In a strong showing of anti-imperialist solidarity and left unity, more than a dozen comrades from CPUSA and PSL joined Nonviolent Austin for a peace vigil followed by a rally to end all war. Chants of “No war! No sanctions, No coups!” were heard by passersby in front of the Texas capitol at 11th and Congress as demonstrators demanded peaceful negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a war that is the direct result of US imperialism. Holding signs that said “end global conflict, abolish NATO,” hands off Haiti,“ and “no war but class war,” our vocal group waved at passing vehicles who honked their horns in solidarity. During afternoon rush hour in downtown Austin, almost all the feedback from residents was positive.
After Nonviolent Austin’s peace vigil, more comrades arrived and rallied with us to demand that the US immediately stop supplying weapons to Ukraine, abolish NATO, and withdraw troops from all global conflicts
Some comrades made speeches, yelling through a bullhorn as cars and pedestrians passed by the rally. “We have to say no to US interventions, even when they appear to us as so-called humanitarian interventions,” a PSL comrade said. “We know that the US does not give a damn about the human rights of anyone on the planet.”
The founder of Nonviolent Austin provided historical and spiritual context to the current struggle for world peace:
“Mohandas Gandhi, arguably the most effective anti-imperialist of the 20th century, while being a faithful Hindu all his adult life, was also arguably the most accurate activist interpreter of the life and teaching of the activist Jesus. Dorothy Day, Martin King, Dan and Phil Berrigan. Howard Thurman, James Boston. Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez. Notably brought Gandhi's analysis and beneficence to US soil.”
“We need each other as we seek to remove the societal pillars that prop up imperialism and militarism, white supremacy and plantation capitalism, patriarchy and the destruction of Earth.”
The Communist Party USA has a long history of peace activism. We recognize that workers are the victims on both sides of all imperialist wars and military adventures. We need peace, justice, and equality. We need socialism. Join us!