Radicals Flock to Chicago for Socialism Conference on Marxism
A four-day socialist conference opens Friday in Chicago featuring Marxist workshops and speakers advocating communist ideology, drawing criticism from lawmakers.
The Socialism 2026 Conference spans four days and aims to unite activists, organizers, and communities in what its website describes as a gathering for both seasoned radicals and new activists to develop strategy and build networks. Standard on-site admission is priced at 155 dollars.
The event’s programming includes a Marxism Education Series, workshops on Fighting Fascism, and an anti-Israel session titled Confronting Zionism: Decolonizing Palestine and Building the World Anew.
Among the scheduled speakers is far-left commentator Hasan Piker, known for his admiration of Chinese communist dictator Mao Zedong. Piker notably wore a Mao-styled suit in July, as Breitbart News reports.
The conference has received endorsements from several radical organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America, Organized Communities Against Deportations, and the Black Rose Anarchist Federation.
Lawmakers Sound Alarm on Socialist Push
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) recently criticized the DSA as deeply anti-American, stating the organization opposes capitalism and the American way of life.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warned in August that the socialist push among Democrat candidates poses a growing threat ahead of the midterm elections. Johnson outlined Karl Marx’s own view that socialism serves as a stepping stone toward communism, which Marx considered the ultimate utopian society, according to Breitbart News.
Johnson emphasized that communism begins with the premise that there is no God, with the state effectively becoming the deity. He pointed to the historical record spanning from Soviet Russia in 1918 through Communist China, India, Venezuela, and the Eastern Bloc, noting that such systems invariably result in poverty, destruction, political violence, and human suffering.
The Louisiana Republican cautioned that promises of free programs appeal to young voters as a siren song, but without informing them they must surrender their freedom in exchange. This election really does draw a contrast in a sharp way for the American people, Johnson stated.
Johnson further warned that insurgent left candidates are winning Democrat primaries nationwide, declaring that the barbarians are inside the gate and calling the situation very serious.
With information from Breitbart News
