This article was originally written for Works in Progress, a newspaper just relaunched in Olympia. Print edition to begin in June. Also included is video of talk I gave at No Kings Rally, March 28, 2026. The article is an expanded version of my talk. It deals more with strategy.
All posts by Peter Bohmer
Stop U.S. Wars in the Middle East, Latin America and at Home
Talk at No Kings Rally, March 28th, 2026
Video of my talk at this rally
Trumpism is conducting a war against the people of the U.S. and globally. It is an authoritarian, bullying playbook that violently oppresses and exploits and dehumanizes immigrants and poor people at home and abroad, takes resources from the global South, and demands total U.S. dominance. Let us connect these domestic and global attacks and build the power to stop them. I will focus on the global.
In each of the following cases, there is a continuity of a bipartisan project of US immoral and illegal intervention, and new more blatant and murderous aggression… Against US intervention
My Talk at Black History Month Celebration, Stafford Creek Correctional Institute, February 11, 2026
My talk to incarcerated men and their families at a Black History Month celebration
by Peter Bohmer, February 11, 2026
This is the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. It should be this month and every month of the year.
Thanks for inviting me. I am continually impressed by the intelligence, creativity and talents of the inmates here.
The U.S. is a racist capitalist society, a system where the great majority of the world’s people are exploited by the wealthy 1% who profit off their labor. This is the history of the United States and it is out in the open today with the Trump regime.
Some important reforms have been won through collective struggle by slaves and abolitionists, by the women’s movement, the labor and Civil Rights and Black Freedom struggle, the anti-Vietnam war movement, the Chicano movement, the anti-apartheid movement in support of the struggle in South Africa, among others…
Global Day of Action, January 17, 2026, Olympia, WA
(speaking at rally before demonstration)
by Peter Bohmer, (text of my talk)
Good Afternoon, We need to Resist Trumpism’s Attacks Globally and at Home by All Means. Educate, Organize, Resist
II took 30 students to Venezuela for 10 weeks each tn 2009 and 2012 and met many groups there.
The underlying cause of the horrific US intervention in Venezuela is capitalism and resource imperialism. This drives the US to control their resources and coerce Global South countries into submission. Those that do not submit get attacked. The U.S. current attacks on Venezuela are sadly not the exception but the rule— Iran, 1953, Guatemala, 1954, Cuba, 1961, Vietnam in the 1960’s, Iraq, 2003 and many more.
Venezuela elected Hugo Chavez as President in 1999 and he challenged US dominance. He was reelected many times. He used its oil revenues to benefit its people. Poverty declined, incomes became more equal, the quality of life increased substantially. He formed alliances with other countries that challenged U.S. dominance and for a multipolar world. The US supported a coup against Hugo Chavez in 2002 that was defeated by people taking to the streets. The threat of Venezuela was the threat of a good example, one that combined people’s power and democracy and a socialist society.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro was elected president in fair elections after Chavez died in 2013; since then, in less fair elections, the last time in 2024. There have been growing economic problems in VZ beginning in 2014, The Initial cause was falling oil prices. There have been major US economic sanctions on VZ since 2017 and continued by Biden. They have been a major cause of their economic depression and hyperinflation although not the only cause…
(clink on link below for the entire talk)
Podcast, Repression and Activism in San Diego, Interview with Me, December 2025
My End of the Year Letter, 2025
End of the Year Letter December 2025
Peter
December 24, 2025
Dear friends and family,
I wish you happy holidays and a better year for you, humanity and the planet in 2026. 2025 has been a difficult year-so many connected issues. Although I do not see yet, the light at the end of the tunnel, I continue to be active in solidarity with Palestine (Palestine Action of South Sound), in political education (Economics for Everyone) and organizing against Trumpism.
My continued connection to friends, you, and family, especially my kids (also my brother, grandchildren and sisters in law) bring me happiness and fulfillment. Thank You from the bottom of my heart! I miss those of you outside Olympia who I cannot see regularly. Friendships are so important to me. Because of this, I almost never feel lonely or depressed. I remain hopeful that another world. a just one, is possible even though fascism is on the rise and a real threat. I have never been more afraid of a fascist USA than now but also don’t think it is inevitable. It is urgent to resist. I feel alive and usually, youthful and still learning.
Sadly, many close friends are dealing with serious illness or injuries. I was strongly affected by the sudden death of my dear friend, Sayad Khan. on January 10th, 2025. He is missed by me and so many. Sy Khan presente!
I continue to work for the release of my friend, Thomas Afeworki, who has been unjustly imprisoned for 15 years in Washington State. I also keep in touch with a few other prisoners.
My health is good. I exercise every day, including going to the gym every other day for a two-hour workout where I listen to Democracy Now, a few podcasts such as “The Dig” and “Behind the News”, and my new habit of listening to novels on audio. I especially enjoyed historical novels including those by Isabel Allende–Island Beneath the Sea (Haiti), A Long Petal of the Sea (Spanish Civil War and Chile), and The Wind Knows My Name (refugees from El Salvador and Nazi Austria). Beginning in my teenage years and up to the present, historical novels continue to be a source of learning and enjoyment for me.
I have been much less disciplined in writing than in staying physically fit. I am working on a memoir which I approach historically. I include lessons for today from the many experiences I have had. I am only up to 1970 and have already written over 30,000 words. I hope to finish a first draft in 2026 and then begin editing it. My memory about the past is still good. I am also working with my close friend Savvina on a Political Economy book that is accessible. It is a critique of capitalism and the current U.S. and global political economy, an analysis of key social movements, an analysis of attempts at socialism in various countries, and a vision of a participatory socialist alternative. In this book, we are trying to build on presentations that Savvina and I have made in political economy programs we have taught at Evergreen. I need to make writing more of a priority. I haven’t developed a regular schedule.
Most of my writing in 2025 have been edited versions of talks I have given, most commonly on Palestine and anti-Zionism, others on immigrant justice, on global solidarity, on Trumpism, and an analysis of Trump’s regressive budget legislation. I am angry every day by the growing US aggression against Venezuela and share this this in conversations and meetings but have not so far, actively organized against these U.S. war crimes. I incorporate anti U.S intervention and against war with Venezuela, and solidarity with Gaza in my activism in the broader movement against Trump.
I miss teaching at Evergreen, 34 years of my life, but continue to teach informally wherever I am and realize teaching, formally and informally, is an important part of who I am. I increasingly share stories that I hope are both interesting and relevant to people today.
I hope to do more traveling in 2026, such as a planned trip to Ireland, Greece and Italy in the summer of 2026, and one to friends north of San Francisco in January, and maybe one to Mexico. I spent almost two months in Mexico in 2025, over a month in Oaxaca, and shorter periods in Morelia and Mexico City, travelling on one trip with a close friend, and the other one with family. I enjoyed every day there, especially seeing good friends although frustrated about the deterioration of my Spanish. I have spent over six years of my life in Latin America, mainly Mexico but also significant time in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Solidarity with the people of Latin America and visiting there continues to be an important part of my life.
I have done many interviews this year about government repression against me and my life of activism. These requests have increased recently Two recent interviews I did are: 1) a video on lessons for young activists; and 2) a podcast on my life in San Diego, focusing on repression from 1970 to 1975. They are still being edited. Let me know if you want the link.
Free Palestine!
In solidarity and friendship,
Trumponomics is Class War
by Peter Bohmer, Economics for Everyone, Talk, October 10, 2025, updated for ZNetwork, October 28 2025
Overall, The Trumpist economic agenda is to make even more unequal, the already obscene inequality of income and wealth. Domestically it is a continuation of Republican administration policies, although more extreme. This project is unstable with a real possibility of higher unemployment and higher prices in the coming period, a serious recession. I will conclude with what is to be done.
My focus will be “Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill”, the budget that Passed July 4th, three months ago, officially, OBBBA (one Big Beautiful Bill Act) and secondly, Trump’s tariff policy.
This horrific federal budget will lower taxes for the wealthy and further reduce social programs for working class and poor individuals and families and documented immigrants, with major cuts in health care programs and will substantially increase the spending for the military and on immigration detentions and deportations. … (see link)
Trumponomics is Dangerous to Your Health
Palestine Solidarity and Building a Left Coalition in Olympia
by Peter Bohmer for the November 15th Round Table, Olympia, WA
This is Peter Bohmer representing Palestine Action of South Sound (PASS) and a member of Economics for Everyone (E4E). I will speak to Palestine and global solidarity, anti-repression and political education. I am a long-term organizer for global solidarity, anti-racism and radical transformation towards participatory socialism and a teacher of political economy.
One important recent change that will affect Palestine solidarity organizing is there is now a cease fire in Gaza but no justice or peace. (Note: Israel may go back to total war by November 15th). The murderous Israeli occupation of Gaza and all of Palestine continues although there is a common perception in the U.S. that the war is over. A challenge we face is that there is nothing that can be done to stop the Israeli and U.S war and aggression against the Palestinian people. Mounting an effective campaign for an arms embargo against Israel has been difficult.
Energy in our group, PASS, has declined although we continue into our third year. We have been somewhat effective in educating the Olympia community about Palestine and the Israeli genocide and US complicity by activism that has continued for over two years and raised significant money for Gaza. As part of the national Palestine solidarity movement, we have contributed to changing public opinion to where a significant majority in the U.S. is now opposed to the Israeli war and U.S. support of it. This is an important step although we have had little effect on U.S. policy. ..,
Talk on Palestine and Boycotting Chevron
by Peter Bohmer, member of Palestine Action of South Sound, October at the Center for Climate Action and Sustainability at The Evergreen State College, October 15, 2025
Palestine-IsraelhistoryceasefireOct2025
Conclusion: The US continues to arm Israel. The underlying illegal and immoral occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and E Jerusalem continue. Israel and the US have never been known to uphold agreements. Likely another major Israeli bombing and murderous attack will happen in the not-too-distant future especially if the global Palestine solidarity movement weakens. It’s imperative that the Palestine solidarity movement in general and BDS in particular continue, and that we continue to demand no sending of weapons to Israel. JOIN US. Thank you!
Solidarity with Palestine in All Our Organizing
Calls and action for cutting off all U.S. aid and military sales to Israel need to be a demand of every group, institution–—church, workplace, union, college, neighborhood association, 50501, Indivisible, etc.
It is important to never ignore what is going on in Gaza. It is a central issue of our time, one that we cannot be silent on. There is the ongoing Israeli destruction of Gaza, the blocking of food entering Gaza causing severe hunger and malnutrition, the stopping of medicine and other necessary goods from getting in, the destruction of hospitals, homes, schools, the water supply, the killing of journalists and hospital workers, making Gaza unlivable. Over 50,000 have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli military. This is equivalent to 8 million killed in the U.S. per capita. The Israeli goal with total U.S. support is to remove most Palestinians from Gaza, permanently occupy part of it, and an increased war against the Palestinians of the West Bank. Occupying more of and possibly annexing the West Bank, the bombing of and occupation of parts of Lebanon and Syria and threatening Iran with the overall objective of a U.S. and Israel dominated and controlled Middle East. …
Solidarity with Palestine in All Our Organizing