On the Continuum of Struggle in Latin America: Self-described Marxist elected as President of Peru – What can we learn from the protest movements sweeping Latin America? Next District 3 Mtg

From Chile to Columbia, struggle is breaking out across Latin America from the intolerable conditions of endemic poverty, pervasive violence and corruption, and the economic and social devastation of the COVID pandemic.  And now Peru has marked its place on this continuum of struggle with the election of a self-described Marxist as President, Pedro Castillo from the Peru Libre, a socailist party. Castillo is a labor leader who gained national prominence as a leader of multiple teachers strikes. Castillo also comes from an indigenous background, making him only the 2nd President in Peruvian history to be elected from those regions.  He ran on a program of agrarian reforms and against the neo-liberal agenda that has impoverished the majority of this mineral rich country.  

Protest movements and radical politics are shaking the foundations of Latin American society and elsewhere across the world, what does this tell us about the period we are entering? What’s needed to win these struggles and overthrow capitalism? As oppressed peoples rise up, should socialists uncritically cheer from the sidelines or are there other things we can do to support the movements? Elon Musk supported the right-wing coup in Bolivia because of the minerals needed for Tesla, with Biden heavily promoting electric cars and Peru being an important source of minerals, how will the US ruling class react to Castillo? 

We’ll also be electing our District 3 Coordinating Committee members at this meeting, so don’t miss out! 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86736125907

253-215-8782

Meeting ID: 867 3612 5907