Free screening of “Labor Wars of the Northwest” Oct. 24 at the Capital Theater in Olympia

Submitted by Rachelle Martin, President of the Central Labor Council

TLM Labor and Olympia Film Society present a free screening of Labor Wars of the Northwest on October 24th

The Thurston – Lewis – Mason Central Labor Council is proud to announce its collaboration with the Olympia Film Society to present a free screening of “Labor Wars Of The” on October 24th at the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE Olympia, WA 98501). Northwest”.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the performance begins at 7:00 p.m.

After the film there will be a panel discussion on the Labor history of the South Sound. Labor Wars Of The Northwest chronicles the cauldron of discontent, radicalism and violence that permeated the Pacific Northwest in the first decades of the 20th century. After the introduction of railroads in the 1880s, tens of thousands of workers migrated to the Northwest to work in logging, mining, and fishing. But instead of stable work, they found poverty wages, oppressive working hours and terrible conditions. By examining this conflict in the context of a decades-long struggle, Labor Wars of the Northwest sheds new light on tragedies such as the Everett Massacre (1916), the Seattle General Strike (1919), and the Centralia Massacre (1919).

“In these turbulent times, it is incredibly valuable to learn about the history of our region and the struggles we have faced here,” said TLM Labor President Rachelle Martin. “We, as the Thurston Lewis Mason Central Labor Council, hope that our community will join us at this event to take part in this discussion and the labor movement in our region.”

David J. Jepsen, director of Labor Wars Of The Northwest, is a historian, author, and educator who teaches Pacific Northwest and U.S. history at community colleges in Tacoma and South Puget Sound. Mr. Jepson speaks frequently about the history of the Pacific Northwest and lends his expertise in regional history consulting and writing for museums, including the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma.

“I hope people tell their friends, family and work colleagues about this event so they have the opportunity to learn more about our local labor history,” says Martin.

For more information, please contact Thurston – Lewis – Mason Central Labor Council President Rachelle Martin, email the link here or call (360) 261-2090.

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