Socialism has long been a dirty word in America. Unfortunately, some are starting to lose this horror of Marxism, and leftists are attempting to ignite a socialist revolution in America. This reality is becoming impossible to ignore.
In face of this, two vanloads of TFP volunteers drove to New York City with one goal in mind: to warn them about the dangers of socialism.
Staten Island Gives A Definitive “No!” to Socialism
The volunteers distributed thousands of flyers, titled “10 Reasons to Reject Socialism.” Their primary goal was to distribute as many as possible and engage in conversations with New Yorkers about the topic.
People often imagine New York to be a leftist stronghold, whose residents are a “lost cause.”
That impression was quickly dispelled in our opening campaign in Staten Island, the southernmost borough of the city. This rally saw a tidal wave of support, as cars were honking so loudly that our volunteers struggled to hear each other.
Towards the end of the rally, two Catholics approached and thanked us for being there. One of them was familiar with the TFP Student Action videos and joined us for another rally in Manhattan two days later.
The opposition was sparse and silent compared to the enthusiastic support we encountered. We quickly realized that the leftist aura surrounding New York is not invincible.
Do the Marginalized Really Support Socialism?
On day two, we made our way up to an intersection in the Bronx, just outside Fordham University. This area was noticeably poorer and consisted of a strong Latino population. According to socialists, these lower-income areas belong to them.
However, the locals disagreed. Many of their families fled Marxist regimes in Venezuela and Cuba, hoping to find a better life in the free-market economy of the United States.
One Cuban man approached us and told one of our volunteers:
“A normal person in Cuba does not have half of what the poorest person here in the U.S. has. People here don’t understand that here, we have running water 24/7 and many other basic amenities, but in Cuba, they don’t have them.”
Another man took our flyer and stated, “I don’t need ten reasons to reject socialism. I only need one.”
When we chanted the slogan, “New York is not Venezuela,” many people could be seen smiling and giving a thumbs-up.
This positive reception was encouraging, especially coming from those whom the left desperately targets with socialist ideology.
“Not All of Us Are Like That!”
Following our success in the Bronx, we then campaigned in midtown Manhattan. We handed out flyers at Grand Central Station, the New York Public Library, and Columbia University.
In these areas, arguably the most liberal in the city, we expected hostility and even aggressive behavior.
There were some dissenters, to be sure. One student at Columbia claimed that the “U.S.A should become the U.S.S.A,” implying that we should imitate the Soviet regime that killed millions of its own citizens. Another college student professed a litany of absurdities, including “I am a racist” and “I am in favor of theft.”
One woman argued that we were “drinking the Kool-Aid” by opposing socialism. Ironically, she was referencing the Jonestown mass suicide in Guyana in 1978, where 909 people died after drinking fruit punch laced with cyanide. Perhaps she didn’t realize that Jim Jones, the founder of Jonestown, established it as a “utopia” dedicated to “apostolic socialism.”
However, not all New Yorkers are rabidly socialist. As one TFP volunteer was being insulted by a socialist, another man patted him on the back and said, “Don’t worry, not all of us are like that! Keep doing what you do!”
At Grand Central, one man explained that his parents escaped Croatia, when it was under communism during the Cold War. He told us, “I am so glad that I didn’t have to grow up in a socialist republic, and I hope America doesn’t turn into one.”
At the Public Library, one woman said, “I’ve seen you on social media before, and I know you get attacked a lot. I will be praying that you stay safe this afternoon. May God bless you!”
New York Is Not Venezuela, and Never Will Be!
We were surprised by the support and good conversations we had in the city. We realized that many New Yorkers do not fit in the leftist mold and oppose socialist ideology with a passion.
One of our most popular slogans was “New York is not Venezuela, and never will be!”
It was clear that these words resonated profoundly with locals. New York was founded by immigrants seeking a better life, many of them escaping from Marxist regimes. The last thing they want is to bring these leftist miseries with them.
Our experience in New York City cemented our resolve to fight vigorously to keep it free from socialist disaster. It will indeed be a long, tedious battle. But, with the grace of God, it is a battle we can win, and that is what matters most.
Photo Credit: American TFP Photo Archive
First published on TFP.org