On May 1 this year, the Trotskyist Fraction (FT) — an international revolutionary socialist organization spanning multiple countries and continents — came together for a virtual international rally to celebrate May Day. Over 7,000 people across the world joined the livestream. Socialist leaders from 14 different countries spoke in 6 different languages to address a wide variety of topics, but they had one singular message: the current crisis is caused by capitalism and we will not pay for their crisis. Instead, we must build our own independent, international organizations that will fight for the working class and oppressed when they come under attack and that will join together in the fight for socialism. Left Voice is publishing transcripts and videos of each speech. Watch the entire livestream on Left Voice. 

Paola Zeledón is an Amazon worker and member of the Socialist Organization (OS) in Costa Rica, as well as a member of Pan y Rosas (Bread and Roses). 

2020 is marked by a pandemic and a global economic crisis. The virus is natural, but capitalism is the cause of the crisis that has hit even the most important cities in the world.

In Costa Rica, in the midst of this crisis, the government of Carlos Alvarado has done everything possible to maintain the profits of businesses and the big capitalists. 

Informal and precarious work currently accounts for 47% of the labor force. In addition, multinational and imperialist capital is plundering the country’s resources via the foreign debt and the exploitation of thousands in free-trade zones and agro-industry.

A few weeks ago, the Socialist Organization (OS) joined the international network of revolutionary online newspapers, launching La Izquierda Diario Costa Rica. We are fighting to ensure that the working class does not pay for this crisis. 

We have great pride, this May Day — International Workers’ Day. We send our greetings to this internationalist and revolutionary rally.