The Anti‑War Action Network held its second annual conference at the headquarters of the Chicago Teachers Union in Chicago. The union provided the premises on a rental basis and has said its role was limited to that of a landlord.
The programme included speakers and participants described as extremist, with some advocating violence against the United States and Israel and expressing support for Iran’s so‑called “axis of resistance”.
One of the organisers, the communications chair for the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, urged attendees to toughen their resolve and hoped they would leave the conference prepared to fight. A member of the Marxist‑Leninist Workers World Party characterised the audience as militant and determined, predicting that any future change would be violent and turbulent.
A breakout session and a panel were devoted to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Attendees were also offered literature on Marxism and communism, including works by Karl Marx and Mao Zedong.
Union signage and branding were displayed prominently throughout the venue, and several speakers voiced support for the Chicago Teachers Union and its mission.
Additional speakers expressed solidarity with Iran, Venezuela and Cuba, called for the release of convicted terrorists and dictators, and an attendee quoted Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in support of Lenin’s stance on national liberation movements. Another participant voiced support for China taking control of Taiwan, while a further comment suggested that the most effective protests are often those that fall outside legal boundaries.
The Chicago Teachers Union did not respond to a request for comment about the conference. The report notes that the union has been criticised for supporting the BDS movement, Palestinian terrorism and for alleged ties to antisemitic and anti‑American groups, and it concludes that the conference did not ease concerns about the union’s purported extremist connections.