Inspiring rally commemorates legacy of Leon Trotsky
https://www.marxist.com/inspiring-rally-commemorates-legacy-of-leon-trotsky.htm
In Defence of Marxism22 August 2020
Image: public domain
Share
Tweet
The International Marxist Tendency's rally to celebrate the life and
works of Leon Trotsky, 80 years after his assassination in Mexico, was a
great success. It has now been watched over 8,000 times across all
social media channels. We also raised a considerable sum to support the
Trotsky House Museum, which has been closed for the duration of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
This truly international meeting was translated live into several
languages, with participants tuning in all over the world: from Latin
America to the Middle East, from Europe to Asia. A number of people
shared images of themselves watching the rally on social media, both
individually in groups, to commemorate this titan of revolutionary history.
The meeting was chaired by Rob Sewell, editor of the British Marxist
newspaper Socialist Appeal, who began by introducing a documentary about
Trotsky’s life, produced by the International Marxist Tendency to mark
the centenary of the Russian Revolution in 2017.
The film (which has been viewed almost 50,000 times on YouTube) contains
rare historical footage of Trotsky leading the Red Army, as well as
interview footage with his grandson (and director of the Trotsky House
Museum), Esteban Volkov, who reminisces about his family’s time as
exiles in Mexico, up to and including Trotsky’s assassination by Ramón
Mercader on 20 August 1940.
In the documentary, Volkov recalls how Mercader screamed and struggled
like a rat in a trap following his capture, after he committed his vile
deed. “I’ve always had present that image of these hangmen of the GPU,”
he said. “That is what the Stalinist heroes were like.”
He contrasts this cruelty and cowardice with the Trotskyists imprisoned
by Stalin in the Vorkuta gulag, who marched to their executions
defiantly singing the Internationale.
But though Trotksy died, Volkov said, he left behind a “Marxist arsenal”
of books, articles and ideas with which the working class today can arm
itself to combat both the forces of capitalist exploitation, and all
forms of Stalinist, reformist and revisionist slander.
We sold a large amount of this material on the day of the rally, and our
bookshop is still offering The First Five Years of the Communist
International at a special 25% discount!
Support the Trotsky House Museum!
The film was followed by a spoken and written message from Volkov,
honouring his grandfather as “without any doubt... one of the great
Marxists thrown up by humanity,” and offering his warm revolutionary
regards to the IMT:
“Those who today follow [Trotsky’s] teachings most earnestly and
faithfully, without the slightest doubt are the comrades of the
International Marxist Tendency. Leon Trotsky is the beacon to get out of
the barbarism of voracious and insatiable capitalism, which is
destroying our planet earth; and also the beacon to go forward to
another world where peace, justice and equity prevail and human life
becomes an extraordinary experience and adventure beyond imagination.”
Alongside this inspiring message, Volkov also sent us an appeal to
support the Trotsky House Museum, which has not opened its doors to
customers for five months due to the on-going pandemic, and as a result
faces an uncertain future.
In a testament to the enduring legacy of Volkov’s grandfather, and the
historical significance of the house in which he wrote some of his most
important works, our comrades and supporters rose immediately to the
occasion. So far, we have raised over £4,500 for the appeal, with some
individual donations of £100 or more, and money is still coming in. If
you haven’t already, we urge you to make a donation here.
“We are still here!”
The meeting was closed with a speech by Alan Woods, editor of
marxist.com. Alan discussed the tremendous accomplishments Trotsky made
in the realm of revolutionary theory and practice: standing at the head
of the greatest revolution in history, and successfully leading the
fledgling Red Army in its defence.
But he also spoke of Trotsky’s immense sacrifice and courage, in the
face of insurmountable odds - particularly following his exile from
Russia, after which no capitalist nation on earth was willing to offer
him asylum, and he was pursued relentlessly by Stalin’s murderous
agents. The GPU ultimately claimed the lives of nearly all of Trotsky’s
comrades, friends and relatives, as part of a “one-sided civil war
against Bolshevism.”
But despite this, Trotsky persisted in his struggle to build the Left
Opposition, and then the Fourth International, to preserve the authentic
ideas and traditions of Marx, Engels and Lenin. The IMT are the
inheritors of this legacy.
“It’s easy to kill a man or a woman”, Alan concluded. “But it is
impossible to kill an idea whose time has come. Comrades, 80 years after
the death of Trotsky, we are still here.”
The meeting was closed with a video set to the Internationale: the same
anthem of workers’ struggle sung by the Vorkuta prisoners when all hope
seemed lost. These martyrs of our movement gave their lives in the fight
for a better world, and Leon Trotsky stands above them all.
If you are inspired by their sacrifice, and determined to overthrow this
rotten capitalist system, then we urge you to join us!
Read More
Inspiring rally commemorates legacy of Leon Trotsky 22 Aug 2020
Trotsky’s ideas more relevant than ever: international rally 20 Aug 2020
International Marxist University 2020: the power of ideas 29 Jul 2020
Marxist University off to a phenomenal start! 27 Jul 2020
5,000 registered to attend Marxist University! A watershed for the
revolutionary movement 23 Jul 2020
Join us!
If you want more information about joining the IMT, fill in this form.
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Name
Email
Phone number
Country
State / province
City / town
Message
Receive our newsletter?Do you agree to our terms and conditions?
Sitemap
Search
All tags
Newsletters
This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your
preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy
--
___
Carl Sagan
“Every aspect of Nature reveals a deep mystery and touches our sense of wonder
and awe. Those afraid of the universe as it really is, those who pretend to
nonexistent knowledge and envision a Cosmos centered on human beings will
prefer the fleeting comforts of superstition. They avoid rather than confront
the world. But those with the courage to explore the weave and structure of the
Cosmos, even where it differs profoundly from their wishes and prejudices, will
penetrate its deepest mysteries.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos