On March 18, 1871,
workers in Paris rose up to stop an attempt by the French army
to steal cannons that had been purchased for the city’s
defense in the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian war. The French
government of Adolphe Thiers fled the city in panic, and power
passed into the hands of the armed working class. Elections
were held on March 26 that created the Paris Commune, the first workers
state in history.
The Commune was an
entirely new form of state power that set out to build a
classless society based on equality. But in the infamous
Bloody Week of May 21-28, Thiers and the French army stormed
Paris with heavy artillery—indiscriminately murdering men,
women and children suspected of having fought for,
participated in or sympathized with the Commune.
At enormous cost
in blood, the Commune lives on as a priceless experience for
the international working class of today, whose lives, health,
and living standards depend on their struggle for state power
in every country.
The speakers will
include David
North, Alex
Lantier, and more to be announced.
Saturday April 3
10:00 AM
US Pacific Time
Saturday April 3
1:00 PM
US Eastern Time
Time zone
Conversions:
Mexico City:
11am, Saturday, April 3
London: 6pm,
Saturday, April 3
Paris: 7pm,
Saturday, April 3
Istanbul:
8pm, Saturday, April 3
Mumbai:
10:30pm, Saturday, April 3
Beijing: 1am,
Sunday, April 4
Sydney: 3am,
Sunday, April 4