Description of Award
The Kwame Ture Black Star of Labor Award (KTBSLA) began as the Black Star of Labor Award. Following the transition of the immortal Kwame Ture to the Ancestors in 1998, the award was renamed after him. Kwame Ture, formerly known as Stokely Carmichael, spent his entire life in service to African people and all of humanity. This service was manifested in his tireless work to organize African people for revolutionary change against capitalism, imperialism and white supremacy and for Pan Africanism: the total liberation and unification of Africa under one unified socialist government. Throughout his life Kwame Ture was in various organizations (e.g. The All African People’s Revolutionary Party, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, Black Panther Party, and etc.) because he knew that only the masses, properly organized, can defeat the enemy of the people and bring about a new day.
Yahya Al-Sinwar
The first recipient of the Kwame Ture Black Star of Labor Award was originally our beloved ancestor, Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar, who was born October 29, 1962 and martyred October 16, 2024. Yahya Sinwar was a prominent Palestinian militant leader and the head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He served as the chairman of Hamas’s Political Bureau from August 2024 until his death in October 2024. Sinwar was known for his hardline stance against Israel and his role in orchestrating major attacks, including the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
Early Life and Education
Sinwar was born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip to a family displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He completed his studies at the Islamic University of Gaza, earning a bachelor’s degree in Arabic studies. During his time at university, he became involved in Palestinian nationalist student organizations and was detained for his participation in anti-occupation organizing.
Rise within Hamas
In the late 1980s, Sinwar joined Hamas and became one of its founding members. He played a significant role in establishing Hamas’s internal security apparatus, known as Majd, which was responsible for purging suspected collaborators with Israel.
Imprisonment and Release
Sinwar was released in 2011 as part of a prisoner exchange deal involving Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. His release was facilitated by his brother’s involvement in Shalit’s capture. Upon his release, Sinwar quickly ascended within Hamas’s ranks, becoming a senior leader known for his hardline stance and strategic acumen.
Death
On October 16, 2024, Sinwar was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip. The strike was part of Israel’s military operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’s leadership following the October 7 attacks. U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed his death, stating that Sinwar was responsible for the deaths of thousands, including over 1,200 Israelis and 46 Americans.
Legacy
Sinwar’s leadership of Hamas was marked by his uncompromising approach to resistance against Israel and his strategic use of violence. Since his death, his brother Muhammad Sinwar, known as “The Shadow,” has taken command and the Palestinian resistance continues to wage an unrelenting struggle in pursuit of the total liberation of Palestine.
Accepting the award on Yahya Al-Sinwar’s Behalf is Revolutionary Western Sahara Political Prisoner Activist Sultana Khaya
About Sultana Khaya
Sultana Khaya is a prominent Sahrawi human rights activist known for her steadfast advocacy for the independence of Western Sahara and the self-determination of its people. Born in 1986 in Bojador, a city in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, she has become a symbol of resistance against the Moroccan occupation.
Activism and Advocacy
Khaya is the president of the Sahrawi League for the Defense of Human Rights and the Protection of Western Sahara’s Natural Resources in occupied Boujdour. She is also a member of the Sahrawi Commission Against the Moroccan Occupation (ISACOM). Through these organizations, she has organized peaceful demonstrations, denounced human rights abuses, and advocated for the end of violence against Sahrawi women .
Persecution and Human Rights Violations
Since November 2020, Khaya has been subjected to de facto house arrest by Moroccan security forces. Her home has been surrounded, and she has been denied basic necessities such as electricity and running water. Attempts to leave her house have resulted in threats and physical assaults .
In November 2021, Khaya and her family endured a violent raid by Moroccan security forces. She was sexually assaulted, and her sisters and mother were also victims of physical and sexual violence. During the assault, Khaya was forcibly injected with an unknown substance, leading to severe health complications .
Personal Struggles and Resilience
Khaya’s activism has come at a personal cost. In 2007, during a peaceful demonstration, she lost her right eye due to a blow from a Moroccan policeman. Despite receiving treatment in Spain and returning to the occupied territories to continue her activism, she has faced continuous repression .
Call for International Solidarity
Khaya has consistently called for international solidarity to support the Sahrawi people’s struggle for freedom and independence.
Conclusion
Sultana Khaya remains a resilient and influential figure in the fight for Sahrawi self-determination. Her courage in the face of severe repression highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and human rights in Western Sahara.
Also Accepting the award on Yahya Al-Sinwar’s Behalf is Revolutionary Activist and Political Prisoner Advocate of Samidoun and Masar Badil, Khaled Barakat
About Khaled
Khaled Barakat is a Palestinian-Canadian activist, writer, and prominent figure in the international cradle of resistance for Palestinian liberation. He currently sits on the Executive Committee of Masar Badil, the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement, coordinating resistance globally from Lebanon.
Activism and Advocacy
Khaled founded Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network in 2011 with his wife Charlotte Kates, who currently serves as Samidoun’s International Coordinator.
Khaled is also a leader and founder of Masar Badil, Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement, which launched in 2021. The Masar mission is to reject colonial negotiatory projects like the “Madrid Peace Conference” and subsequent Oslo Accords, and restore the Palestinian liberation movement to prioritize revolutionary human principles, and promote the values of volunteer work, sacrifice, solidarity and equality. Masar sees this commitment as a renewal for the national movement in the diaspora, and a milestone in the history of Palestinian people, on the road to achieving liberation and return, from the river to the sea. Masar Badil has hosted multiple student conferences, one of which I had the honor of attending this past October in Madrid.
Repression and Resilience
Khaled has been viciously attacked by the U.S. and Canadian states. On October 15th, 2024, in a joint action with Canada, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Samidoun as a sham charity that serves as an international fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).They also designated Khaled Barakat, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the PFLP. Canada designated Samidoun as a terrorist entity under its criminal code.
Conclusion
Despite the various western campaigns which have sought to discredit and demoralize Khaled, his resolve remains unshaken. Khaled continues to advocate for the axis of resistance, educate the masses on imperialism, and organize students globally. We echo Khaled’s calls in support of the axis of resistance, and the international cradle of resistance. Khaled has promised to pass the Kwame Ture Black Star of Labor award to the family members of our honored martyr Yahya Al-Sinwar, and for that, we thank you greatly.
Communist Party Marxist Kenya
The Communist Party Marxist – Kenya (CPM-K) is a Marxist-Leninist political organization committed to establishing a socialist state in Kenya. It evolved from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), founded in 1992 by Johnstone Makau. Initially, the SDP struggled to gain significant political traction, securing only 177 votes in the 1992 general elections. However, it gained prominence in the 1997 elections when its presidential candidate, Charity Ngilu, received 7.9% of the national vote and the party won 15 seats in the National Assembly. After Ngilu’s departure in 2001, the party’s fortunes declined, and it lost all seats in the 2002 elections. Subsequent elections in 2007 and 2013 saw further setbacks, prompting a reevaluation of the party’s direction.
In 2011, a faction within the SDP, including future leaders Booker Ngesa Omole and Benedict Wachira, began steering the party towards a socialist trajectory. This shift culminated in 2013 when the party embraced a fully socialist ideology grounded in Marxism–Leninism. By 2019, the party officially changed its name to the Communist Party of Kenya, becoming the first registered socialist political party in Kenya since the 1965 constitutional ban under Sessional Paper No. 10.
In November 2024, the party underwent a significant rebranding during its second national congress, adopting the name Communist Party Marxist – Kenya (CPM-K). This rebranding was accompanied by the introduction of new symbols, including a red star and a hammer and sickle in gold, reflecting the party’s commitment to revolutionary ideals. Booker Omole was elected as the General Secretary, succeeding the previous leadership following a split from a faction that had aligned with the Kenya Kwanza coalition. Omole emphasized the party’s dedication to workers’ rights and its Marxist principles, guiding CPM-K through significant ideological and organizational changes.
CPM-K’s manifesto advocates for sustainable development, social justice, civic and political liberties, and human rights, aiming to transform Kenya into a socialist state that reflects the aspirations of its majority. The party envisions a society free from capitalist and neo-colonial exploitation, emphasizing participatory democracy and the empowerment of workers and peasants.
Union of Nigerien Students
The Union des Scolaires Nigériens (USN) is a prominent student and educational union in Niger, established to represent the interests of students from primary through higher education. Founded in 1960, the USN has played a pivotal role in advocating for educational reforms, student rights, and social justice within the country.
Origins and Founding
The USN traces its origins to July 1958, with formal registration as an organization under Niger’s Ministry of the Interior on January 2, 1959. Its statutes, submitted by sociologist Diouldé Laya, came into effect on July 16, 1960, marking the official founding date. The founding members were affiliated with smaller groups experienced in organizing protests and demonstrations, such as the Union of Nigerien Students in Dakar and the Nigerien Students’ Association in France. Ideologically, the USN aligned with leftist movements, drawing inspiration from the Federation of Black African Students in France and the West African Students’ Union.
Structure and Affiliations
The USN encompasses various sectorial associations, including the Union of Nigerien Students of University of Niamey (Union des Étudiants Nigériens de l’Université de Niamey) (UENUN), which represents students at the University of Niamey. The UENUN operates with an executive committee comprising six members: a general secretary, an academic and social affairs secretary, a press secretary, and a sports and cultural affairs secretary, along with their respective assistants. Additionally, the USN maintains sections abroad to represent the interests of the Nigerien diaspora.
Historical Significance and Activism
Throughout its history, the USN has been instrumental in advocating for educational reforms and student rights. Notably, in February 1990, the UENUN organized a demonstration to protest against the privatization of university services and the withholding of scholarships. The protest escalated into violent clashes with security forces, resulting in the deaths of several students, an event now known as the “Kennedy Bridge Massacre.” This incident significantly contributed to the erosion of support for the regime of President Ali Saïbou.
In 1990, the USN was officially recognized as an organization by the state, and its delegates participated in the 1991 National Conference that facilitated Niger’s transition to a multi-party democracy.
Recent Developments
The USN has continued to advocate for students’ rights and it is a member of the All-African Students Union (AASU), an organization that unites student unions from across the African continent. This affiliation underscores the USN’s commitment to continental solidarity and collaboration in addressing educational and social issues affecting students in Africa.
Conclusion
The Union of Nigerien Students stands as a testament to the resilience and activism of Nigerien students. Through its historical and ongoing efforts, the USN continues to be a vital force in advocating for educational equity, social justice, and the rights of students in Niger and beyond.