Comrades! The Communist Party USA (CPUSA) sends its warmest greetings and extends its profoundest solidarity on the eve of the 56th Congress of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB).    

      2020 and 2021 have been difficult years for the people of the world, especially for working people who have faced a global pandemic and a systemic crisis of capitalism. As usual, the ruling classes intend to make the workers pay for their crisis, to drive down living standards, to divide the working class etc. In addition, they intend to make the workers of the world sacrifice themselves in labor to keep the profits flowing. Thus, in addition to normal exploitation, and normal unsafe working conditions, we have workers being forced to enter workplaces that expose them to COVID-19. This new level of disregard for proletarian lives comes as a shock to many and is denormalizing capitalist governance in the minds and hearts of many who had been lulled into the rhythm of neoliberal operations.

      Given the current crisis, nothing is needed more than leadership for the struggle; thus, it is heartening to see our comrades gathering around Marxist-Leninist principles, it is heartening to see a gathering like that of the CPB. Reading the literature for your 56th Congress is a refreshing and enlivening experience. Reading the Morning Star, following your bold and courageous actions in the fight for the workers raises morale and lifts the fighting spirit of communists everywhere.  Wherever the bourgeoisie is spreading its billion-dollar propaganda aiming to divide and bamboozle workers, we need to be there telling the plain and simple truth regarding imperialism and giving popular expression to popular needs and demands.

      The CPUSA and the CPB face off against ruling classes that are closely linked. In order to defeat them, we need to excel at building international solidarity. When the U.S. was in the midst of its Civil War, the support the Union received from the workers of Britain played a decisive role in defeating the Confederacy and ending slavery. It was the principled stand of the workers and the sacrifices they were willing to make that sealed the fate of U.S. slavery. Such heroism is needed today more than ever; the bonds of gratitude and comradeship forged in such acts are needed today more than ever.

      Congratulations on keeping the red flag flying for these great many years. Congratulations on staying true to the principles of our movement. Congratulations on offering the working class of Britain a liberatory articulation of their needs and demands. Today, comrades around the world are regrouping for the struggle for socialism and to fight for the working class along the lines that principled Parties are consolidating.

‘The crisis is capitalism – Take the road to socialism!’     

Long live Communist Internationalism! Long live the Communist Party of Britain!

Alvaro Rodriguez

International Secretary of the Communist Party USA

On Behalf of the co-leaders of the CPUSA Rossana Cambron and Joe Sims