Activists at Socialism Conference Discuss Building Opposition to US Blockade — CHICAGO, September 6, 2026 — Chants of “¡Cuba Sí, Bloqueo No!” opened the round table session “Cuba Under Siege” during the Socialism 2026 Conference held here over the Labor Day weekend. The conference, sponsored by Haymarket Books, was attended by approximately 2600 people. More than 100 conference attendees took part in the discussion on Cuba, hosted by the Chicago Cuba Coalition, and another 50 online.
Amid Washington’s increasing threats against the Cuban people, the 2026 Labor and Youth Activists Delegation to Cuba traveled to Havana to join the celebration of the international working-class holiday on May 1 and to add their voices to those demanding “U.S. Hands Off Cuba. End the Blockade!” The delegation met with Cubans to learn about the gains of their revolution in health care and education; about the advances in equality and social justice for women, Afro-Cubans, and other historically oppressed groups; and about Cuba’s historic role in aiding the struggles of working people and the oppressed worldwide through its internationalist missions. Delegation members also witnessed firsthand some of the devastating consequences of Washington’s extreme hostility to this record over the last 66 years and its recent efforts to starve Cuba into submission by blockading petroleum supplies and threatening military attack. Cuban American Gerardo Delgado from Miami was part of this delegation; his report is published below for the information of our readers.