"I don't see the need for this statement, Bob Avakian is not currently under attack.  And if he comes under attack, I will defend him."

I've been discussing the importance of Engage! statement with all sorts of people who are considering signing on to it and this is an issue that has come up repeatedly. I have thought about this question a lot and wanted to share some of this thinking with others. Hopefully these comments will contribute to the discussion and work to project and protect Bob Avakian.

The logic of this argument, especially in today's highly repressive atmosphere, is deadly.  This government has a pre-emptive doctrine in how they deal with revolutionary leaders.  It is tested throughout history  and has been heightened and sharpened today.

It is naive and wrong to look around and in the absence of open and easily recognized attacks from the state, conclude there is nothing to worry about and no need now to join the network of Engage! signatories.  Moreover, it has been shown to be a disastrous dynamic to wait until they bring down the force of the state.   By that time, many things would already be in motion.  Consider the fact that the first "outward" evidence of the plot to go after and murder Malcolm X came with the firebombing of his house three  weeks before he was killed.  Later on, what came to light was  that the FBI had orchestrated a whole campaign of vilification and marginalization in the press and in other ways - in addition to the surveillance and suppression it carried on - and those acts were aimed at creating a climate where Malcolm could be targeted in this way.  It is clear there were all too many people who only spoke up for Malcolm X and what he had brought forward after he died who should have stood up for him earlier.

Now we're in a time where people are tortured for "thought crimes" and anyone can be declared an enemy combatant, be sent to Guantanamo or to a CIA torture camp through extraordinary rendition on the President's say so.  You cannot wait for an attack to occur before setting into motion a movement of people declaring that they intend to defend Avakian's right to freely advocate and organize for his views.  This is like arguing that they should wait until a second Katrina hits before they fix the levees in New Orleans.

This is in line with the painful and bloody history of how they have viciously and ruthlessly repressed, imprisoned and even outright murdered revolutionary leaders - from the 60s through to today.  There is also a history of repression towards Bob Avakian in particular.  He discusses this in detail in his memoir, From Ike to Mao and Beyond.  His garbage was picked through, phones tapped, the FBI had drawings and blueprints of his home and he was facing 241 years in prison for a bogus arrest at a demonstration.  Ask yourself what reason the FBI could have for drawing up detailed floor plans of someone's home?   To take just one example, floor plans were drawn up of Fred Hampton's apartment before he was murdered by the Chicago police.  Today vicious lies and slanders about Bob Avakian circulate and make their way into circles of people who consider themselves progressive and enlightened. There is a need, as the statement says, to call on people to engage with the work of Bob Avakian and for many people to serve notice they intend to defend his right to express and engage broadly with people about his views. 

As a part of this overall program, those currently in power are working very hard to fortify the ideological ceiling on what people think is possible and to rule critical thinking and dissent out of order.  In this situation, Avakian's revolutionary analysis and solutions are "a necessary part of the ferment and discourse required in this society and world at this dark time."  And he is playing a unique role in society today .  As the Engage! statement  puts it, "...he not only theorizes about the world, but plays a special role in organizing and leading that change." 

Many people from all walks of life who  have been introduced to Avakian's vision of socialism and analysis of the possibilities for a revolution in a country like this  feel it has opened up questions that have otherwise been ruled out of order.  I encourage everyone to read over the statements from different signatories to the Engage! statement about why they have signed and what they find provocative about the work of Bob Avakian. And I would also encourage people to have a look at a seven minute video on YouTube, "Next Stop... Revolution" which contains street interviews with people in Watts and South Central Los Angeles about the necessity, possibility and desirability for revolution - and how they see Bob Avakian in that light. 

People have signed onto the Engage! statement for many different reasons and each been provoked in their own ways by what Avakian is contributing, without agreeing with all of his work.  But they all agree this voice should heard and defended.