A group of left-leaning lawmakers from the United States made their way to Mexico City this past weekend for a summit organized by openly anti-capitalist and anti-American organizations. The gathering, held during the second annual Panamerican Conference from Friday to Sunday, aimed at resisting what they see as U.S. global dominance.
According to the event details, delegates from across the Americas came together to strategize. The Progressive International, the summit’s organizing body, has described capitalism as a “virus” that must be eradicated. This sentiment is reflected in remarks made by leaders associated with the ruling leftist party in Mexico, Morena.
During the sessions, themes like “equality” and “solidarity” were bandied about, but specifics were somewhat elusive. David Adler, the general coordinator of Progressive International, suggested in a media interview that the summit was meant to confront what he called authoritarian and fascist threats emerging across the continent, with the aim of redistributing power from Washington to countries in the developing “Global South.”
Rep. Delia Ramirez from Illinois made a notable statement at the summit’s opening, declaring her Guatemalan pride before her American identity. She spoke critically of the United States, alleging that it is consumed by militarism and imperialism. Interestingly, she mentioned that her husband is currently undocumented in the U.S., making her the only lawmaker in a mixed-status marriage. However, Ramirez’s office has not responded to multiple inquiries for clarification.
The ongoing conflict involving Israel and Hamas was a recurring topic at the event. Rep. Ilhan Omar, known for her vocal criticism of Israel, participated in a panel where she addressed the Palestinian cause, despite her previous remarks being labeled as anti-Semitic. Her ally, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, also received applause for her statements during the summit.
Other Democrats attending included Ayana Presley, Summer Lee, and Jess Gilbert Garcia, who are part of the Progressive Caucus. Their offices did not comment on the summit when reached for input.
White House spokesperson Liz Houston expressed criticism of the Democrats’ participation, asserting that their comments reflected a disregard for American interests. In contrast, she stated that President Trump is dedicated to peace deals and addressing illegal immigration.
Progressive International characterized the U.S. as a central figure in imperialist violence, claiming it leaves destruction in its wake. Interestingly, while denouncing the U.S., the group seems to downplay threats from communist nations, particularly China, which it suggests could reduce reliance on American influence.
The summit also featured discussions about counter-strategies against policies from the Trump administration, with some involved criticizing the President’s tariffs as tools of American imperialism. Trump recently secured a 90-day extension for negotiating a trade deal with Mexico after a favorable conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who is associated with the Morena Party.
Gerald Fernandez Noronya, a member of the Mexican Senate from Morena, described the immigration policies as fascism, accusing the Trump administration of unjustly targeting immigrants based on their nationality and skin color. Requests for comments from Sheinbaum’s office and Morena were left unanswered.
