Socialism 2026: Full Schedule

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10:00am CDT

Chicago's Educators and Families Defending Communities Against ICE

Saturday September 5, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT

Chicago public educators and community members reflect on lessons learned on the front lines defending our schools and neighborhoods during Operation Midway Blitz. We united to protect our communities in brilliant acts of multi-racial solidarity, providing a blueprint for the kind of critical resistance demanded in an era of unfettered state violence.

Speakers

Lisset G

Lizette G became involved with the southwest rapid response team during operation midway blitz and is now a key organizer at a day laborer hiring site in her neighborhood of Brighton Park. She is a mother to two CPS students.

Kobi Guillory

Kobi Guillory was born in Atlanta and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a middle school science teacher on the South side and a CTU delegate. He is also a member of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Freedom Road Socialist Organization

Raul Islas

Kathryn Zamarron

Kat Zamarrón teaches elementary school music and is a member of the Chicago Teachers Union and Caucus-of-Rank-and-File-Educators (CORE). She is a member of the union's Latine Caucus, PAC, and Executive Board. Outside of union activities, she is involved with community defense work... Read More →

Saturday September 5, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
Jackson Park A

Migrant Justice

12:00pm CDT

Class Struggle Infrastructure: Tenant Unions and Socialism

Saturday September 5, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT

Jackson Park A

Under capitalism, housing is commodified — a primary site of extraction and exploitation of ordinary people. But the fundamental need for a home remains a shared human experience. From this contradiction the tenant struggle emerges: the fight for a dignified home against the profiteering landlords who control housing. Tenant unions are the infrastructure we use to transform isolated tenant fights into a collective class struggle. Come learn why socialism needs the tenant movement, why the tenant movement needs you, and how to get involved in tenant organizing where you live!

Speakers

Chicago Union of Tenants

Sponsors

Chicago Union of Tenants

Saturday September 5, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Jackson Park A

Housing Justice

3:00pm CDT

Revolutionary Socialists and the Fight Against War and Authoritarianism

Saturday September 5, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT

Jackson Park A

Organizers from the revolutionary and independent socialist left, from four different cities, share their experiences in helping build the broader anti-Trump movement while fighting for distinct strategies and perspective—based on the need for political independence, a strategic focus on social struggle and mass action, and democratic organizing—to defeat authoritarianism.

Speakers

Ndindi Kitonga

Ndindi Kitonga, a black activist in LA originally from Kenya who is founder of Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid, an abolitionist housing network. She has also been active in BLM and related community organizing.

Bill Mullen

Bill Mullen is a member of Socialist Horizon and the Committee to Defend Tom Alter.

Kirstin Roberts

Kirstin Roberts is a Chicago teacher and socialist activist, long standing member of the CTU and active in May Day Strong Chicago.

Pepper Macias

Pepper Macias is a hotel kitchen worker, UNITE/HERE activist who is part of Unidad Latina en Accion.

Meg

Meg is a grassroots activist organizing in working class neighborhoods of Baltimore for ICE defense, climate justice, and and other political coalitions.

Sponsors

United Left Platform

Saturday September 5, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Jackson Park A

Left Strategy

5:00pm CDT

The False Choice Between Identity Politics and Class Struggle

Saturday September 5, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT

Jackson Park A

Does building mass political coalitions against the right require us to abandon issues specific to minorities of the population? For many centrists and even some on the left, such a sacrifice has become the new common sense. But history and on-the-ground organizing show a left that ignores the differences within the working class will never build power.

Speakers

Michael A. McCarthy

Saturday September 5, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm CDT
Jackson Park A

Socialist and Marxist Theory

10:00am CDT

12:00pm CDT

3:00pm CDT

5:00pm CDT

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