We failed to stop the genocide in Gaza. How do we stop the US empire’s next monstrous crime?
A conference on anti-imperialist politics and organizing in the belly of the beast, convened by Behind Enemy Lines – Anti-Imperialist Resistance.
March 27, 28, and 29th 2026 | Chicago, IL
For more than two years, the US–Israel war machine has rained bombs on Gaza, leaving annihilation in its wake. What the world has witnessed was nothing less than a Holocaust: Gaza reduced to rubble, millions displaced, tens of thousands murdered, an entire people targeted for complete extermination. This genocide has not been met with silence. Across the globe, people have risen up in resistance.
Here in the United States, the belly of the beast, people flooded the streets. They tried to block weapons shipments, disrupt arms manufacturers, and shut down the 2024 Democratic National Convention to expose the role of the Democrats and “Genocide Joe” in carrying out these crimes. These were not symbolic gestures; there was real courage and real sacrifice.
And yet, we must tell the truth: we have failed the people of Gaza. Despite valiant and genuine efforts, the bombs didn’t stop falling; a new administration came into power, and the slaughter continued. This is partly because we are up against the most powerful criminals in the world—an empire built on war and destruction, sustained by seemingly limitless resources and total impunity. But it is also because, time and time again, resistance has been absorbed, redirected, and neutralized—channeled into “safe,” politician-approved marches, symbolic pressure campaigns, and the dead end of voting for the lesser of two evils.
Among the wreckage within the belly of the beast remain people who refuse submission and reject defeat. People who understand that routine protest, symbolic outrage, and appeals to power have failed to stop the US-backed bombing, siege, and mass killing in Gaza, and who are therefore willing to ask harder questions of ourselves as we seek to challenge US imperialism. People who want to do more than protest as usual, who are determined to stand with those terrorized by this system—from the people of Palestine to those brutalized by ICE here in the US—and who are committed to building a resistance capable of confronting this machinery of violence.
On March 27-29, 2026, Behind Enemy Lines is hosting a conference in Chicago to grapple with these urgent political questions together: Why did we fail the people of Gaza? What would it actually take to stop the next crime of the US empire? And how do we build a movement capable of winning? If the movement for Palestine over the last two years has moved you, if you want to get organized but don’t know where to start, if you’re disillusioned with “protest as usual”, if you’ve thought about starting a Behind Enemy Lines chapter, if you want to spend a weekend seriously confronting how to stop the next monstrous crime of US imperialism, then join us.
Registration is free. We suggest a $25 donation to help cover costs and support our work.
Fundraising
Your contribution can help make this conference possible! A generous donation will help us to pay for the venue, food for conference attendees, funding for speaker travel, and publishing conference materials.
Logistical FAQs
When should I arrive by? When can I depart?
The conference will start at 1pm on Friday, March 27th, and will conclude by 4pm on Sunday, March 29th.
Where is the conference being hosted?
The conference venue is on the North-side accessible by bus and train (Red Line).
When and how will registrants get the venue address?
The conference venue will be announced via email to registrants in mid-March.
Can you help with fundraising?
Tag @Anti_Imperialist_Resistance on IG, and we will happily share any fundraising campaigns to help you get to Chicago
Where should I stay?
For easy transit, consider staying near access to the L train lines, as the venue is a 10-minute walk from a Red Line train stop. Hostels, budget hotels, and room rentals offer affordable housing options.
How to get to Chicago?
Chicago has two airports, O’Hare is on the Northwest side, and Midway is on the Southwest side. Both have train lines that take you into the city and can connect you to other trains/buses. There are also Amtrak trains, various bus lines (Megabus, Greyhound) that offer additional ways to get here.
How to get around Chicago?
Chicago is generally easy to navigate. We suggest utilizing public transit (train or bus). If the roads/sidewalks are clear, it’s also very easy to bike around the city or walk. Additionally, Lyft and Uber are readily accessible.
Behind Enemy Lines 