“Black Voices for Peace” Inspires Hope

Speaking at a packed Black History Month event, “Black Voices for Peace – Gaza to Connecticut,” CPUSA co-chair Joe Sims recounted the remarkable story of his grandmother Pauline Taylor, paying tribute to her and other stalwart freedom fighters in the struggle for peace, racial and economic equality.

Sims' story culminated an exciting and inspiring standing-room-only program at the New Haven Peoples Center. He called for stepped up efforts on behalf of a ceasefire in Gaza as necessary to expand democracy and defeat the fascist minded MAGA forces in November's election.

The event marked the 50th annual People's World Black History Month celebration, featuring a youth competition, song, drumming, a workers' rights panel and Sims address.

Welcome drumming by Brian Jarawa Gray and friends, paid tribute to Edie Fishman, who passed away just four days earlier at the age of 102, honoring her tireless commitment to the working class struggle.

Emcee Mary Thigpen, Local 34 retiree and an organizer with the Connecticut CPUSA welcomed everyone. The entire crowd joined in with Scotticesa Marks Miller's performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”.

Arts & Writing Competition winners got tremendous applause with a seventh grade class dance performance including Rep Cori Bush's call for ceasefire and peace..

A Workers’ Rights Panel, moderated by Connecticut CPUSA organizer Jahmal Henderson, included Seth Freeman, President, 4C’s SEIU, Pam Reed Johnson, Executive Board, 1199 SEIU, and Stephanie Deceus, Vice President, 1199 SEIU.

Johnson, who works at Oak Hill School in Hartford, highlighted 1199’s courageous statewide strike for improved wages and healthcare benefits last year.

Freeman denounced the devastating budget cuts at Connecticut State Community Colleges causing elimination of cafeteria services, student support and class offerings, disproportionately impacting Black and brown students. He said his union overwhelmingly passed resolutions for a ceasefire and to shift militry funding to human needs out of concern with everyone, not just their own isssues.

Recounting the story of Pauline Taylor, Sims shared the tragic story of her grandmother, beaten to death at age 35 for refusing to carry water, and a strike in Alabama in 1920 attacked by 5,000 troops where poor whites broke the railroad tracks to help the miners escape. Going north during the Great Migration, Taylor supported a steelworkers organizing drive attacked by police in 1937. She toured the country on behalf of peace during the Korean War and supported the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa..