Happy 100th, IWW

Happy 100th, IWW

On 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

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

On 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.

Support The Nation’s June Fundraising Campaign

With the midterm elections now firmly upon us, the question is whether Democratic candidates will do more than merely occupy ballot lines as mild alternatives to the red-hot crisis that is Donald Trump.

As Trump spends over $1 billion a day on a globally destabilizing war on Iran and admits that he doesn’t “think about Americans’ financial situation,” millions across the country are struggling with the surging costs of essentials. Democrats must seize this moment and advance bold, small-“d” populist ideas—not settle for cynical caution that once again snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.

The Nation elevates progressive ideas, movements, and elected officials achieving real change across the country into the national conversation. At the same time, our journalists are exposing how crypto and AI-funded super PACs are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to knock out candidates they oppose, reporting on the devastating impact of the Supreme Court’s evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, and sounding the alarm on attempts by red states to quickly redraw electoral maps, disenfranchising Southern Black voters.

We can play this critical role because of support from readers like you. This June, we’re raising $20,000 to power The Nation’s independent journalism in the run-up to November’s immensely consequential elections.

It’s in our power to build a more just society, and your support at this critical moment brings us closer to that bold vision. I hope you’ll donate today.

Onward,

Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editor and Publisher, The Nation

Ad Policy
x