For International Class-Struggle Defense!

Harsh winds of repression are blowing across the world. Unionists, leftists and especially immigrants and defenders of Palestine are all coming under attack. Here in the U.S., pro-Palestine activists like Mahmoud Khalil have been arrested and face deportation or prison. In the opening salvo of a war on immigrants and labor, SEIU California president David Huerta was arrested during a militarized ICE raid in L.A. The aim is clear—to silence the left and divide the working class, the ultimate target of the state’s repressive measures. What’s needed is international united-front defense based on the power of labor.

France: The French state has unleashed sweeping repression against pro-Palestinian activists, trade unionists and leftists. Among those targeted are Anasse Kazib, railway worker, trade-union activist and spokesperson for Révolution Permanente (which is affiliated with Left Voice in the U.S.) and Gaël Quirante, spokesperson for the Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste-Révolutionnaires, pro-Palestinian activist and former postman fired for his union activities.

Kazib is charged with “apology for terrorism” over a tweet in support of Palestine—and faces up to seven years in prison. His trial date is June 18. Gaël is being dragged into court over a militant strike that occurred over ten years ago and faces up to five years in prison. Gaël and four other postal workers went on trial June 12-13, with 600 coming out in support. The next court date is set for July 10. We have contributed to Kazib’s defense at gofundme.com/f/solidarite-anasse-kazib and Quirante’s at helloasso.com/associations/les-ami-e-s-de-sud-poste-92/formulaires/1/en.

Rodrigue Petitot, popular leader of the movement against the cost-of-living crisis in the French colony of Martinique, was jailed last year and then given a one-year suspended sentence for confronting the colonial authorities. The state appealed, seeking to throw him back behind bars. On June 12, the court reduced his sentence to six months, which he had already served. Although Rodrigue is now free, he never should have served a day. Rima Hassan, a Palestinian born in a refugee camp and now a Member of the European Parliament for La France Insoumise, has faced a racist backlash because of her support for Palestine, including police interrogation and threats to strip her of her French citizenship. Last week, she was among the Freedom Flotilla activists detained by Israeli authorities, but is now released and back in France. Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, revolutionary fighter for Palestine, remains imprisoned for over 40 years, with a government appeal to overturn a court order to release him due for a ruling on June 19. Georges is a recipient of the Partisan Defense Committee’s class-war prisoner stipend fund.

In opposition to the show trials of Quirante and Kazib—and the wider repression of the left—the PDC and our fraternal organizations internationally called protests in front of French embassies and consulates around the world. The international labor movement must be made aware of these cases in order to bring the greatest possible pressure to bear on the French state to drop all the charges. On June 17, the PDC joined with Left Voice and others at united-front protests in New York and Los Angeles. We also rallied in Chicago and San Francisco.

South Africa: South African trade unionist and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member Xolani Khoza faces charges of incitement to commit terrorism, public violence and intimidation for posting a TikTok video calling for a national protest against the government. His persecution is a blatant assault on freedom of speech in the service of the “Government of National Unity” (GNU)—a coalition of the ANC and the openly pro-imperialist and white-dominated Democratic Alliance. It also threatens to brand all who would resist the attacks of the GNU as “terrorists.”

Our comrades of Spartacist/South Africa have joined with local EFF chapters to form the Committee to Defend Xolani Khoza, which has organized protests at his court appearances and seeks to mobilize greater forces. Endorsers of protests have included the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa and the Workers and Socialist Party. The PDC held a united-front protest at the South African consulate in New York on May 9 to express our solidarity. The Chicago UAW Civil & Human Rights Council has sent a protest letter on Xolani’s behalf. It is important that other unions in the U.S. come out in support of Xolani as well. His defense desperately needs funds to cover legal fees and the cost of raising public awareness of his case. The PDC and our fraternal organizations have donated and urge you and your union to do the same. Donate here: backabuddy.co.za/campaign/defend-xolani-khoza.

South Asia: The reactionary military flare-up between India and Pakistan has brought increased repression of leftists in the region. On May 19, the PDC joined a rally called by the Revolutionary Communists of America (RCA) at the Pakistani consulate in New York City. We demanded the release of arrested leaders of Inqalabi Communist Party, the RCA’s Pakistani comrades, and the Awaami Action Committee Gilgit Baltistan (AAC-GB). Our fraternal organizations in Canada, Australia, Germany and Britain have also joined protests demanding the release of AAC-GB leader Ehsan Ali and other activists. Ali has since been thrown back into prison from a hospital despite his doctors’ objections. At all these protests, we have also called to free former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, who was thrown behind bars because he went against U.S. diktats. The repression of Khan and his supporters is linked to the overall increase in political repression and imperialist subjugation of Pakistan.

Sweden: In February, the dockworkers union Svenska Hamnarbetarförbundet conducted a six-day boycott of military cargo destined for Israel. The day before the boycott began, the union’s national deputy chairman Erik Helgeson was fired on bogus “national security” grounds. Unions internationally, including ILWU Local 10 in the Bay Area, have taken up the defense of the Swedish longshore union and demanded Helgeson’s reinstatement. It is a good thing that unions are defending Helgeson. But this must be extended to defense of the Palestinians themselves, crucially by the ILWU launching its own boycott of military shipments to Israel.

Philippines: Indigenous people from the Molbog, Palaw’an and Cagayanen communities are fighting attempts by billionaire Ramon S. Ang’s San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to seize Bugsuk Island to build a resort complex for the bourgeoisie. On May 15, the Marihangin 10 leaders of the mainly Molbog villagers were arrested on charges of “grave coercion.” Our comrades in the Spartacist Group Pilipinas have issued a statement: “Defend the Marihangin 10! Drop all charges! Oppose the land grab by SMC!”

The PDC and ICL have been arguing within the left for united-front defense. For too long, it has not been the norm for small left groups to collaborate in defense work. That is a recipe for defeat. We must not let our political differences stand in the way of a united struggle to defend all targets of state repression. An injury to one is an injury to all! Only in pursuing such a course can the socialist movement confront head-on the strong winds of reaction, re-establish itself as a pole against the discredited liberals and reforge working-class organizations into a real fighting force.