“Revolution against the billionaires!”
That’s the message hundreds of communists hit the campuses with during the RCP’s fall recruitment drive.
It has definitely struck a nerve. In the space of only three weeks, we have recruited 52 new members to the RCP—more than the previous two months put together!
“The reception to the question ‘Do you want a revolution against the billionaires?’ has been met with a near unanimous amount of support.” (Addison, University of Victoria)
Another comrade explained how effective the last issue of Communist Revolution—with Luigi Mangione on the cover—has been. As we suspected when choosing that image for the cover, very few people had any illusions that assassinations could change society, but they resonated with the immense anger toward billionaires that he represents:
“The Luigi paper has been a direct line to the mood amongst young students. He was constantly described as a ‘hero’ … We have never had a reception like this at the UofA campus. Tons of people approached, confused about why we called ourselves communists, but drawn in by Luigi. Almost everyone left agreeing that a revolution against the billionaires was the only way forward.” (Daniel, University of Alberta)
At paper sales and clubs’ fairs, comrades have repeatedly drawn crowds by talking about communism and revolution.
“At clubs’ day we had crowds gather around our table waiting their turn to talk with us–sometimes for upwards of 10 minutes. When I was discussing our ideas with one contact, more would gather around to listen and give their contact info at the end.” (Addison, UVic)
“Our comrade Noah was having a conversation, when a group of people started gathering around. All of a sudden it turned into a semi-speech on the need for revolution and a communist leadership!” (Connor, McGill)
Even bad weather couldn’t dampen the spirit of enthusiasm.
“Despite the cold and the rain, comrades talked to hundreds of students about communism. On the rare occasion that I had a second when I was not talking to someone, I would look around to see all other comrades enthralled in discussion.” (Nadia, University of Toronto)
The posters and stickers that comrades are putting up are a big hit too.
“Our posters have been taken down pretty quickly from bulletin boards. We thought it was campus security and admin, but MULTIPLE different contacts have said that they took them to hang up in their dorms because they were so cool. We printed extra to hand out at clubs days.” (Addison, UVic)
“Some comrades who were postering were heckled by two older men who filmed and followed them about vandalizing public property. But 30 minutes later they came back to apologize because they actually read the slogans and agreed.” (Koral, Concordia)
The mood among youth is clear.
They look around themselves and see the world falling apart. They have little hope of finding a good, stable job after graduation. The threat of climate change and environmental destruction is hanging over their heads. War and violence spread like a plague.
They know that things need to change. They just don’t know how to do it. And no one is showing them the way—not the politicians, not the “left”, not the labour movement.
That’s where the communists come in. We explain that if the working class takes power, if we run society to meet human needs instead of for profit, we can have a future that’s worth looking forward to. But we have to fight for it.
“I asked students what they thought about the state of the world. Nearly everyone expressed pessimism or disgust. Then I asked students if they want to change it. I was talking to one girl, watching her face light up as I explained that at some point revolutionary movements will come to Canada, and that we need to prepare and build the party before that happens in order to win. Before I could even invite her to our upcoming event, she interrupted, saying ‘I want to join!’” (Marissa, Humber College)
“During this year’s fall recruitment campaign at UofT, we have been more upfront about the gravity of our work. Rather than deterring students, this seriousness is drawing them to us! I told this contact that we are building a party of professional revolutionaries who dedicate their lives to overthrowing capitalism. When I asked if they wanted to get organized with us, they told me they have been ready to since they were 13!” (Hikari, UofT)
Even if they don’t realize it, these young people are looking for communism. They just need to be convinced—and that’s exactly what comrades are doing.
“I met a girl who was starting her first year at McGill… Although her Hong Kong parents propagandized her against communism for all her life, she was curious, and so I invited her to our open branch meeting. She later admitted to us that she was planning to come to the branch just to be polite but to tell us afterwards that she wasn’t interested. However, after a presentation by a leading comrade on the philosophical roots of Marxism, followed by a discussion on the topic, she changed her mind! By the end of the following branch, she was convinced to join!” (Noah, McGill)
“These young people are curious and have good instincts, but they feel like they don’t know enough to get active. We invited three of them to discuss and we ended up answering their questions about colonialism, the genocide in Palestine, Marx’s theory of value, the source of profits, inflation, crises of overproduction, economic planning and the inevitability of revolutions – a discussion that lasted almost two hours.” (Alberto, Cégep Marie-Victorin)
Marxism resonates with young people because it is the only set of ideas that accurately explains why capitalism is in crisis, and how to end it. It expresses what they already know to be true.
“They understand intuitively the class divide, the nature of the state as an oppressive apparatus, and that capitalism is past the point of reform. They might not have the exact words and don’t know all the answers, but they want to read and to fight for communism!” (Hikari, UofT)
This mood exists across the country. A layer of youth and workers are ready to fight for a new society, but that energy needs to be organized and channeled in the right direction. We need to build the revolutionary party, and turn it into a force strong enough to reach the broader working class.
The stronger the party, the better able we will be to fight against the austerity and attacks on the working class that are coming.
The stronger the party, the better able we will be to cut across the nonsense of right populists, trying to use anger at the system for their own ends.
And, with the party, we can organize to win leadership of the working class and overthrow capitalism.
Then, we will be free to sweep away all the horrors and injustice of the old society, and create the world anew.
If you’re not sure if you’re a communist, if you have questions—join us, we’ve got answers.
If you are a communist, join us, and build your party!
