Author Archives

John Palameda is a professor, union leader, baseball fan, and member of the American Party of Labor.

• This Labor Day, Celebrate the History and Promise of the American Labor Movement

  By John Palameda on September 2, 2019

  

  In the United States, those of us who are leftist workers have a vexed relationship with this labor day, the first Monday in September. The day was a refuge for the American state and compromising union leadership from the May… Read More ›

• 680 Workers Arrested in Mississippi by ICE

  By John Palameda on August 7, 2019

  

  In what’s being called one of the largest raids in recent US immigration history, ICE agents have arrested 680 workers across the state of Mississippi, mostly at Koch Foods Inc. food processing plants. Workers were ambushed by nearly 600 ICE… Read More ›

• Declaration by Comuna Antilla on the Events in Puerto Rico: Down With Pacifists who “Weaken the Union of the People!”

  By John Palameda on July 20, 2019

  

  The original in Spanish can be found here. Translated by J. Palameda July 16th, 2019 Official Declaration San Juan, Puerto Rico In light of the events of this past Monday, July 15, 2019, the members of Commune Antilla declare that:… Read More ›

• The Fascists are on the March Against Women’s Rights—We Must Respond

  By John Palameda on May 16, 2019

  

  Ever since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the religious right in the United States has waged unrelenting war on the right of women to bodily autonomy, often using terroristic tactics in its war. With the rise of Donald… Read More ›

• The Meaning of May Day

  By John Palameda on April 30, 2019

  

  Today is May Day. For the rest of the world, May Day has a rich cultural and political history. Originating in ancient Roman spring festivals, contemporary May Day customs were developed in the 14th and 15th century in England. A… Read More ›

• Rafael Surí, an Important Cuban LGBTQ+ Activist, Has Died

  By John Palameda on April 1, 2019

  

  Read the original report in Spanish here. Rafael Surí, an important Cuban LGBTQ+ activist has died from illness at the age of only 31. According to the most recent reports from Cuba, “Rafa was facing a difficult health situation that… Read More ›

• #CountMeInNYC Has Called a Truce With Related, Members Vow to Stay Vigilant

  By John Palameda on March 11, 2019

  

  The New York City construction worker protest scheduled for 3/15 been officially cancelled, as CountMeIn leaders announced on March 8th that a deal had been reached. In a statement released on their facebook and twitter, CountMeIn leaders stated that abandoning… Read More ›

• UIC Grad Students Prepare for Strike, Call for Aid

  By John Palameda on March 7, 2019

  

  The graduate student union at the University of Illinois at Chicago is preparing what they have called an “indefinite strike” beginning March 19th, unless their demands for higher wages and better working conditions are met by the university administration. Their… Read More ›

• Tax Breaks for Who? U.S. Students Currently Unable to Deduct Tuition in 2018 Returns

  By John Palameda on February 8, 2019

  

  Students preparing to file their taxes for 2018 should prepare for an unpleasant surprise in their return numbers. For the 2018 tax year, those taxes filed now in early 2019, all U.S. college students are currently (as of February 8th)… Read More ›

• “Karl Marx’s Legacy in the Reinvigoration of the US Labor Movement:” Presentation by the American Party of Labor at the 22nd International Seminar on the Problems of the Revolution in Latin America.

  By John Palameda on July 27, 2018

  

  Quito, Ecuador (July 26, 2018) This presentation was delivered by Comrade John Palameda at the 22nd International Seminar as a delegate representing the American Party of Labor. A year has passed since the National Secretary of the American Party of… Read More ›

• The Only Animals are Trump, ICE, and Deporting Moderates

  By John Palameda on May 21, 2018

  

  At a meeting of Republican California lawmakers at the White House on Wednesday, May 16th, Donald Trump delivered his latest virulently racist and anti-immigrant statement, saying of immigrants crossing the southern border: “You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These… Read More ›

• After Spencer and Heimbach’s Failures, a Recommitment to Refusing all Platforms for Fascists

  By John Palameda on March 30, 2018

  

  The last several weeks saw two major victories for the emerging anti-fascist forces in the United States. First, on March 5th, Richard Spencer’s talk at Michigan State University faced overwhelming opposition, with elements of the Traditionalist Worker’s Party being driven… Read More ›

• Net Neutrality and Capitalist Democracy

  By John Palameda on January 10, 2018

  

  The repeal of net neutrality on Thursday, December 14th, allowing corporations to speed up and slow down internet service and charge for access to any number of currently free services, revealed political allegiances across contemporary American society. The far right… Read More ›

• Why Marxism-Leninism in the 21st Century United States?

  By John Palameda on October 30, 2017

  

  The heightening of the ecological, economic, and social crises of capitalism during the summer of 2017 from Charlottesville to Houston cast a new urgency on the work of the rapidly consolidating left in the United States. As the left reawakens… Read More ›

• We Must Finish What They Started: Remove All Confederate Statues Now

  By John Palameda on August 17, 2017

  

  By John Palameda In Durham, North Carolina on the afternoon of August 14th, 2017, a gathering of activists including elements from the Workers World Party climbed a statue greased by cops to impede climbing, tied a rope around the statue… Read More ›