While many Americans were enjoying the July 4th weekend, others were gathering in Chicago for a rather different celebration.
Welcome to the Annual Socialism 2025 meeting.
This year, the event felt particularly notable—especially without a keynote speech from New York City’s mayoral Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani. Perhaps next year when he becomes mayor, the conference might even be held in a supposed socialist paradise in New York.
The unofficial theme seemed to echo sentiments shared at the University of Minnesota, where Professor Melanie Yatzee stirred applause with her declaration about wanting to “dismantle the United States.” Quite the statement, right?
Supporters of socialism claim that they’ve had some success in breaking down aspects of American society over the last couple of decades. Yet, last November marked a turning point for them.
Nevertheless, socialism continues to gain traction, as seen in recent surveys. A study from YouGov, conducted for the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, revealed that 62% of Americans under 30 view socialism positively, while 34% express a favorable opinion of communism.
Approximately 2,000 attendees gathered at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel. Even socialists like a touch of class, it seems. With around 160 sessions to choose from during the four-day event, there was no shortage of topics to dive into.
One session titled “From the River to the World” referenced longstanding slogans used by protesters. The American Jewish Committee has criticized such phrases as pushing for ethnic cleansing of Jewish residents in that region. Socialists, however, seem to think that many pro-Palestinian protesters need to raise their ambitions by swapping “world” with something else.
Another notable discussion, labeled “Marxist Education Series,” aimed to provide attendees with a thorough introduction to Marxist theory—perfect for aspiring activists and organizers.
There was also a session on “Defeating the End Times Triad: Christian Zionists, Christian Nationalists, Technofascists.” It featured a panel debating how these groups supposedly promote oppression in the U.S. and genocidal actions in Palestine. I must admit, I went only to grasp what “end technofascism” actually means.
In another panel, “Refusal, Defense, Resignation: Health Struggle after Luigi,” participants discussed the aftermath of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s tragic death. Notably, a study indicated that 54% of liberal individuals believe violence against the wealthy could be justified, compared to just 9% of conservative individuals.
Then there was a session titled “DIY Abortion”—which, I think, raises quite a few eyebrows about its implications.
Interestingly, the conference organizers urged attendees to behave more civilly than they might in protests, highlighting a code of conduct that strictly prohibits any form of intimidation or harassment. This focus on decorum struck me as somewhat ironic, considering the frequent chaos at similar events.
And to keep everyone safe, attendees were required to wear masks while indoors—an additional layer of precaution.
Much of what unfolded at the Socialism 2025 conference might come across as extreme to average Americans, with many ideas falling squarely into fringe territory. The real driving forces behind Democrats today include figures like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and perhaps now, Zohran Mamdani.
If you missed this year’s Socialism 2025 conference, don’t worry—you’ll have another chance to engage with socialists at a biennial event slated to occur in Chicago, which boasts a membership of 90,000.
