MAYDAY! Peace Conference - 2026

The 2026 MAYDAY! Peace conference theme is “250 Years of Democracy? Revisiting the Declaration of Independence, 1776–2026.” The annual event at Gustavus Adolphus College critically examined how the founding ideals of liberty, equality, and self-governance have been interpreted, contested, and reimagined over the past two and a half centuries—and what they demand of us today. The event included a faculty keynote followed by a panel discussion spotlighting the expertise of Gustavus faculty and modeling intellectual conversation across disciplines: Keynote Speaker: Kate Aguilar (History, African/Africana Diaspora Studies) Moderator: Jillian Downey (Math, Computer Science, & Statistics) Panel: Dan Mollner (Library & Archives); Ernest Briggs (Theatre & Dance); Lori Carsen Kelly (Political Science)