The Communist Party of Britain criticizes the coronation of Charles III and the monarchy, calling for the abolition of all powers and institutions relating to the monarchy and their replacement with an elected head of state for ceremonial purposes. They argue that the monarchy embodies the gross inequalities, privilege, and anti-democratic nature of British society, and that dissenting voices have been silenced while the ruling class and mass media promote the spectacle. The Communist Party demands a massive transfer of wealth from the capitalist class to the working class and proposes popular sovereignty based on the people and their elected representatives in parliaments, governments, and mass movements.

Summary:

The gunman who killed eight people and wounded seven others at a suburban Dallas shopping mall had "neo-Nazi ideation" and a fascination with white supremacy and mass shootings, according to officials. The shooter, Mauricio Garcia, had no prior criminal record but was discharged from the US army in 2008 because of mental health issues. Among the dead were two elementary school-age sisters, a couple and their three-year-old son, and a security guard.

Summary:

The murder of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway train highlights the social inequality and polarization in America, revealing the risks faced by the most oppressed and vulnerable sections of the working class. The murder has led to increased discussion of mental health treatment, but this ignores the underlying issues of social conditions and economic inequality. The responsibility for the murder lies with the ruling elite of New York City and American capitalism as a whole, and the reforms needed can only be won through revolutionary struggle against the capitalist system.

Summary: The US and the Philippines have agreed to increase the number of US military bases in the Philippines from five to nine, citing the need to "strengthen security in the face of the Chinese threat." The US is using the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed in 2014 to increase its economic and military presence in the region, with the intention of preventing China from increasing its dominance in the area. The location of the bases is no coincidence, being positioned very close to Taiwan, which China claims as its rightful historical territory. The increase in military presence is seen as a way for the US to continue to sell more military weaponry to Taiwan and increase military industry profits. Meanwhile, the New People's Army (NPA) in the Philippines launched a series of armed actions in the southern part of the island of Panay from May 2 to May 8, showing the strength and vitality of the People's War in the Philippines.

Working Class History on Instagram:

"On this day, 13 May 1985, Philadelphia police attacked the home of Black liberation and environmentalist group MOVE with automatic weapons, then dropped a bomb on it, killing five adults and six children, destroying 61 homes in the predominantly Black neighbourhood, and making 250 people homeless.

Almost 500 police officers fired over 10,000 rounds of ammunition into the house, which was filled with women and children, while other officers blew holes in the walls with explosives. The police commissioner then ordered the house to be bombed, which they did using an improvised device made from C4 given to them by the FBI. Only two people survived the blast and ensuing fire: Ramona Africa, and Michael Ward, aged 13.

While no officials were prosecuted, Ramona Africa was subsequently jailed for seven years on riot and conspiracy charges. The incident occurred during the tenure of Philadelphia's first Black mayor, a Democrat named Wilson Goode. The children killed were named Katricia Dotson (Tree), Netta, Delitia, Phil, and Tomasa Africa and the adults were Rhonda, Teresa, Frank, CP, Conrad, and John Africa.

In April 2021, it was revealed that anthropologists at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania had the bones of one of the children, unbeknownst to the families. More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8508/move-bombing

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Instagram:

"Thirty-eight years ago today the City of Philadelphia dropped a bomb on a rowhouse on Osage Avenue belonging to MOVE, a West Philadelphia-based Black liberation and activist group.⁠ ⁠ The bombing and fire killed 11 people — six MOVE members and five of their children — and destroyed 61 homes in West Philadelphia.⁠ ⁠ On that day, police besieged the MOVE rowhouse for hours, firing rounds of bullets, water cannons, and smoke grenades, and pumping tear gas into the home, before eventually dropping a bomb on its roof.⁠ ⁠ The city then let the fire burn to destroy the bunker atop the home as the then-fire commissioner promised that his firefighters could control the blaze. But the fire engulfed the house and spread to 60 others, decimating the predominantly Black neighborhood.⁠ ⁠ In 2020, Philadelphia City Council officially apologized for the bombing, and established May 13 as “an annual day of observation, reflection and recommitment.”⁠ ⁠ Visit the link in our bio to read The Inquirer’s coverage of the MOVE bombing.⁠ ⁠ 📝 by Tom Gralish / Staff, Larry Price and Gerald S. Williams / The Philadelphia Inquirer, Peter Morgan / AP Photo”