Range labor march slated today in Virginia, Minn.

The April weather in northern Minnesota has taken a February turn, with snow and cold blanketing the Iron Range. Nevertheless, programming is planned for this April 4 “Day of Action” traditionally reserved for community action in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

There are events all over the state, but the one that might interest folks up here on the Range is the We Are One Iron Range march and “teach in.” A reader told me that a letter to the editor in a Cook newspaper referred to the participants in this event as “rioters.” That’s an old play and a reminder that current events are constantly reigniting discussion of the labor history of the Iron Range. It’s a good opportunity to spur discussion about the future of work and quality of life on the Iron Range.

March: Begins at Virginia City Hall,
327 1st Street S @ 5pm and continues to the Servicemen’s Club

Teach In, Speak Out: Servicemen’s Club,
229 Chestnut St.

Comments

  1. The left called the Tea Party people way worse than that. Who was more well behaved the Tea Party rallies or the Wisconsin “we are one” union folks? Make up your own mind and don’t let anybody tell you what to think.

  2. I don’t even take the “rioters” comment as that much of a pejorative. I was more amused than anything. That’s the sort of comment you’d see 110 years ago.

    I don’t believe there that it can be concluded that the Madison folks specifically weren’t as well behaved as the tea parties generally. It’s a long, deep rabbit hole that isn’t particularly useful. I think the more useful metric is the comparison of ideas, on which we each have our opinions.

  3. Just asking the question of who was better behaved the Tea Party rallies or Wisconsin union protests? Folks will make up their own mind.

  4. Let’s not forget the I-Falls union protests 25-30 years ago. That one started off as a rally to show union support.
    Turned into fire bombings, stabbing’s, all out fist-a-cuffs. No Tea Party around then.
    It’s the union mentality, thuggery, and blatant disregard for other’s opinions.
    I’m not saying Virginia will turn into that, but just don’t ever forget, what, and could happen. All it takes is a couple hot-heads, and the mob mentality kicks in.

    Peace

  5. Come on, now. That was a very different environment surrounding a very specific labor dispute in the Falls, where conflict runs a little hotter than average.

    A labor march is not a riot. Geez, I thought that the original comment was funny until I started seeing stuff like this.

  6. No where in my comment did i say the march that is going to take place in Virginia was/is the same as what took place in I-Falls. Wait, let me read it again…….. nope, I didn’t see it. Maybe you should read it again also….. ;))
    Maybe the comment “let’s not forget” threw you off??
    I think you are mistaken if you think the environment of today is not much different to the environment of that era. It’s not there yet, but it can be seen, lurking in the shadows, waiting to jump out when the time is right. If you think I’m wrong, ask the guy who got beat-down by the SEIU union member, or the leader of the AFL-CIO saying “you haven’t seen anything yet”, in the Wis. protests. Another example would be the new black panther party leader, (not a union, yes), but saying all blacks should rise up and kill all “cracker babies.”
    Our country/world is upside-down, and pretty much nothing should shock anyone, except maybe if we find it in each of our own selfs to turn it back to right-side up!
    Most of that (I-Falls), violence was perpetrated by people outside the area.

    Peace
    same as the union

  7. Adding to Joboo’s comment: How about the TEACHER who sent death threats to legislators in Wisconsin? And look at the protests that DO get violent- Every one is orchestrated by the political Left. During the Republican convention in 2008, store windows were broken and millions of dollars of damage was done. Do they need to destroy in order to get their point across? Typical Saul Alinsky and community organizer tactics.

  8. One of many tragic working class struggles. Many many more can be found in the annuals of labor history such as the Ludlow Massacre when women and childern were burned to death.

    From the Wisconsin Labor History website:

    “The Bayview Massacre of 1886 [video recording]. Milwaukee, Wis.: Wisconsin Labor History Society; 1987.
    1 VHS videocassette (15:50 minutes).
    Notes: Tells the story of how agitation nationally to win the Eight-Hour Day led to the seven tragic deaths in the
    Bay View neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 5, 1886, killed by state militia ordered
    to fire upon a parade of striking workers–still to this day the bloodiest day in Wisconsin labor
    history”

    Now workers have only a shell of unionis they once fought for. There no rallying cry, “We are one.” What has replaced that is, “Any job is better than none.” Any job, be it one with pay that barley keeps one above the poverty line.

    Donald J Donaker

    Affiliated with Real Union Of Social Science and WIIU

    For more info: Google the names of the organizations

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