Wednesday, September 30, 2020

abolish the police

It's not just that the police are infiltrated
By the white supremacist militia organizations
Including the FBI and all law enforcement 
The very institution of the police is racist 

The police exist at the intersection of race and class
Paid to protect white property and businesses 
Arresting poor and working people for the crime
Of showing any sign of resistance to their rule 

When Trump tells the Proud Boys to stand by
Speaking to the storm troopers he commands
While bragging about all his police endorsements 
He is talking openly of a post election fascist coup

When Biden talks of removing a few bad apples
While talking about good police and prosecuting offenders
He is openly promising more of the same oppression
Giving us once again the choice between bad and worse

It has come to this as the facade of democracy crumbles
Expecting the police may try to confiscate the ballots 
The demand to count every vote will become a rallying cry
Bringing huge numbers of people to march in protest 

A power struggle against the forces of repression
Mobilizing millions of people to oppose tyranny and seize the day
Must go beyond nominal democratic restoration to abolish the police
To constitute an entirely new force that truly protects and serves us

Ramapo Valley September 30, 2020

album

Monday, September 28, 2020

Skylands September 28, 2020

album

a song of peace and love

Such a seemingly innocuous song of peace and love
Celebrating the dawning of the Age of Aquarius 
An apparent anathema to serious revolutionary struggle
And yet the sensibility entails a radical shift 

Peace demands an end to imperialist wars
Love that follows the golden rule demands equal rights
Caring for everyone in the human family
Providing food shelter education medicine and opportunity 

Sanctions are an act of war attacking the civilian population
That peaceful loving people cannot abide
White supremacy and misanthropic tropes spewing hate
Can only be rejected adamantly by feelings of love

A century ago a similar slogan spoke to the masses
Suffering from imperialist war and starvation
Coalescing into a demand for peace and bread
Simple enough and yet the Russian revolution followed 

Peace not war! Love not hate! Half a century ago
Who would not want to be with that?
And yet there were many opposed to it
Who battled back in the reactionary culture wars

Theirs is a lost cause that fights on viciously 
Using all their dirty tricks to subvert the majority
Hastening the uprising that will be game over for them
Implementing justice for all in a new social system