Voices from the BAsics Bus Tour: Day 2, Dinner in the Bronx!
Our BA Everywhere crew had been out in the streets and around some projects of the Bronx on a summer afternoon – taking out BAsics, distributing palm cards, working to bring people into the movement for revolution. We were soaked with sweat and a little tired, but excited about the beginnings of our work in the Bronx and looking forward to a very special night to cap it off.
Our BAsics van didn’t have a difficult time finding the house we were looking for as we drove it down a quiet, tidy street in the Bronx. One of its brick sides is painted in black, with portraits of two young men murdered by NYPD superimposed on the background. A few words under the portrait on the left side had their names followed by the word “EXECUTED.”
The front of the house is painted blue. It contains the names of about 40 people – Anthony Rosario, Hilton Vega, Malcolm Ferguson, Frankie Arzuega, Leonard Lantin, Jose L. Zarete, Patrick (Hessy) Phelan, William Whitehead, Amadou Diallo – above them all the words “in memory of.” A tombstone placed in front of the house said, “In our grieving hearts we acknowledge police brutality and Racial Injustice, ‘Thou shalt not kill’ said the lord.”
Everyone named on this wall was murdered by the NYPD. The BAsics Bus Tour was being welcomed to a dinner by two of the mothers fighting police brutality and murder for a night of warm companionship, stimulating discussions, and heartfelt exchanges about future possibilities that were deep and sprinkled with humor. Ample quantities of delicious food had been prepared. These parents and some other members of their families mingled late into the cool of the evening, along with the BA everywhere crew that had come from throughout the country and other parts of the city. No one who was there will forget this night in the Bronx.
One of the BA Everywhere volunteers said after the event, “there’s a lot of things rattling around in my head. All the people killed. All the people whose names haven’t been recognized here in this city and all around the world would fill up this whole neighborhood and beyond”.
Watch and spread this video everywhere! It paints a compelling picture of how the movement for revolution is developing, growing and cohering through the BAsics Bus Tour. Hear from people who met the tour and hear Carl Dix, Sunsara Taylor and Clyde Young. The film captures the hope people feel when they find out that there could be a radically different and far better future by encountering the vision and works of Bob Avakian, the revolutionary leader who has developed a new synthesis of communism. BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian concentrates all this and is at the heart of the Tour. It needs to be seen by thousands of people today, which can make a big difference in involving people in the movement for revolution.
We highly recommend that it be used for fundraising shown not only at events and collective efforts, but also to individuals who are able to contribute larger sums. Send the intro above and the link to the film (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsBxMETRSio) to everyone you know, especially people just finding out about all this. Ask people to spread it widely, post it online, and share via their social networks. Make copies of the film by downloading it from Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/45323963) and get these copies everywhere so people can show them on the streets, on portable dvd players and with individuals.
Fly The Red Flag! support and $10 donation from prison
The following was written by a prisoner when the BAsics Bus Tour was in the South.
Greetings within and beyond, Amandla! I hope this finds all of you, my comrades, in the very best of all things possible, especially health and Revolutionary Spirit!
This is in regards to my monthly pledge of $10.00 for the “BAsics” Bus Tour in Texas. During this time I’d like us all to remember to carry forward the Rememberance of our beloved late Damian Garcia flying the Red Flag over the Alamo. Let’s also strive to put forward our lives with revolutionary communist zeal, and Spirit as this dearly missed comrade has done to further the advancement of our Communist revolutionary Vanguard.
Now’s the Time so Seize The Time! Fly The Red Flag over Texas and put a Bus in every major city in Texas. Get the Book “BAsics” into every school campus and let the ferment and wrangling begin.
Sincerely,
In Truth, Solidarity, and Preperation of The Real Revolution, Communist Revolution
XXX
P.S. Included is my monthly $10.00 for The Bus Tour!
The themes of the BAsics Bus Tour impacting NYC and surrounding areas in July are these two quotes from BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian.
BAsics 5:7
American Lives Are Not More Important Than Other People’s Lives.
BAsics 5:8
Internationalism—The Whole World Comes First.
Bob Avakian, Chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA
Preparing for the BAsics Bus Tour coming to the Bronx: Going to Soundview
Photo: At the door where Amadou Diallo was shot and killed by NYPD. Neighbors hold up Revolution posters (PDF|JPG).
This week, as we have gone to community centers and people we have met in the Bronx to prepare places for the tour volunteers to stay and more, we went to the Soundview area and to the block where Amadou Diallo was shot 41 times by NYC police in the alcove of his apartment building in 1999.
Bay Area: Taking out Basics 1:13 and Justice for Trayvon Martin
In the days going into June 5, The National Day of Justice for Trayvon Martin, we took a banner that had an enlargement of the BAsics 1:13, “No more generations of our youth…” quote and a heading that read: To All the Trayvon Martin’s All Over The World, We Got Your Back!! out to a street corner in front of a favorite coffee spot and crossroads of progressive people of all nationalities from the middle class, cultural forces, college students and some youth from all over the city. Sentiments and conversations started to surface as we opened up with agitation around BAsics 1:13 and the need for everyone to step up step out for June 5. Before we get into all the ways people got involved, here are some statements that were made at that corner:
On June 5th, 100 days after the modern American lynching of Trayvon Martin, Harlem youth and others declare “We Are All Trayvon Martin” and respond to the message of BAsics 1:13. They added their names and messages to a poster bearing this quote:
“No more generations of our youth, here and all around the world, whose life is over, whose fate has been sealed, who have been condemned to an early death or a life of misery and brutality, whom the system has destined for oppression and oblivion even before they are born. I say no more of that.”
— Bob Avakian, BAsics 1:13
TODAY: June 5th is 100 days since Trayvon Martin’s modern American lynching. We Say “NO MORE!” Wear a hoodie and spread this message — share this video on your social network.
For actions today go to stopmassincarceration.org
This video is an illustration of Bob Avakian’s statement:
“No more generations of our youth, here and all around the world, whose life is over, whose fate has been sealed, who have been condemned to an early death or a life of misery and brutality, whom the system has destined for oppression and oblivion even before they are born. I say no more of that.”
— Bob Avakian, BAsics 1:13
We are all Trayvon Martin! The whole damn system is guilty!
Continue to Advance: Build off the BAsics Bus Tour Through the South
This editorial has been reposted from Revolution newspaper, revcom.us:
The second leg of the BAsics Bus Tour, which went through parts of the South in May and rolled into Sanford, Florida, had a big impact. It spoke to and captured the imagination of thousands… in the South and throughout the country—and many hundreds of people across the country were part of making something very important happen. In doing so, those people around the country and those who the Bus Tour met in the South have been part of beginning to cohere a national movement around the mass fundraising campaign to project Bob Avakian’s vision and works into every corner of society: BA Everywhere… Imagine the Difference It Could Make!
