Have you read the novel Cold Millions by Jess Walter? It is set in Spokane during the 1909 IWW Free Speech fight. The book is the Whatcom County Library’s selection for this winter. It is a national bestseller and:
“A Best Book of the Year: Bloomberg | Boston Globe | Chicago Public Library | Chicago Tribune | Esquire | Kirkus | New York Public Library | New York Times Book Review (Historical Fiction) | NPR’s Fresh Air | O Magazine | Washington Post | Publishers Weekly | Seattle Times | USA Today
A Library Reads Pick | An Indie Next Pick”
Check out these events! Because the book deals extensively with the IWW, a number of events IWW-related events are coming up around here:
February 15- an IWW member from Bellingham presents ‘The IWW Today’ at Village Books. You have to register [Free] to attend. As a counterpoint to all the historical stuff brought up in the book, this talk will explain how the IWW works in North America and elsewhere today, with examples of some of our union campaigns. We’ll have a literature table.
February 25th- Songs of Protest– in Deming. https://www.whatcomreads.org/event/songs-of-protest-with-jimmy-brite/ sung by Jimmy Brite from Glacier.
March 2- A live on-stage interview with Jess Walter for Chuckanut Radio Hour. Interviewer is Dave Tucker, secretary of the Whatcom-Skagit IWW branch. Questions about the writing of the book. Should be fun. You must RESERVE A SEAT- $5!
https://www.villagebooks.com/event/litlive-crh-jess-walter-030223
March 3- Jess Walter discusses his book at the Mount Baker Theater. No registration, just show up. https://www.whatcomreads.org/event/an-evening-with-jess-walter/
STAY IN THE LOOP! You may be interested in upcoming events about the IWW. If you would like to be on our ‘solidarity alert’ email list write us at bellingham@iww.org and we will add you. We send notices about local strikes and picket lines, events like the above.
Industrial Workers of the World Whatcom-Skagit Branch 