Call for Participation

We are in the midst of an intense struggle over the direction of society. The Brazilian people endured the tragedy of the Bolsonaro government, drawing lessons about the authoritarian nature of its project. Through intense social and political mobilization, we managed to defeat him at the polls. However, Bolsonarism still maintains a significant presence in society and within institutional spheres. This, however, is not a problem that only affects Brazil — it affects the rights of the working class and peoples around the world. The far right governs or is close to governing in much of Europe. It rules the world’s greatest military power as well as India. Across the globe, it demonstrates its strength and places pressure on governments that claim to be democratic-popular, as well as on liberal governments of all kinds.

Organizations based in southern Brazil called the 1st International Antifascist Conference, originally scheduled for May 2024. At that time, however, the state of Rio Grande do Sul was struck by the greatest flood in its history, the direct result of climate change, impacting millions of people. Hundreds of individuals representing causes and struggles from 31 countries across 6 continents had already responded to the call. Given the gravity of the situation, it was a difficult but absolutely necessary decision to cancel the event, so that all efforts could be directed toward the reconstruction of the devastated cities. Now the time has come to resume the call for the Conference, maintaining the same principles that guided the original initiative.

The reach and growth of fascist and far-right forces at the global level are supported and encouraged by significant sectors of big capital. The rise of the far right, alongside the emergence of explicitly fascist or neo-fascist organizations, coincides with the first reckonings of the traumatic experiences represented by Donald Trump’s government in the United States and Jair Bolsonaro’s in Brazil. In neighboring Argentina, Javier Milei is waging war against the working class, the popular sectors, and the youth, working to destroy historic social and democratic rights and achievements. Fortunately, Milei faces important popular resistance, and manifestations of resistance are also growing in the United States against Trump.

At the time we send out this invitation, Netanyahu’s neo-fascist government continues to systematically carry out genocide against the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip. This is only possible thanks to the active military and economic support of the U.S. government and the complicity of its allies, in particular the governments of Western Europe. It has also been made possible by the passivity of other governments that have failed to sanction Israel. Yet this has not prevented tens of millions of citizens from mobilizing permanently in solidarity with the Palestinian people and for an end to the genocide.

Alongside the advance of the far right, governments massively increase military spending, refuse to adopt the urgent measures needed to confront climate change and the deepening ecological crisis, restrict the exercise of democratic freedoms, implement inhumane policies that violate the rights of migrants and the right to asylum, promote racist and homophobic behavior, attack the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ people, and threaten the right of peoples to self-determination.

In Porto Alegre, a city of important democratic traditions and aspirations, we seek to create an experience of unity among forces with militant presence and social relevance, within the electoral field as well as the broader political and ideological terrain. Our priority is the struggle against the far right on multiple fronts, based on political unity agreements that respect differences.

From the initiative of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), the Workers’ Party (PT), and the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) in Rio Grande do Sul, we call on international antifascist forces to open a dialogue capable of confronting the destruction promoted by the neo-fascist wave, prioritizing unity on all fronts against the far right. Porto Alegre was the center of the popular resistance that defeated a coup d’état in 1961 and, at the beginning of this century, was the stage of the World Social Forum, which brought together different expressions of the left and social organizations. Hundreds of thousands took part in that process of building unity for another possible world.

It is to respond to the challenges that humanity and communities face that we invite you to Porto Alegre from March 26th to 29th. The purpose is to debate and to strengthen struggles in the streets and other spaces. To confront the expressions of the far right and fascism and put into practice solidarity among resisting people, to defend social and economic rights, democratic freedoms, the environment, science and art, and to oppose all forms of exploitation, xenophobia, and any other type of oppression. We call on all organizations, personalities, movements, and political actors who wish to join this initiative and support the 1st International Antifascist Conference.

Antifascist greetings,

PSOL, PT, PCdoB