Anti-Capitalism – 2002

By Maksim Malyshev
NSC Youth Correspondent in Leningrad

Mass actions of protest are taking place all over the world. The working class is defending its class interests with all means at their disposal. Even those who according to Russian standards live not too badly off, are rising up to fight against capitalism and globalization of the world A very active part in this struggle is being played by youth.

Governments in many instances are backing down, trying to keep themselves in power.

The world is bubbling. The storms of protests are spreading all over the Western world, the East and Latin America is in the throws of demonstrations

Russia in the XXI Century! What is ahead for us?

The young generation of "children of perestroika" is now beginning to understand, that the high standard of living and money of the upper class parasites is closed to them. They are looking for answers.

What is the answer of the government?

Be patient and obedient, work, maybe you will succeed. The principal of the colonial Roman Empire; "Divide and rule" is constantly being used against the people. "All your troubles are caused by "churki" and "Zhydy"! "Hit them, pummel them!" Yes, not far behind in this campaign are representatives from the "south" blaming the "north" in the anti-social criticism. Our cities are full of narcotics. They are not allowed to behave like this in their own countries.

But, is a Russian capitalist bourgeois better? Are not the Russian civil servants in high positions who look very placidly at the dismemberment of Russia any better?

What is important is what kind of person you are, not what kind of nationality you are.

What do we propose?

Last September 14-15 the "Vanguard of Red Youth" (AKM) together with many other left organizations of Russia, Ukraine and Byelorussia organized a Youth March of the left forces.

In this Youth March there took part practically all left wing youth organizations of these three republics: AKM, National Bolshevik Party, Union of Red Youth, Russian Communist Union of Young Bolshevik Youth (RKSM(b)), Russian Workers Party, Russian Party of Communists, Young Guard of Union of Officers, All Union Youth Guard of Bolsheviks.

More and more young people are coming under the banners of different communist, patriotic, anarchistic organizations in the struggle against capitalism. The Putin regime has rotted away so much, that against him are now demonstrating even many religious and right-wing organizations, as an example: the Socialist Union. Against the capitalization of former USSR there is taking part in demonstrations the Orthodox State Party of Ukraine. Both of these organizations also took part in the Youth March.

The march "Anti-Capitalism 2002: Russia without Putin" marched in Moscow and its outskirts. The main slogans of this Youth March were: "Freedom for Political Prisoners!"; "No political repression under the fig leaf of fighting terrorism!"; "Putin - depart!"; "Capitalism is death - Socialism is Life"

People came to Moscow by all means possible from different regions and in all manner of transportation. The groups from Leningrad came by electrical trains. 16 hours and we were in Moscow. We explained to the people, to the passengers and to the people at the train stations the purpose of our Youth March and sang revolutionary Soviet songs. The driver of one of the trains was so impressed that he switched on the loudspeakers in all the wagons and the music was carried from Leningrad all the way to Moscow.

In the city of Korolev, the Putin militia tried to stop us on the streets. Long waiting in the square produced results in our talks with the militia… the March was allowed to take place through the streets and then onto the train again. We held concerts and meetings wherever we stopped. Taking part was the Medical Institute and their representatives explained the plight of the people in getting medical help. Pensioners, who receive only a miserable 100 rubles, have to buy their medicines which cost 1500-2000 rubles! A mother with a young baby told the crowd assembled that her baby needed an immediate operation, but the doctors demanded $30,000. Where could this mother get such money? The three-year old girl died for lack of help.

In Moscow the March of youth was to hold a meeting at the monument to Marshal Zhukov, but the city authorities closed off all streets to the Marshal Zhukov monument. Therefore we held a meeting and concert at the Triumph Square. It became known after that this was a provocation arranged by Moscow authorities. They decided to attack us before we all came together. The street to the square was filled with busses, trucks and army trucks full of OMON personnel, the Russian version of German SS. They were also helped by the Internal Security forces. There were no ambulances at all – it was all very well planned.

Besides all this force, there was a second line of steel fences and behind them, masked and armed OMON in two full solid lines. Our youth were ready, well behaved, no drunkenness, no bottles of beer and no rocks or weapons. The Internal Security Forces (FSB), were video taping all the participants.

Coming to help the young marchers were older Muscovites who saw what was in store for these brave marchers.

The Youth Marchers made a platform on top of the transport truck "ZIL." Music was playing, Soviet songs, many speakers addressed the thousands that gathered. There is not one section of the people that this capitalism has not affected. The most suffering is by the school children who in many cases are forced to work, starting even at three years of age. Girls as young as 13 years of age are forced into prostitution. The state promotes Internet sites full of sex and pornography. The basic elementary subjects like mathematics, physics, literature – are taught at a minimum The low quality of life shows that only about 5% of the school children are fully healthy.

We saw that around the Hotel Beijing were gathering young people and in their pockets we saw bottles filled with gasoline. The situation was growing tense.

We found out then that we were barred from going through Moscow. We decided to try and break out of-the encirclement by the OMON. The spearhead of our attempt to break out of this encirclement was the members of the AKM and NBP. The OMON (SS) attacked us viciously and bloodily. They beat the boys and girls and they beat everyone with rubber batons across the kidneys specifically. Those who fell down under the blows, lying on the ground, were also beaten, stomped upon and viciously kicked. They twisted and broke arms, legs. This carnage was not stopped by the cries and pleas of the youth or the Muscovites who rushed to their rescue. The streets were filled with blood running like a river. The OMON police looked as if they were on dope, in their eyes there was the killer instinct. No feelings, no emotions, just like a robot. The aim was to beat, break, kick, pummel, if moving, beat more and if it is necessary kill… these fascists had no emotions at all!

Then came the militia troop with vicious dogs. A command was given to arrest every single young demonstrator. They arrested and beat a popular and talented singer Ivan Baranov, member of the AKM. The police beat and arrested hundreds of young marchers.

Some of the demonstrators face very heavy jail sentences. The provocateurs who were organized by the OMON police were the ones who threw these Molotov cocktails but our young marchers were arrested ad charged.

The Putin regime has again unmasked itself and thrown off the "democratic" mask and showed its real beastly manner.

But the youth let it be known to the present regime, that they will not forgive the attacks against our country and our people!

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