Farmers, workers mark Karl Marx anniversary

From the Visayan Daily Star (May 1): Farmers, workers mark Karl Marx anniversary

Red flags bearing the hammer and sickle filled Rizal-Gatuslao streets of Bacolod City last yesterday as militants, mostly farmers and workers, marked the birth anniversary of their icon for social reform.

Close to a thousand militants marched from three points of Negros Occidental going to the downtown area of Bacolod City to celebrate the 200th birthday of Karl Marx today and to kick-off the international Labor Day protest.

Members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan marched from Murcia (central), Bago City (south), and Silay City (north) to commemorate the life and history of Karl Marx, NFSW chair Rolando Rillo said last night.

He said therewere about 400 individuals from Silay, about 250 from Bago City, and 300 from Murcia who joined the march.

Most of the rallyists brought torches, red flags bearing the hammer and sickle that symbolize Marx’s ideology on communism, and placards with statements on neo-liberalization and contractualization.

Rillosaid that, as Marx discovered, the unity of farmers and workers is significant in changing society and uplifting their current situation.

“They are the progressive force in society and their unity will help their concerns to free them from current situation,” he told the DAILY STAR.

He also said that Negrenses should learn from Marx’s ideologies as they inspired the farmers and workers to fight for their rights for land reform amid the industrialization on a national scale.

Marx, as a social scientist, had been very significant in helping to show that progress starts in the hands of the farmers and workers, he added.

A short program was conducted in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral last night where militants listened to speeches about Karl Marx and sang the “Internationale”, the communist song.

Rillo said they will camp in front of the Department of Labor and Employment Provincial Office after the program and hold cultural presentations.

Today, NFSW and other partner organizations will march along Araneta Street of Bacolod to air their sentiments on labor issues like President Rodrigo Duterte’s non-signing of the law to end contractualization, and farmworkers wage increase, Rillo added.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/May/01/topstory9.htm