Recently, several comrades from Chicago attended the annual socialism conference, Socialism 2025, during the July fourth weekend here, sponsored by Haymarket Books. In the room designated for promotion of various groups, we had a literature table in which we could engage people in conversion as they passed by. Being in the same room gave us an opportunity to engage in discussion with other organizations, such as Students for Justice in Palestine. Our reception was very positive. In the four-day program, several dozen people signed up to get more information and communicate with the Progressive Labor Party (PLP).

In the past, some of us felt going to a conference about “Socialism” was a waste of time under the assumption that the attendees are largely either friends of or members of revisionist organizations who are against  our line. There is now a consensus that this is not necessarily true and that it was worthwhile to attend the conference and put forward our line in any way we can. Evidence of this fact is that at least a few hundred CHALLENGES were distributed. We distributed other literature, including the essay Road to Revolution  (IV) which attracted interest as we explained our line that China is an imperialist country who could very well go to war with the imperialist U.S. in the near future. We also put out a four-page printed pamphlet that detailed parts of our political work and recommended some sessions in which we wanted to participate.

The conference was conducted in an academic format with dozens of scheduled talks by scholars and members from various groups. Unfortunately, this format gave minimal time for questions and open discussions after the sessions. One presenter at a session on China presented a position like ours (that China is a capitalist—imperialist country which is rivaling the U.S.). There were no obvious sessions that were promoting any candidate such as Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Zohan Mamdani, or the Democratic Party.