Stormy May First in Moscow

Felix Gorelik

The dictatorship of the Russian capitalist class bases itself on blind faith in Putin as the "statesman" and a "patriot".

But the series of his "reforms" – "Putin’s demands" had put an end to these myths. This was shown by the events at the First of May celebration and demonstration in Moscow, where tens of thousands of people under the red flags and banners, said "NO" to the politics of Putin.

The future is in the hands of the youth. Unfortunately today the majority of the youth are still apolitical or going "together with the flow". But on May 1^st all these things came to a head and heading this movement was the revolutionary vanguard of youth, and the future lies in their hands. In front of the masses of people, there marched the columns of revolutionary youth, AKM "Vanguard of Communist Youth" plus "National Bolshevik Youth". Energy flowed in their steps, the air was electrifying, they were full of energy, and the boys and girls were chanting: "Comrades Onward! Chase the bourgeoisie out! There is no saving the country without a class struggle! Soon, soon the Aurora will fire again! End the reforms by flying the Red Flag over the Kremlin! Our Motherland is the USSR! Capitalism is dirt! Socialism cannot be stopped! Lenin, Party and Komsomol!"

Putin got the worst of these chanted-shouted slogans:

These slogans are for revolutionary changes and these slogans were heard all over Moscow and, the leaflets that were distributed supported the slogans. In front was the marching youth of AKM and they had a dog on a leash with a mask of Putin over the dogs face. In the middle of the marching columns there was a sound truck blaring Soviet music and a tremendous portrait of Stalin at its front. plus all the flags of the 15 Republics of the Soviet Union. Speaking over the microphone was the well-known poet, composer and singer A. Kharchukov, who recited his poems and sang his songs.

There were top representatives in this joint demonstration of the left parties, such as RCWP, CPRF, AKM, and these leaders spoke at this joint manifestation.

The May Day meeting and demonstration was over when an incident took place. During this tens of thousands strong demonstration, Putin’s OMON police took into custody 6 young members of AKM, because they burnt a portrait of Putin. They threw then into a bus and took them away. The head of AKM, S. Udalcov was horribly beaten up before the May Day celebrations. He, very heavily bruised, called upon the demonstrators not to disperse but march in orderly columns to the offices of the General Prosecutor and demand the release of the six young prisoners of the AKM. The multitude agreed with his call and marched together.

The hundreds of young people, with red flags flying, marched and led the people to the Prosecutors office. The young AKM members took apart the iron barriers in front of the building that were blocking the marchers. Immediately there came many busses with over one hundred OMON police with large clubs on the ready. It looked as if there would be bloodshed on the street. But, Putin’s OMON leadership, seeing the large crowd, dedication and determination of the people, decided not to use force. One by one the arrested AKM members were freed. Victory was achieved!

The six freed AKM members marched and sang patriotic songs and chanted slogans as they marched to the Metro stations on their way home.

This was an excellent, proud and dedicated show of solidarity!

Speaking at the meeting, Ulas spoke the words of M. Gorky from the "Song of Burevestnik" – "Storm! Soon the Storm will strike!

The time for the storm is not far away. But the dark storm clouds are hanging very low over Putin’s Russia and are gathering momentum!