I've visited that Memorial to Mother Jones several times years ago on my drives to St Louis and back to Chicago. An amazing woman, an 'organic intellectual' and 'permanent persuader' speaking for our class. Given today's content, Roberts might have spoken more about immigrants, a dynamic core of the UMWA, and shamed Trump-Vance in the process.
He and other speakers made the point that that very union miner's cemetery is full of immigrants, and the demonization of immigrants is a longtime trick.
I’ve been reading articles in Mother Jones for years and never knew the origin of the name until now. What an incredible story and speech. Gave me goosebumps. Thanks for sharing it.
I live in a working class community (steel and coal) in Australia. I see so much of the US right wing agenda, from Trumpism to anti labour policies being pushed here.
Thanks for the reminder that the fight never ends.
I attended the event in Mount Olive. As you said, Cecil Robert’s is a dynamic speaker and champion for the union cause. It was meaningful that Robert’s included the importance of immigrants contributions to building our great nation. Immigrants are NOT the enemy. As you probably noticed, and Roberts mentioned, a large portion of the Union Miners Cemetery is the final resting place of many immigrants. Many of the headstones are written in the language of their homeland. Thank you for your article.
Great summary Hamilton and Cecil is always one to drive home the basic union message, but with a down-home style that draws people in and empowers them.
Amazing. I just so happened to visit the Local 21 Ironworkers Hall last Monday. Lots of work in the Big O. Just got to keep it going. Mother Jones was fearless.
I read a book about Black Lung disease in Virginia (Can't remember the name)these people had little to no medical care and were left to die agonisingly. I did read about the strikes too. Disgusting.
I did not know who Mother Jones was until I read this.
I've visited that Memorial to Mother Jones several times years ago on my drives to St Louis and back to Chicago. An amazing woman, an 'organic intellectual' and 'permanent persuader' speaking for our class. Given today's content, Roberts might have spoken more about immigrants, a dynamic core of the UMWA, and shamed Trump-Vance in the process.
He and other speakers made the point that that very union miner's cemetery is full of immigrants, and the demonization of immigrants is a longtime trick.
I’ve been reading articles in Mother Jones for years and never knew the origin of the name until now. What an incredible story and speech. Gave me goosebumps. Thanks for sharing it.
I live in a working class community (steel and coal) in Australia. I see so much of the US right wing agenda, from Trumpism to anti labour policies being pushed here.
Thanks for the reminder that the fight never ends.
Great piece, good you were there to report this. Cecil Roberts speech is great.
We should print bumper stickers and yard signs and buttons and tee shirts:
“A Tad Radical!”
“UMWA is strength” was a slogan on signs in the early ‘70’s in Harlan County at the Brookside strike.
Seems still true today.
I attended the event in Mount Olive. As you said, Cecil Robert’s is a dynamic speaker and champion for the union cause. It was meaningful that Robert’s included the importance of immigrants contributions to building our great nation. Immigrants are NOT the enemy. As you probably noticed, and Roberts mentioned, a large portion of the Union Miners Cemetery is the final resting place of many immigrants. Many of the headstones are written in the language of their homeland. Thank you for your article.
Great summary Hamilton and Cecil is always one to drive home the basic union message, but with a down-home style that draws people in and empowers them.
Cecil Roberts sounds like a worthy successor to John L. Lewis!
Amazing. I just so happened to visit the Local 21 Ironworkers Hall last Monday. Lots of work in the Big O. Just got to keep it going. Mother Jones was fearless.
Fascinating.
I read a book about Black Lung disease in Virginia (Can't remember the name)these people had little to no medical care and were left to die agonisingly. I did read about the strikes too. Disgusting.
I did not know who Mother Jones was until I read this.
Thank you for filling in some blanks.
Fantastic speech: spot on.
Reminds of this new song recently released in honor of such people who came before us:
https://youtu.be/pdHEYMW00xo?si=_wLZ2zzBOsWbs3BM
Wow. I didn’t know any of this.
Good piece, good you were there to report this, Cecil Roberts speech is great.
We should print bumpers stickers and yard signs and tee shirts “A tad radical!”
“UMWA is strength” was a slogan from Harlan County in the ‘70’s at the Brookside strike. Seems true today.