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In the last month, awareness of the Tulsa race massacre and Juneteenth have made us more conscious that there is much of American history that we were never taught. In this full-length film, the third in Scott Noble’s five film series, stories of the early struggles of the working class are brought to life and placed in conversation with current clashes between worker rights and corporate interests. The filmmakers provide a searing portrait of the brave workers who fought for true democracy in the early decades of the 20th century.

The film begins with the titan of the labor movement during that period – Mary Harris “Mother” Jones. A galvanizing presence who spent her life inspiring workers to fight on their own behalf, she rallied a coalition of miners from Ludlow, Colorado in 1914. Working under heinous conditions and for little pay in a coal operation owned by John D. Rockefeller, Jr, their determination knew no bounds. When the company cast the striking miners and their families out of their homes, they defiantly set up a colony of tents and continued their fight for fairness. Their stand-off ended in tragedy when the National Guard was deployed and unleashed gun fire into the colony, massacring men, women and children, sparking outrage and public protest across the United States.

The bulk of the film examines the impact of World War I on the labor movement, a conflict that saw the slaughter and disfigurement of a generation. The war provided further evidence of the class divide, and would propel labor advocacy efforts among all genders and races. The film highlights the rise of the Socialist Party and the Industrial Workers of the World, who put forward sweeping visions of alternatives to the deepening class divide. It also teaches viewers about the events of 1919, when, in the wake of WWI, 22.5% of the work force engaged in strikes.

We encourage you to watch the film via this link, then join us for a lively conversation.

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