this period of the pandemic, we must continue to maintain international spaces of coordination to stop the far right, US imperialism, and defend life, peace, and social justice. We are committed to continuing to build a week of anti-imperialist mobilization in the second half of 2020.

LET’S UNITE OUR HOPES TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE CAN LIVE WITH DIGNITY

International Week of Anti-imperialist Struggle May 1st, 2020 #WeSustainTheWorld #SostenemosElMundo

SIGNATURES

INTERNATIONAL

1. 1. International Peoples’ Assembly
   2. ALBA Movimientos – Articulación Continental de los Movimientos Sociales y Populares hacia el ALBA
   3. Asamblea Sindicalistas Foro Europeo
   4. Coordinadora de Sindicalistas de Europa (TUNE- Trade Unionists Network Europe)
   5. FEDIM – Federación Democrática Internacional de Mujeres
   6. Foro de São Paulo
   7. Tricontinental Institute for Social Research
   8. La Vía Campesina Internacional
   9. MAR – Movimento de Afectados por Represas
   10. MMM – Marcha Mundial de las MujeresAFRICA
   11. Benin, Asociación los Amigos de Venezuela
   12. Senegal, RND – Red Nacional de Mujeres y el Movimiento Femenino del Partido Panafricanista
   13. South Africa, NUMSA – National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa
   14. South Africa, PAT – Pan Africa Today
   15. South Africa, SRWP – Socialist Revolutionary Workers’ Party
   16. Zambia, SP – Socialist Party of ZambiaAMERICAS
   17. Argentina, Frente Pátria Grande
   18. Argentina, Frente Popular Dario Santillán
   19. Argentina, Movimiento Popular La Dignidad
   20. Argentina, OLP-RL – Organizaciones Libres del Pueblo-Resistir y Luchar
   21. Argentina, Resumen Latinoamericano
   22. Brazil, Capítulo Brasil ALBA Movimientos
   23. Brazil, Capítulo Brasil do Comitê Internacional Paz, Justiça e Dignidade aos Povos.
   24. Brazil, Comitê Carioca de Solidariedade a Cuba
   25. Brazil, Levante Popular da Juventude
   26. Brazil, MAB – Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens
   27. Brazil, Maria Luiza Franco Busse, jornalista
   28. Brazil, MST – Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra
   29. Canada, Fire this Time Movement for Social Justice
   30. Chile, Fundación Constituyente XXI
   31. Chile, Movimiento del Socialismo Allendista.
   32. Chile, Red de Comunicadores Populares Werken Rojo.
   33. Cuba, Capítulo Cubano de ALBA Movimientos
   34. Cuba, CMLK – Centro Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
   35. Cuba, CTC – Central de Trabajadores de Cuba
   36. Ecuador, Movimiento Ecuatoriano Alfarista Bolivariano
   37. Ecuador, Movimiento Nacional Campesino – FECAOL
   38. El Salvador, FMLN – Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional
   39. Guatemala, Alianza Política Sector de Mujeres
   40. Guatemala, CUC – Comité de Unidad Campesina
   41. Haiti, Camille Chalmers, executive director PAPDA
   42. Haiti, Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, Alba Movimientos. Chapit Ayiti
   43. Haiti, Juslene Tiresias, Mouvman Peyizan Papay  (MPP)
   44. Haiti, Marc Arthur Fils-Aimé, secretario general del Partido RASIN Kan Pèp La
   45. Haiti, Meres Jean-Charles, Kowodinasyon Rejyonal Oganizasyon Sidès (KROS)
   46. Haiti, Yvette MIchaud, Mouvman Peyizan Nasyonal Kongre Papay (MPNKP)
   47. Mexico, Alternativa Socialista México
   48. Mexico, ANUEE – Asamblea Nacional de Usuarios de la Energía Eléctrica
   49. Mexico, Asamblea de Defensores del Territorio Maya Muuch’ xinbal
   50. Mexico, CASALC – Coordinadora de Solidaridad con América Latina y el Caribe
   51. Mexico, Comité 68 Pro Libertades Democráticas
   52. Mexico, Comité Antifascista 4T Patria Grande
   53. Mexico, Comité de Solidaridad Monseñor Romero-México
   54. Mexico, Comité Nacional para la Defensa y Conservación de los Chimalapas
   55. Mexico, Comité Social Popular Tierra y Libertad -Durango Dgo
   56. Mexico, CONJUPAN – Confederación de Jubilados y Adultos mayores de la República Mexicana
   57. Mexico, CONUR – Coordinadora de Usuarixs en Resistencia
   58. Mexico, Coordinación de Pueblos, Barrios Originarios y Colonias de Xochimilco
   59. Mexico, Coordinadora de Pueblos en Defensa del Rio Atoyaca-Veracruz
   60. Mexico, Coordinadora Mexicana de Solidaridad con Venezuela
   61. Mexico, CSR – Coordinadora Socialista Revolucionaria
   62. Mexico, Frente Amplio de Lucha Popular – Oaxaca
   63. Mexico, Jóvenes ante la Emergencia Nacional
   64. Mexico, Juntas Defensivas Universitarias
   65. Mexico, La Vía Campesina México
   66. Mexico, Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste, AC
   67. Mexico, Movimiento Ciudadano en Defensa de la Loma-Michoacán
   68. Mexico, Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria
   69. Mexico, Movimiento de Solidaridad Nuestra América
   70. Mexico, Movimiento mexicano de Solidaridad con Cuba
   71. Mexico, Movimiento Oaxaqueño de Solidaridad con Cuba
   72. Mexico, Mujeres para el Diálogo
   73. Mexico, NCT – Nueva Central de Trabajadores
   74. Mexico, Nueva Constituyente Ciudadana Popular
   75. Mexico, Organización de la Resistencia Civil Luy y Fuerza del Pueblo, Adherentes a la Sexta- Chiapas
   76. Mexico, Organización Nacional del Poder Popular
   77. Mexico, Partido Popular Socialista de México
   78. Mexico, Sección XXII Oaxaca-Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación
   79. Mexico, Servicio Internacional Cristiano de Solidaridad con América Latina “Oscar Arnulfo Romero”
   80. Mexico, Sindicato Independiente de Trabajadores Ambulantes y Establecidos de Durango
   81. Mexico, SME – Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas
   82. Mexico, UNORCA – Unión Nacional de Organizaciones Regionales Campesinas Autónomas
   83. Mexico, UPREZ – Unión Popular Revolucionaria Emiliano Zapata
   84. Panama, Partido del Pueblo de Panamá
   85. Paraguay, OCN – Organización Campesina del Norte
   86. Paraguay, OLT – Organización de Lucha por la Tierra
   87. Peru, Acción Política Socialista
   88. Peru, Capítulo Perú Alba Movimientos
   89. Peru, Juventud Comunista Patria Roja
   90. Peru, La Junta
   91. Peru, Movimiento Comunitario Alfa y Omega
   92. Peru, Mundo Verde
   93. Peru, Norte Progresista
   94. Peru, Todas Somos Micaelas
   95. Puerto Rico, Brigada Juan Rius Rivera
   96. Puerto Rico, Comité de Solidaridad con Cuba
   97. Puerto Rico, Comuna Caribe
   98. Puerto Rico, Frente Socialista de Puerto Rico
   99. Puerto Rico, Jornada: se acabaron las promesas
   100. United States, Border Agricultural Workers Project
   101. United States, CODEPINK: Women for Peace
   102. United States, Highland Park Human Rights Coalition
   103. United States, Michigan Welfare Rights Organization
   104. United States, Moratorium Now Coalition, Detroit
   105. United States, National Welfare Rights Union
   106. United States, Party for Socialism and Liberation
   107. United States, PEP – Popular Education Project
   108. United States, Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign
   109. United States, Popular Resistance
   110. United States, Ramón Grosfoguel, University of California at Berkeley
   111. United States, The People’s Forum
   112. United States, Unión de Vecinos
   113. United States, University of the Poor
   114. United States, Vermont Workers Center
   115. Venezuela, ABPTAI – Asociación Bolivariana de Productores Textiles y Afines
   116. Venezuela, ACCUMHB – Asociación Civil de Comerciantes Unidos del Mercado Bolivariano la Hoyada
   117. Venezuela, Capítulo Venezuela – Foro Internacional de Víctimas del Conflicto Colombiano.
   118. Venezuela, CIEF – Centro de Investigación y Estudios de Fronteras
   119. Venezuela, Colectivo De Mujeres Afrocolombianas “María Barilla”
   120. Venezuela, Comité Bolivariano Jesús Santrich
   121. Venezuela, Consejo Presidencial de Gobierno Popular para las Comunas
   122. Venezuela, Dra. Maria Páez Victor, board member of the Canadian, Latin American and Caribbean Policy Centre
   123. Venezuela, Ejército Productivo Obrero
   124. Venezuela, FFM – Frente Francisco de Miranda
   125. Venezuela, FPC-UNASUR Espacio Nacional Venezuela
   126. Venezuela, Grupo Talento Petrolero Socialista Revolucionario Bolivariano y Chavista de PDVSA
   127. Venezuela, Izquierda Unida de Venezuela
   128. Venezuela, Juventud Rebelde
   129. Venezuela, Movimiento Feminista Popular Lydda Franco
   130. Venezuela, MUGER – Colectivo Feminista Mujer Género Rebelde
   131. Venezuela, Organización Social SURES
   132. Venezuela, Partido Farc En Venezuela
   133. Venezuela, Plataforma Comunicacional Feminista “La 5ta Ola”
   134. Venezuela, Red de Colectivos La Araña Feminista
   135. Venezuela, Thierry Deronne, cineasta, periodista, de la Escuela Popular y Latinoamericana de Cine, Tv y Teatro, Terra TVASIA
   136. Bangladesh, Workers Party of Bangladesh
   137. Malaysia, PSM – Parti Sosialis Malaysia (Socialist Party of Malaysia)
   138. Nepal, CP – Nepal Communist PartyEUROPE
   139. Basque Country, Askapena
   140. Basque Country, Itaca (Organització Internacionalista dels Països Catalans)
   141. Basque Country, LAB Sindikatua
   142. Basque Country, Partido Sortu
   143. Capitulo Suecia, Dinamarca y Noruega – Red Nórdica de Solidaridad con Venezuela
   144. Catalonia, CUP – Comité de Unidad Popular
   145. Finland, Partido Comunista de Finlandia
   146. France, Partido Comunista de Francia
   147. Galicia, CIG – Confederación Intersindical Galega
   148. Germany, DKP – Deutsche Kommunistische Partei (Partido Comunista)
   149. Hungary, ATTAC Hungary
   150. Hungary, Hungarian Szocial Forum
   151. Hungary, Karl Marx Society
   152. Hungary, SZAB – Organizers for the Left
   153. Ireland, CP – Communist Party of Ireland
   154. Ireland, Cuba Support Group
   155. Ireland, Nicaragua Solidarity
   156. Italy, Circulo de Italia-Cuba “Granma”
   157. Italy, Partido de la Refundación Comunista, Izquierda Europea
   158. Italy, Potere al Popolo
   159. Russia, Russian United Labour Front
   160. Slovenia, Levica (The Left)
   161. Spain, IU – Izquierda Unida
   162. Spain, Izquierda Castellana
   163. Spain, PCE – Partido Comunista de España
   164. Spain, Red de Sindicalistas Contra la Crisis de España
   165. Sweden, Red VenezuelaARAB-MAGHREB REGION
   166. DFLP/Europe – Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine – Section Europe
   167. Morocco, DW – Democratic Way
   168. Palestine, RCHRS – Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
   169. Tunisia – Tunisian Workers´ Party
   170. Union of the Palestinian Communities, Institutions and Activities/Europe