A Call for May Day 2012

http://revcom.us/

May Day 2012... the world is a horror for billions, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Another world is possible, and in the face of this horror, the international proletariat, and people across this country and the world, declare their determination to fight for a world free of exploitation and oppression.
May Day 2012... the Occupy movement, refusing to accept the world as it is, has called for demonstrations on May 1 to advance that movement.
May Day 2012... a time when, as we raise big money, we promote and popularize the work and vision of Bob Avakian to all corners of society. Because of BA and the work he has done over several decades summing up the positive and negative experience of the communist revolution so far, and drawing from a broad range of human experience, there is a new synthesis of communism that has been brought forward—there really is a viable vision and strategy for a radically new, and much better, society and world, and there is the crucial leadership that is needed to carry forward the struggle toward that goal. People everywhere need this; the world needs this. There is no more fitting way to celebrate May 1 this year than to take BA’s vision out there, into the neighborhoods and onto the campuses. And to take BA Everywhere into the Occupy movement and other sites of protest and questioning...
May Day 2012... the campaign to raise big money to get BA’s vision and works into every corner of society moves into full gear. Raising these funds will not only make the difference in making Bob Avakian a household word, but as we have written before, “Fundraising—if it’s done right—does two things. It raises the money that is badly needed to make a huge difference; and it brings people together—in this case—to engage with BA and what he represents, and the whole process of changing the world.”

A Concentrated Wave of Getting Out BA Everywhere

First, Revolution is excited to announce we will be publishing a special issue that features quotes from BA that focus on internationalism and revolution. This should be something we get out very broadly beginning on Tuesday, April 24, and stretching through the whole period around the holiday.
Then beginning Saturday, April 28, for four defiant days we will be fighting for and promoting, living and, yes, celebrating—in the streets and with culture and fun—a vision of internationalism, revolution, a whole new and far better world... and the vision, strategy, and revolutionary communist leadership we have to get there. In these days, BA Everywhere—and the raising of big money—is going to gather up all those who have participated in this campaign and bust out all over in new ways.
The BAsics Bus Tour will take off—and in a big way again in early May—and funds are urgently needed. Imagine this: the BAsics bus rolling into the thick of the struggle in a particularly hot area in this country. Imagine this: the BAsics bus bringing the message of revolution to places where people are beginning to fight the power and defy the authorities. Raising money to make this possible will be an important focus of the fundraising efforts from now through the four days beginning at the end of April. $15,000 and more is needed by the end of the May Day wave. We urge all our readers again to read and spread the Revolution coverage of the BAsics Bus Tour pilot project in raising money for the next round. And be sure to get your hands on our next issue which will announce the route of the tour!
Plans are still building to really bust a move with BA Everywhere in these days. Here’s what those four days will look like:
Saturday, April 28
On Saturday, all across the country people will be setting out to loft BA Everywhere to a whole different place, creating and seizing on every opportunity to put BA, his work and vision, before thousands. Reach out broadly to involve people! Decorate a van. Organize a car caravan and think creatively. Find ingenious ways to reach thousands of people who have not yet heard of BA and his work, whether you live in a major metropolitan area or a smaller city or rural area. Get BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian into the hands of people all over. Film these outings to contribute to publicizing BA Everywhere... everywhere. Figure out creative ways to get media coverage. And distribute and post (with permission) Revolution newspaper and creative promotional materials everywhere.
Sunday, April 29
The next day, April 29, celebratory May Day fundraising dinners will be held in cities and towns all over the place. Let’s look to and celebrate a different and far better future. These can draw in the people who participated on April 28, but also many new people who only heard of BA and BA Everywhere the day before. A highlight of these celebrations will be the announcement of summer plans to make new advances in BA Everywhere! And good food and lively discussion could be punctuated with clips from BA’s Revolution Talk, music, spoken word—including BA’s “All Played Out”—and more.
Collectivities of people can begin now to raise money and prepare food or win restaurants to donate food for these May Day celebrations. A wide range of artists can be won to performing their work at the celebrations. Tickets should be printed up as soon as possible for the dinners, and this should also be a way to reconnect with the many people who have already participated in the campaign, in the movement to get BA Everywhere.
Monday, April 30
A day of getting back to people we have met over the weekend and in the days leading up to that weekend—mobilizing and gathering forces and preparing for internationalist contingents that will join in May 1 demonstrations being organized by the Occupy movement in many cities across the country.
Tuesday, May 1
Occupiers throughout this country continue to refuse to go along with the way things are in this society, and this May 1, the Occupy movements in many, many cities have called for May 1 demonstrations. In the face of the repression and the concerted and coordinated efforts of the powers-that-be to stamp out this movement, people will again be stepping out, defying those who have tried to shut this movement down with violent repression. The internationalist contingents need to be there in the midst of it, helping to strengthen these demonstrations and bringing their own resolve and determination to fight for a better future for all of humanity into them. And as a part of that, the contingents will bring the special issue of Revolution with the BA quotes on internationalism and revolution into the mix, and will broadly distribute “Reflection on the ‘Occupy’ Movement: An Inspiring Beginning... And the Need to Go Further” by BA. (Revolution #250, November 13, 2011)
May 1... A day for Fighting the Power, and Transforming the People, for Revolution.

The Revolutionaries Are Coming!

Beginning now, plans can be made and active work done to build for a truly electrifying May Day wave of taking BA Everywhere. Beginning now, let’s find diverse and creative means to let whole communities in your area know the revolutionaries are coming. Notify the press—and in a hundred other ways on the ground—create anticipation for the time when BA Everywhere is going to arrive in the communities and towns.
Throughout the month of April, funds must be raised and a community of people who are committed in different ways to spreading BA Everywhere must be forged. Since this campaign was launched, many people have been touched by BA Everywhere, engaged with BAsics and made important contributions to the campaign... from donating to produce the film Occasioned by BAsics: A Celebration of Revolution & The Vision of a New World, to raising money to get BAsics to prisoners, to fundraising events and projects to finance the BAsics Bus Tour, and more. We should reach out to and involve all those who came to the conferences which launched the BA Everywhere campaign. We should reach out to and involve all those who donated to making the Occasioned by BAsics... film and to those who donated to the pilot project of the BAsics Bus Tour. And we should reach out to and involve the people the BAsics Bus Tour met along its way.
Building for and acting on these four defiant and celebratory days can and should be a real re-gathering of people, along with bringing forward new people, a real expression of community, a real way for people to plug in... an open door to getting involved on many different levels.
As people look to May Day 2012 and bust out this campaign in a new way, we call on people to put their energies to ongoing fundraising. Yes, in the midst of the outbreaks of protest, but also in organizing other BA Everywhere fundraising—yard and bake sales, salons and house parties, and more. Let’s aim, in this month, to meet and draw in many more people who can contribute in different ways.
Each week, this growing movement will be able to read about, learn from others across the country, and share their own experience in the pages of Revolution. People will be able to learn from each other how to recognize and seize on new openings and opportunities. And people can look forward to and fundraise for the launching of the BAsics Bus Tour in May; once again, Revolution calls on people to volunteer to join the tour. Contact your local Revolution Books or send your application to RCP Publications, PO Box 3486, Chicago IL, 60654; rcppubs@hotmail.com.
On to May Day 2012!