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RedditOn June 27, 1905, William "Big Bill" Haywood exhorted an audience in Chicago's Brand Hall to organize one big union, seize the means of production and emancipate the workers of the world "from the slave bondage of capitalism." The convention went on to found the Industrial Workers of the World, a k a the Wobblies. The IWW grew rapidly before being crushed by the Wilson Administration, which imprisoned its leaders for alleged violations of the Sedition Act. But like Joe Hill, the IWW idea never died. Today, with nearly 5,000 US and Canadian members, it targets Starbucks and Kinko's instead of copper bosses and timber barons. For information on its centenary celebration on June 25-26, go to www.iww.org; (215) 222-1905.
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