Afri Famine Walk 2005: Defending the Right of Migrant Workers to Organise

mayo | worker & community struggles and protests | news report

Monday May 30, 2005 15:12

by redjade

In the Spirit of Mother Jones

{ photos by redjade } ©

→ Afri Famine Walk 2005
In the Spirit of Mother Jones
Defending the Right of Migrant Workers to Organise

The Great Famine marked the pinnacle point in terms of the consequences of colonialism and occupation in Ireland. This had been preceded by Cromwellian conquest, penal laws and military suppression, which, in turn gave rise to rebellion and resistance.

The Afri walk commemorates the Irish famine, as well as expressing solidarity and friendship with the people of today's world who continue to suffer famine, poverty, violence as a result of war, military suppression and injustice.

Walk Leaders
Andy Irvine, Said El Buzari, Fr. Párdraig Ó’Máille & ‘Mother Jones’

Date: Saturday 28th May 2005
From Doolough to Louisburgh, Co. Mayo
Organised by Afri in association with Louisburgh Community Project

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→ Who Was Mother Jones?...

Mary Harris Jones (1837 – November 30, 1930), better known as Mother Jones, was a prominent American labor and community organizer. Born in Cork, Ireland, Jones moved with her family to Toronto, Canada when she was still young, shortly after her grandfather was hanged by the British for participation in the Irish national struggle. Upon completing school, she worked alternately as a teacher and a seamstress in the United States. She was introduced to unions through her husband, George Jones, a prominent member of the Iron Molders' Union.

Two major turning points in her career were the deaths of her husband and four children during a yellow fever epidemic in Tennessee in 1867 and the loss of all her property in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Forced to support herself, she became involved in the labor movement, joined the Knights of Labor, a predecessor to the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), or "Wobblies," which she helped to found in 1905. She was active as an organizer and educator in strikes throughout the country, and was particularly involved with the United Mine Workers (UMW) and the Socialist Party of America. As a union organizer, she became prominent for organizing the wives and children of striking workers in demonstrations on their behalf. In 1903, she organized children working in mills and mines in the "Children's Crusade" — a march from Kensington, Pennsylvania to Oyster Bay, New York, home of President Theodore Roosevelt, with banners demanding "We want time to play!" and "We want to go to school!" Though the President refused to meet with the marchers, the incident brought the issue of child labor to the forefront of the public agenda.

read more...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Jones

. . .

→ In her own words...
''I was born in the city of Cork, Ireland, in 1830. My people were poor. For generations they had fought for Ireland's freedom. Many of my folks have died in that struggle. My father, Richard Harris, came to America in 1835, and as soon as he had become an American citizen he sent for his family. His work as a laborer with railway construction crews took him to Toronto, Canada. Here I was brought up but always as the child of an American citizen. Of that citizenship I have ever been proud.''

read the full text
'The Autobiography of Mother Jones'
http://www.angelfire.com/nj3/RonMBaseman/mojones.htm

→ 'Mother Jones' is also the name of an excellent progressive/Lefty American magazine - http://motherjones.com/

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→ Upcoming Afri Event...

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa

For a special address
On the theme
'War and Peace in the 21st Century’

Venue: Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin
Date: June 7th 2005
Time: 7pm
Admission 10 EURO

Book now to ensure that you do not miss the opportunity to hear
this inspirational speaker.

→ Contact Afri on 01 8827563 or on [email protected]

→ http://afri.buz.org