Victory in the streets this first Sunday of June

1. The demonstrations were an unequivocal victory in the streets. They strengthened the fight against Bolsonaro. Those who maintained the call for the organization of demonstrations on this first Sunday of June were right. It is good to remember that, although the theme was tactical, it was very controversial and was, in fact, delicate, due to the high risk of contagion. The position regarding the demonstrations divided the left. PSOL was in favor, PT was publicly divided, and PCdoB did not support them. Other organizations such as PSTU, PCB, and UP were present. But many of their members attended. Maturity prevailed against the danger of provocations. Honest assessments are built by referencing what happened, and not what each person thought before the demonstrations. They were vanguard demonstrations, generally with several thousand young activists. What criteria allow us to conclude that they were positive and accumulated strength for the great struggle that is the fight to overthrow the Bolsonaro government? I suggest four: (a) they weakened Bolsonaro, because they demonstrated that the neo-fascists do not have a monopoly on the streets; (b) They united the anti-fascist struggle with the anti-racist struggle, guaranteeing the presence and visibility of the Black movement's flags at a time when a global wave is rising; (c) They raised the morale of those who participated, and the willingness to fight is one of the decisive factors for the outcome of what is to come; (d) They had an impact on the morale of those who supported but did not participate, because they help to increase the expectation that victory is possible. It will be very difficult, but it is possible. The understanding that actions require discipline is still incomplete, but health concerns were not ignored. The actions confirmed that a new young generation wanted to and would take to the streets, with or without the organized left. Better with it. The actions also illustrated that we must be careful about the omnipotence of thinking that the left has more authority than it actually does. In some capitals and cities like Belém and São Carlos, repression prevented the holding of actions, signaling the extent to which democratic freedoms are already being destroyed.

2. The actions reinforced the idea that "Out with Bolsonaro" should be the minimum banner for building broad unity of action. Nothing more, but also nothing less than that. It will not be possible to mobilize with an ambiguous, dubious, imprecise, abstract, undefined slogan like "defending democracy," brandished in manifestos with the bourgeois opposition. The initiative left the hands of the liberals and returned to the hands of the left. It was symbolic. This is not irrelevant; it has importance in the dispute for the leadership of the opposition. 

3. The events confirmed that the fight against the threat of a self-coup by Bolsonaro will be powerful. The quietist approach of not provoking, waiting as long as necessary, and preparing to defeat Bolsonaro in the elections has proven wrong. The events also revealed how wrong the approach of permanent offensive is. This was made explicit by the decision of some groups to go to Paulista Avenue alone. The role of the MTST and Boulos was key. He was a giant.