The finale of the BAsics Bus Tour pilot project was warmly celebrated last night,Wed., Feb. 22nd at Revolution Books, in L.A. For two weeks, this pilot bus tour traveled 1400 miles throughout California, reaching tens of thousands of people from diverse areas, and introducing them to the book BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian, a primer for revolution; and brought to life for many the truth that “you can’t change the world if you don’t know the BAsics."
About 40 people came to the celebration, some who had just heard about the tour, as well as many who have been supporting and contributing to its success in a variety of ways. The evening
began with good food and music, and then we welcomed back six of the tour participants, and took the opportunity to recognize those who
made the tour possible,
including the person who made the awesome banners for the bus and people
who hosted events in their cities and on their campuses. We raised 
$165 towards a national BAsics bus tour to begin soon.
The highlight was when those who had gone on the tour recounted the responses of people from diverse places such as Watts and Pico Union in
L.A., to Orange County, U.C. Davis, Berkeley, Oakland and Fresno; from high schools and universities to homeless encampments and to
immigrants
who had lost family crossing over to the U.S., finding only unemployment 
and vicious repression on this side. 
The tour participants talked about how this book BAsics – had a transformative effect in many different ways on so many people – including some who at first dismissed it out of hand, as well as others who
said they had been thinking these things about the system, but had not put it together before, and were deeply moved and excited by discovering this movement for revolution. For instance, in one high school class, debate broke out about whether or not the oppression of women is real, with some serious patriarchal thinking dominating the room. But when they read the quote out loud from BAsics, 1:10, beginning with “Look at all these beautiful children who are female in the world…”, this changed how students were looking at the whole question, with many saying there really is oppression of women that is very bad, wondering how it can end and it opened up whole new questions and thinking.
Tour members recalled how everywhere the tour went, debate and discussion would jump off about the horrors of this system, Avakian’s re-envisioned socialism and communism and the emancipation of humanity, and they were struck by how many people feel this system is not working and are looking for and open to a real alternative.
Three of the tour members performed a skit they did on the tour, which was written by volunteers in L.A. based on the spoken word piece “All Played Out” by Bob Avakian. Outrages of this system were called out, and symbols like the Bible, the American flag, a coat hanger and more were tossed into a garbage can, while the audience joined in with the refrain, “ALL PLAYED OUT!”
As we mingled afterwards, a high school student who didn’t know about this movement before said she didn’t realize it could be so interesting and exciting, and she bought BAsics to get into it. And several people expressed interest in joining and being part of the national tour to be launched in the coming months.
