LOS ANGELES, CA — After trying to pass a motion for a “5-minute strike” to protest the racist murder of Darrick Collins by the LA Sheriffs, LA transit mechanics have been trying to increase CHALLENGE networks. The following are excerpts of these discussions:

After the union meeting, a group of CHALLENGE readers, African-American, Latino, and white, went to a coffee shop to continue the discussion. Even though the motion hadn’t passed, there was a feeling of victory, because they had been able to
successfully carry out an organized political fight.

A comrade told the other workers,” As we know, there’s a lot of talk of rebellions and other actions against police terror. These things will happen. The question is who will lead them and with what politics. The working class and the Party need more African-American workers to take leadership, and that’s why it’s so important for you to be involved and help build a communist base.”

An office worker in transit, sitting in front of his computer, exclaimed, “Wait a minute…This looks important,” as he read out loud the title of the PLP leaflet, “Wanted for Mass Murder: L.A. Sheriffs and Capitalism.” Then he continued, “Let me turn off this computer and read this right now.” He gave $3 for CHALLENGE and said, “What you’re doing is very good. We need this.”

“What a dog!” exclaimed a transit worker when he found out how the mechanics’ union leader had tried to stop Darrick’s uncle, a driver, from speaking at the mechanic’s union meeting.

“And aren’t we all the same union?”

“No, but when they go on strike, we support them and when we go on strike, they support us.”

A third worker said, “This is the role of the sellout union leaders, to keep the workers separated. That’s why it’s so important that we take leadership. Because with a bigger political base, these sellouts won’t be able to get away with this.”

When he gave CHALLENGE to a regular reader, an African-American worker, he said, “Here, take this 50-cent donation.” But then he took out $2 and said, “Better take this so that the paper keeps coming out. Even though I’m not a communist, I know that this is capitalism — and it stinks.”

In a study group a worker reacted furiously at the treatment received by the driver, and he agreed to begin getting out two CHALLENGES to his friends. Here, a comrade explained what we’re trying to do, “Imagine that its 4:00 pm when dozens of thousands of workers and students are riding the buses home. Suddenly the drivers announce to the passengers that they are stopping for a ‘five-minute strike’ to protest the racist murders of the working class by the cops. They pass out leaflets and ask for the support of all those on the buses. At the same time, young Party members on the buses give speeches and pass out CHALLENGE.”

After a gathering at his mother-in-law’s house, a driver who is a CHALLENGE reader sent us a text message about the funeral of Marco Salgado, a bus driver and Iraq war veteran, killed by the police in Ontario, California (40 minutes from Los Angeles) two days before. The driver who sent the text is helping build the struggle in transit against the racist police murders. He says that he’s shown CHALLENGE and Party leaflets to another seven drivers. “Could you give each edition of the paper to your friends?” we asked him. “Of course I can,” he answered.