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<i>The 2025 Socialism Speaker Series</i><br>
<font size="5"><b>Socialism & Worker Politics in Montana History
</b></font><br>
<b><font size="4">with Clem Work<br>
</font></b><font size="4"> </font>Thursday March 6, at 6pm at the
Elks Lodge, 112 Pattee St, Missoula<br>
Free Admission and Open to the Public. Free Refreshments Provided!<br>
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<img src="cid:part3.yUoJf507.eJkeN5i0@westernmtdsa.org" alt=""
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align="left">Journalism Professor Emeritus Clem Work will bring
history to life on March 6. Montana has a long and rich history of
Socialism and worker politics, from the mining strikes of Butte to
the timber strikes in the forests, from Missoula’s Free Speech
fights to the “Red Corner” around Plentywood. <br>
<br>
Professor Work is the author of <i>Darkest Before Dawn</i> (2005)
and the documentary film <i>Jailed for their Words</i> (2008). He
led the successful campaign to expunge the sedition convictions of
World War I-era Montanans in 2006.<br>
<br>
This is the second event in Western Montana DSA's <i>2025 Socialist
Speakers Series</i>. The opening event on January 30 drew about 50
people. A similar number are expected for this talk.<br>
<br>
Q&A and a lively discussion will follow. Attendees are
encouraged to bring their questions, bring their ideas, and bring a
friend. The event is free and open to the public. Free refreshments
will be served.<br>
<br>
Rachel Navarro, Co-Chair of Western Montana DSA said, "Anyone who is
serious about fighting the current corporate takeover should know
their history. What socialists and Wobblies faced in Montana in the
1910s can tell us what worked and what didn't. We owe it to
revolutionaries like Frank Little and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn to
learn their lessons and take courage from their sacrifices.”<br>
<br>
“Montana's economy has changed a lot in a hundred years,” she
continued. “While we don't have huge mining and timber workforces to
organize, we still have rapacious capitalists trying to wring every
last cent out of our paychecks and take the last hour of our free
time away from us. We need to re-learn working class solidarity and
organize creatively like the Wobblies of a century ago.”<br>
<br>
<div>Donald Trump has spoken approvingly of the Gilded Age, the last
time America was truly rich in his mind. What he means is a period
of brutality against workers and immigrants, when the Captains of
Industry made billions off the destruction of the environment and
exploitation of labor. In Montana this period also what led to
rising class consciousness and worker solidarity. The victories
and challenges of socialist movements in that era will guide us
through this new Gilded Age.</div>
<br>
<b><font size="4">Upcoming Talks</font></b><br>
<ul>
<li><b>Resurgence of Unions in Missoula</b><br>
<b>May Day, Thursday May 1, 6:30pm</b>, Free Cycles, 734 S. 1st
St. W., Missoula<br>
Barbecue and May Day festivities! Unions bring true democracy
and safety to the workplace, as well as higher wages to the
community. Hear the trials and tribulations of Missoula-area
union members and learn what employers can and cannot do when
workers set out to unionize. We'll also hear a presentation on
the exciting call by the United Autoworkers (UAW) for unions to
prepare for a general strike on May Day 2028.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li><b>Building Socialism at the State Level</b><br>
<b>Thursday July 24, 6:00pm</b>, Missoula Elks Lodge, 112 Pattee
St, Missoula<br>
What would socialism look like in Montana? What are the goals?
What are the impediments? How do we get there? Refreshments will
be served.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li><b>The Fight for Bail Abolition</b><br>
<b>Thursday September 18, 6:00pm</b>, Missoula Elks Lodge, 112
Pattee St, Missoula<br>
The main function of bail is to keep poor and working-class
people in jail while awaiting trial. It doesn’t improve public
safety, and it helps drive mass incarceration. What is being
done to abolish bail? Refreshments will be served.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li><b>Envisioning The World Without Capitalism</b><br>
<b>Thursday November 6, 6:00pm</b>, Missoula Elks Lodge, 112
Pattee St, Missoula<br>
The series finale for the year will be a panel discussion about
a future beyond capitalism. When we truly imagine the future, we
have a dream to work towards. How does democracy work at the
local, state and national levels? What will freedom look like
when we no longer expend vast amounts of work keeping the
billionaire class wealthy? Refreshments will be served.</li>
</ul>
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