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Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson
The Declaration of Independence is a document that announced the separation of 13 British colonies in North America from Great Britain in 1776. It was written by a committee of five men, including Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the main text. It declared that the colonies had the right to form their own government based on the principles of natural rights, consent of the governed, and resistance to tyranny -
Eugene V. Debs
Eugene V. Debs was a prominent American socialist, political activist, and trade unionist who advocated for the rights and interests of the working class. He was one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World, a radical labor union that aimed to overthrow capitalism and establish a cooperative commonwealth. -
The triangle shirtwaist fire
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was a tragic event that occurred on March 25, 1911, in New York City. It claimed the lives of 146 garment workers, mostly young immigrant women, who were trapped inside the burning building due to locked doors and inadequate fire escapes. The fire sparked public outrage and led to reforms in labor laws, safety standards, and union rights -
Bread and roses strike
The Bread and Roses strike was a massive labor protest that took place in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912. It was led by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a radical union that organized immigrant and female workers. The strike demanded better wages, shorter hours, and more dignity for the textile workers, who used the slogan “We want bread, and roses, too” to express their aspirations -
Flint sit-down strike
The Flint sit-down strike was a historic labor protest that took place in Flint, Michigan, from December 30, 1936, to February 11, 1937. It involved over 100,000 workers from the General Motors (GM) corporation, who occupied several plants and refused to work until their demands were met. The workers wanted GM to recognize their union, the United Auto Workers (UAW), and to improve their wages, working conditions, and job security. -
Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin was a prominent African-American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. He worked with A. Philip Randolph on the March on Washington Movement in 1941 and was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. He was also an advocate for peace, labor rights, and equality for all people, -
Larry Itliong
Larry Itliong was a Filipino American labor leader who organized West Coast farm workers, starting in the 1930s. He became well-known in the 1960s for spearheading the Delano grape strike and teaming with labor leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta to demand farm workers’ rights. He is regarded as a key figure of the Asian American movement and one of the fathers of the West Coast labor movement -
Nelson Cruikshank
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Memphis sanitation workers strike
The Memphis sanitation workers’ strike was a historic labor protest that took place in 1968, when 1,300 Black garbage collectors went on strike to demand better working conditions, higher pay, and union recognition. The strike was supported by civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., who came to Memphis to rally the workers and delivered his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech the night before he was assassinated. -
I've been to the mountain top by MLK
In his last speech before his assassination, Martin Luther King Jr. addressed the striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, and urged them to continue their nonviolent struggle for justice and dignity.
He also called for economic boycotts of racist businesses, solidarity among oppressed people, and support for the Poor People’s Campaign.
He concluded with a prophetic vision of his own death. -
Postal workers strike
Postal workers in the United Kingdom and the United States have staged several strikes and protests since 2022 over issues such as pay, working conditions, staffing, and service standards.
The workers are represented by unions such as Unite and the Communication Workers Union in the UK, and the American Postal Workers Union in the US, which have demanded better treatment and recognition from their employers. -
He showed us the way by Cesar Chavez
In this article, Cesar Chavez pays tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and his philosophy of nonviolence, which inspired the farm workers’ movement for social justice.
He explains the principles and benefits of nonviolence, such as appealing to the conscience of the people, staying on the offensive, and respecting human life1.
He also warns of the dangers and consequences of violence, such as escalation, demoralization, and frustration -
Commonwealth Club
The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation’s oldest and largest public affairs forum, which hosts more than 400 events a year on various topics related to politics, culture, society, and the economy.
The Commonwealth Club in Richmond, Virginia is a private, non-profit membership organization that provides social and recreational services to its members, as well as a premier event venue and dining destination.
Commonwealth in Las Vegas.