Keynote given by party co-chair Joe Sims to the CPUSA National Committee October 12, 2025.

As we meet today, the resistance to the Trump regime continues to grow. There is also a new awareness of the danger we face. Listen to what the NAACP said when declining to invite Trump to their national convention last summer: “Donald Trump is attacking our democracy and our civil rights. He believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution.”

Speaking directly to the issue of MAGA’s disregard for the Constitution, Jane Fonda, supported by over 1,000 Hollywood actors and other cultural workers, has revived the Committee for the Protection of the First Amendment, an organization supported by her father, Henry Fonda, in the 1950s. Their relaunching statement said, “The federal government is once again engaged in a coordinated campaign to silence critics in the government, the media, the judiciary, academia, and the entertainment industry. We refuse to stand by and let that happen.”

If anyone had any doubts about the nature of the threat we face, they need only look to the city of Chicago, where Black Hawk helicopters were used in a raid last week that zip-tied and arrested 100 people, including four children and senior citizens. Trump is now calling for the arrest of Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker and threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act — that would mean military rule.

MAGA’s setbacks

It won’t surprise you that the country is growing increasingly alarmed and public support for the White House has plummeted. Some 75% for example, view Mr. Man as corrupt. An overwhelming majority see the country moving in the wrong direction, including, significantly, half of all Republicans. Consider that as recently as June, 70% of Republicans approved of the country’s direction. MAGA’s drop in support is particularly pronounced among young people, with over 60% believing things are going south — a decline of 30% over the summer.

But there’s another measure that’s even more important: the poll taken when folks go to the ballot box. Do you know that over the last year, MAGA has lost 52 out of 54 elections? Importantly, the broad working-class public is not only voting with their ballots, they’re also voting with their dollars: boycotts of Tesla, Target, and other corporations are having a huge impact. Tesla’s sales have dropped 13% over the same period last year. Target’s stock has declined 33%, wiping out over $20 billion in shareholder value. Its CEO was recently forced to step down because of a sharp drop in profits. The reaction to Disney’s taking Kimmel off the air is yet another indication of where the public stands. Some 1.7 million people canceled their subscriptions in reaction, and the show is now back by popular demand.

Folks are pushing back, and that is strengthening the fight against the regime on many different fronts, including legally. The recent decisions of judges to block plans to deploy troops in Portland and now Chicago should be understood within this context.

Attacks on democracy accelerating

At the same time, we have to note that while MAGA has been set back here and there, these setbacks have not significantly slowed its momentum. In fact, after the Kirk assassination, the attack on democracy has accelerated. Witness National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, declaring “ANTIFA”— an organization that doesn’t exist — a terrorist organization. This order also has language threatening all who MAGA views as anti-family, anti-Christian, and anti-capitalist.

Fearing the results of the upcoming midterms, Trump is rushing to consolidate power. We’re talking about the combined use of the military, ICE, the FBI, and the DOJ to attack enemies and seize control. We’re talking about the criminalization of speech, the canceling of funding for approved projects in blue states, along with the assault on science and public health.

And then there’s the attack on DEI as an excuse for an effort to, you’ll pardon the phrase, “white out” American history. Do you know that the John Brown memorial at Harpers Ferry has been closed pending a DEI review? And that’s just one item in what’s become a wholesale assault that includes the African American museum at the Smithsonian, as well as Latino, women’s, and LGBTQ history.

Labor’s response

Most important, from our point of view, is the attack on labor that began with the canceling of collective bargaining rights for 1.3 million federal workers. Add to that, Trump’s firing of NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox. The labor board is now without a quorum and sits in limbo. How the trade union movement will respond to these attacks on its rights and the general assault on democracy remains one of the most pressing questions before the resistance today.
Labor’s response is critical because fascism is no longer creeping by degrees. It’s proceeding at a gallop. The issue now is who is going to win the race?

Now, Comrade Scott Marshall will tell you that in many respects, organizing opportunities are better in labor than at any time that he can remember, and that includes opportunities for us — doors are wide open. There’s a new cohort of labor leaders, some of whom cut their teeth in civil rights and anti-war movements and others who came of age in the anti-apartheid and anti-Gulf War mobilizations. And let’s not forget those who came up fighting deindustrialization and neoliberal austerity. And let’s remember, it wasn’t that long ago when we were talking about “Striketober” and celebrating the victory of the UAW’s stand-up strike. In many ways, it’s the best of times.

Paradoxically, at the same time, the situation ain’t all that damn good. Union density has dropped, MAGA’s got a foothold in some of the major unions, and we just witnessed the greatest act of union-busting in U.S. history, with scarcely a peep from the labor movement. Look at it this way: Reagan in 1981 busted PATCO. The union then had around 11,000 members; a month later, the AFL-CIO brought 500,000 workers to D.C. Today, 1.3 million workers’ bargaining rights were canceled, and the response so far is a press release and a few picket lines outside of federal buildings.

I say the response so far, because we are deeply convinced it won’t remain this way. In this regard, Marx’s co-worker, Frederick Engels, once made the observation that it takes a lot to get our working class to move, but when we do move, watch out! He said, “The Americans are a peculiar people … slow to act, but once they set out, they pursue their goal with a stubborn determination and endurance that are unequaled.”

Black trade unionists lead the way

The question, then, is what will it take to get the class to move? In this regard, we must salute the initiative of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, who at their spring convention passed a resolution calling on the AFL-CIO to bring together a national union day of solidarity to protest the Trump administration’s policies. Since then, the federation has organized bus tours around the country and Labor Day actions in an effort to address the crisis. Good. In our opinion, the more initiatives labor takes, the better.

Let’s do everything we can to move trade unions across the country to speak in one voice of militant protest in solidarity with their African American siblings.

In addition, we’re beginning to see resolutions passed in local unions and central bodies supporting CBTU’s proposal. The more of that, the better. Remember, that’s how Solidarity Day came about: as a result of initiatives from below. Let’s agree to do everything we can to convince trade unions all across the country to act in solidarity with the call of their African American siblings to speak in one voice of militant protest in D.C. and around the country.

Overcoming racism

It would be hard to overemphasize the importance of this: It is central to the unity of the class, and the unity of the class is central to defeating Trump. And the only way to achieve this unity is through the organized trade union movement.

Consider that ruling-class racism has been the main organizing principle of the MAGA right. There’s no doubt that it impacted the outcome of last November’s election. As you know, sections of the African American community and other communities of color have felt let down by the defeat of the Democratic nominee and have drawn conclusions that have impacted the unity of the people’s front. Indeed, we’ve seen this impact on the racial composition of every single demonstration that has taken place, with the exception of the May Day protests. That’s because May Day was initiated by labor.

Racism comes from the ruling class. There’s no question about that. But it’s pernicious. Its influence is subtle, influencing all sections of society, including the working class and the left. The same thing is true regarding male supremacy. It influences the things we do and don’t do and the choices we make.

Building community ties

Take the campaign around the Target boycott. People draw conclusions about who is supporting it and who doesn’t. The Target boycott was initiated by forces in the African American community, particularly the Black church. It has broad public support. Importantly, our party in a few places has taken it up. In D.C., they’re helping lead a coalition and every week are in front of a store with coalition partners. The campaign is focused on a neighborhood. It’s regular and takes place once a week. As a result, new relationships are being built with community and religious groups in D.C. Do we want to build relationships with the Black church and Black labor? What about the Latino faith community and Latino labor? The same thing is true with regard to the Asian American community. Well, you can’t do it outside of specific initiatives. The National Committee should draw the lesson.

So too with regard to the CBTU resolution. It’s an organizing tool to build relationships. It’s a concrete way to build unity and heal the divide. To talk about improving the racial and gender makeup of the party outside of these specific initiatives is to just talk.

This is particularly important in light of the government shutdown, which is presently the main battlefront in the fight against MAGA. As quiet as it’s kept, at stake is not only an increase in insurance premiums, but the GOP’s attempt to dismantle Obamacare. Their cuts would eliminate the program’s funding by two-thirds, effectively crippling it. Unfortunately, until now the fight seems confined to debates on the airwaves and negotiations behind closed doors. However, given the stakes, the fight should be taken out of the suites and into the streets.

End the Gaza genocide!

I can’t end this presentation without talking about what’s taking place in the Middle East. Keeping the pressure on must include heightening our attention to ending the genocide in Gaza. The Netanyahu government, for two years now, supported by the GOP and the Democrats alike, has conducted a vicious campaign of racist extermination. Their goal, completely supported by Trump, is to end once and for all any possibility of a Palestinian state.

However, the Palestinian people will not be subdued, and their national aspirations for statehood will not be denied. The pending ceasefire, therefore, must be understood as their victory.

Given the predominant role of U.S. imperialism, our responsibility continues to be to change U.S. policy. And here, public opinion has shifted sharply against Israel’s genocide and Washington’s complicity. Our upcoming peace conference will be an important opportunity to upgrade our work.

Our main tasks

Comrades, the main tasks we set ourselves at the July NC have not changed. They include:

• Ongoing involvement in the main activities of the democratic movement;
• Pushing for resolutions in support of a national march on Washington;
• Target and Home Depot boycotts;
• Palestine solidarity;
• Cuba solidarity;
• Preparing for the midterm elections;
• Completing the People’s World Fund Drive; and
• Support for the YCL’s organizing efforts and toward a convention in 2027.

Anti-communism: a tool of division

The political climate has grown more heated since the Kirk assassination. The fascist forces have been emboldened. And therefore, we must be much more vigilant. So far, there have been no direct threats against us. Others have not been so lucky. Last night, we were apprised of a Rutgers professor who had been targeted by Turning Point USA, who, while attempting to leave the country for safety and, after going through baggage and arriving at his gate, was told his flight had been canceled.

Today, we learned that Turning Point USA had a meeting with the Trump team at which DSA was targeted for allegedly harboring ANTIFA in their anti-homeless networks. Turning Point seems to be one of the tips of the spear of the fascist right.

It’s only a matter of time before the spotlight gets turned on us. If and when it does, we will respond directly and militantly by exposing anti-communism for what it is: like racism, a tool for diverting and dividing the working class.

Keep the faith

Let’s not forget that MAGA is now in a panic. They have greatly overreached, and their support is dropping fast. Public reaction to this overreach is strong. As the midterms approach, the question before us is how to organize it. In this regard, free speech and freedom of assembly issues, including the right to organize, will be particularly strong.

We should champion these issues in the election campaign, including with our candidates. Let’s remember that there’s a strong left sentiment at the grassroots and impatience with old-guard politics: the Mamdani campaign is an indication of that. And we have to identify with this sentiment and continue to fight for our public presence and right to participate in the political process.

As we go forward, we have to be mindful of the climate and take whatever measures are necessary, but forward we go. And as we march forward, as our late comrade Arturo Griffith used to say, we must keep the faith. And for Arturo, it wasn’t a blind faith; no, it was faith in the class, faith in the mass movement, a faith based in science and Marxist practice, a confidence that despite all the ups and downs, twists, and turns, the outcome of the struggle is sure. So keep the faith, comrades!

Image: CPUSA marches at the October 18 No Kings protest in NYC.