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EDITOR'S NOTE: If you're thinking about attending this year's Great Labor Arts Exchange, when we'll join thousands at the Labor Notes Conference, sign up by March 1 (that's next week!) and save big on registration. See you in Chicago! - Chris Garlock

Toppling Columbus

A haunting documentary that calls into question the very concept of America and the exaltation of historical figures such as Chris Columbus screens this weekend. Stonebreakers -- available on-demand -- chronicles the conflicts around monuments that arose in the United States during the George Floyd protests and the 2020 presidential election. CLICK HERE for details and tickets ($3.99). As statues of Columbus, Confederates, and Founding Fathers fall from their pedestals, the nation’s triumphalist myths are called into question. Presented by the Workers United Film Festival and the DC Labor FilmFest.

Be there for “We Were There”

Get your tickets now for “We Were There” with Bev Grant and The DC Labor Chorus on Tuesday, March 12 at the Takoma Busboys and Poets; space is limited and this event is expected to fill up fast. CLICK HERE for free tickets. The celebration of women in labor history with music and the spoken word is hosted by the Labor Heritage Foundation and the DC Coalition of Labor Union Women, and sponsored by the American Federation of Musicians’ Music Performance Trust Fund (MPFT).

No Fantasia: Disneyland character workers organize

A group of 1,700 performers who bring beloved characters to life at Disneyland in California announced last week that they are forming a union -- Magic United -- with Actors’ Equity Association (Equity).

ON AIR: THE LABOR HERITAGE POWER HOUR

American Fiction’s Cord Jefferson: Writer/director Cord Jefferson takes us behind the scenes of creating his acclaimed film American Fiction, the challenges of adaption, and creating Black-centered narratives; organizer and musician Joe Uehlein tells the story behind his song “Hands”.

PICKET SIGN of the Week

Teamsters Local 997 members on the picket line in Fort Worth, demanding their worth from Molson Coors. Meanwhile, Teamsters Local 919 members at Anheuser-Busch rallied and practice-picketed just 260 miles down the road in Houston. “Anheuser-Busch has 8 days to get off its ass on this contract or this company will only have itself to blame when 5,000 Teamsters walk,” say the Teamsters.

Labor SONG of the Week

March of The Jobless Corps - Daniel Kahn and The Painted Bird

Labor ART of the Week

“The #IGNCG has been granted voluntary recognition,” tweeted the IGN Creators Guild yesterday. “We’re still working out the final composition of our union, but we are thrilled @IGN came to the table and recognized us!” Got great labor art? Email us at [email protected]

LHF's comprehensive listing of labor's cultural events: music, films, theater, books, history and more...

Click here to add your labor arts event!

FILM: Rustin

Fri, February 23, 7pm – 9pm

AFI Silver Theatre; Tickets here

Co-sponsored by the DC Labor FilmFest

NOTE: also screens Feb. 24, 25, 26 & 28

FILM: Stonebreakers

Feb 24 – 26, 2024

Presented by the Workers Unite Film Festival and the DC Labor FilmFest

$3.99; Online screening; Details/Tickets here.

NOTE: After this content becomes available February 24th at 12:00 pm EST, you'll have 58 hours to start watching. Once you begin, you'll have 24 hours to finish watching

Labor Notes Happy Hour

Sun, February 25, 2:30pm – 4:00pm

3120 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010

RSVP HERE

LABOR HISTORY TODAY

February 23, 1940

Woody Guthrie wrote “This Land Is Your Land” following a frigid trip -- partially by hitchhiking, partially by rail -- from California to Manhattan. The Great Depression was still raging. Guthrie had heard Kate Smith’s recording of “God Bless America” and resolved to himself: “We can’t just bless America, we’ve got to change it” – 1940

On this week’s Labor History Today podcast, Mingo, Matewan and the Coal Wars of West Virginia. Lawyer Jeff Barnes discusses his novel “Mingo”.

LABOR HISTORY QUIZ OF THE WEEK

Who was Edgar Daniel Nixon?

A Pullman porter

A labor organizer and civil rights activist

President of the Montgomery local of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

All of the above

LAST WEEK'S QUIZ: February 16, 1926 was the beginning of a 17-week general strike of 12,000 New York furriers, in which Jewish workers formed a coalition with Greek and African American workers and became the first union to win a five-day, 40-hour week.

"The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too."

Please CLICK HERE NOW to pledge your financial support to our 2024 program, which includes our annual Solidarity Forever Award, the Great Labor Arts Exchange, the DC Labor FilmFest and much more (check out our website for details!).

Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

RECENT NEWSLETTERS

Update on saving the UE ‘Solidarity’ mural (2/16)

Help Mother Jones march again (2/9)

Graduate Labor Union choir builds solidarity through song (2/2)

Flood fails to sweep away Socialist Labor Party Hall (1/26)

“Dazzling” night at LHF’s MLK Ball (1/19)

“Solidarity and song will get us through” (1/11)

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