PRISM

Protest tryptich art by the UGAT-LAHI visual arts group shows a powerful morphing image of three presidents of the Philippines particularly known for their brazenly savage support for military-sponsored killings: Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled as dictator from 1972 to 1986; Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who benefitted from a second People Power revolt to become president from 2001 to 2010 but likewise coddled butcher-generals; and incumbent Rodrigo Duterte, whose regime's own bloody record is said to have now reached the same proportions as that of Marcos in his 14 years of fascist dictatorship. The 49th anniversary of Marcos' declaration of martial law is being marked this year by various anti-fascist alliances, with focus on the unprecedented mass killings.

Demonstrators protest against police brutality on Times Square in New York's Manhattan district, the United States, May 31, 2020. Daily mass protests have spread across hundreds of US cities, as a justified public response against fascist police brutality in the aftermath of the brazen killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers through the now infamous “knee-on-neck” restraint. [Photo by Xinhua]

On 22 April 2020, all anti-imperialists, socialists and revolutionaries throughout the world commemorated the 150th birth anniversary of Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov or Lenin, the great Marxist thinker, leader of the revolutionary proletariat, founder of the first socialist state, and prolific author of books and articles. Tap here for a paper by Prof. Jose Ma. Sison on the life and legacy of the great Lenin. [Photo colorization by Klimbim]

The Covid-19 pandemic, which broke into the world stage in January 2020, has contributed to the socio-economic crisis of global capitalism, already teetering near the edge of another recession, finally falling into the chasm. Worst affected by the twin tsunamis are the billions of impoverished working people both in imperialist countries, in their neocolonies, and the few states assertive of their national independence, Tap here for a paper by Joma Sison summarizing the fast-unfolding international situation. [Illustration based on ILO photo]

In the fall of 1938, the Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth CPC Central Committee was held in Yan'an. This photo shows members of the presidium of the plenary session. Front row from left: Kang Sheng, Mao Zedong, Wang Jiaxiang, Zhu De, Xiang Ying and Wang Ming; back row from left: Chen Yun, Bo Gu, Peng Dehuai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai and Zhang Wentian. [Photo/The history of the CPC]

Armed workers in Shanghai uprising 1926-27

Between September 1926 and March 1927, the Communist Party of China leads three armed uprisings by the Shanghai working class. Photo shows a formation of armed workers who joined the Shanghai uprising. [Photo/History of the CPC] For more historical photos of events in China's new-democratic revolution (Part 1), tap here.

Following the unsuccessful Autumn Harvest Uprising in September 1927, Mao Zedong led its remaining men to the Jinggang Mountains, founding there the first rural revolutionary base. The picture shows the oil painting "Autumn Harvest Uprising". [Photo/Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution.] For the latest on the "Universality of People's War" debate, tap here.

THIS WEEK’S MAIN STORY

ON THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE MARCOS FASCIST DICTATORSHIP

Today, 21 September 2020, marks the 48th anniversary of the declaration of martial law throughout the Philippines by then President Ferdinand Marcos. In the declaration, he arrogated unto himself absolute powers on the pretext of defeating a Communist Party-led armed rebellion, “saving the Republic, and building a New Society.” Marcos and his wife Imelda, their families, their clique of military generals and favored big bureaucrats and capitalist cronies, thereby ushered in a 14-year fascist dictatorship, which legacies are felt until now.

This is the full-text version of an online talk by Prof. Jose Maria Sison on the Filipino peopleʼs long but victorious struggle against that dictatorship, its social roots, impacts, and lessons for the present and future. The talk was hosted by Edna Becher of Anakbayan-Europa on 20 September 2020.

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