The world is in crisis. From the genocide in Gaza to the rise of the far-right and their anti-immigrant agenda, it is as clear as ever we need to join together and strategize to build working class unity and power. We need to fight for a socialist alternative.

Spring’s second annual "Red October: A Conference of Socialist Ideas in Action," takes place October 18-20 at the Toronto Metropolitan University Student Centre in downtown Toronto (North and East of Dundas Station).

The conference will include sessions on topics such as building a movement to take on Pierre Poilievre, solidarity with struggles against settler-colonialism in Palestine, understanding imperialism, the Quebec General strike of 1972, socialism and elections, and more. The final day of the conference will feature a meeting for labour activists to strategize about building a fighting labour movement.

Full Program:

Friday, October 18th, 7:00pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)

Opening Rally: "Building a movement to defeat Poilievre"

Featuring: Sarah Rasikh, (Organizer, Occupy UofT for Palestine), Deena Ladd, (Executive Director, Workers’ Action Centre), Fred Hahn (President, CUPE Ontario), JP Hornick (President, OPSEU), Ricardo Tranjan (author of ‘The Tenant Class’), Matthew Green (MP for Hamilton Centre).

Saturday, October 19th

10am - 11:15am

• The politics of Spring: What does it mean to be a revolutionary socialist?

11:15am - 11:30am (Break)

11:30am - 12:45pm

• Lenin for today: Understanding war and imperialism
• Black liberation & the League of Revolutionary Black Workers, 1969
• The fight against settler-colonialism: Palestine 1936-39
• From Trump to Poilievre: Why do workers vote for anti-worker parties?
• Howard Adams: Socialism & Indigenous sovereignty

12:45pm - 2:00pm (Break)

2:00pm - 3:15pm

• Lenin for today: ⁠State and Revolution
• National liberation & the Quebec General Strike, 1972
• From student revolt to general strike: France 1968
• Fascism: What it is and how to fight it
• Claudia Jones: The roots of intersectionality

3:15pm - 3:30pm (Break)

3:30pm - 4:45pm

• Lenin for today: Why we need revolutionary organization
• Sudan, Egypt: Lessons for Bangladesh
• 2SLGBTQIA+ liberation & the Great British Miners' Strike, 1984-85
• Frantz Fanon: The anti-colonial revolution
• Ontario days of action: Lessons for the fight against Ford

4:45pm - 6:30pm (Break for dinner)

6:30pm - 11:00pm

• Nuit Rouge at Imperial Pub (54 Dundas Street East)

Sunday, October 20th

11:00am - 1:00pm

• Spring Labour Caucus at Imperial Pub (54 Dundas Street East)

4:00pm 

• Hands off the Middle East Rally (360 University Avenue, Toronto)

*Attendees are asked to wear a mask while at the conference. Masks will be provided for those who do not have a mask. TMU Student Centre is a public space.