Wobbly Free Speech Monument — New campaign announced

WHAT: Free Speech Monument Proposed for State of Jefferson
WHEN: 2011 — the Centennial of the Wobbly Walk Through the Siskiyous
WHO: Wobbly Walk Free Speech Committee
WHY: “Those Wobblies warrant memory”

Once you know the history you will understand why a blue ribbon committee has been assembled to commemorate the 1911 Wobbly Walk Through the Siskiyous

Wobbly Walk Through the Siskiyous – research report – 125K

Campaign Announcement — “Flyer” – 147K

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Southern Oregon JwJ
The project of establishing a monument is inspired by the research of Southern Oregon University History Professor Jay Mullen and his work “Wobbly Walk Through the Siskiyous.” “Wobbly” is the nickname for a member of the labor union known as the Industrial Workers of the World. Founded in 1905 the IWW rose to distinction during the progressive era of the early part of the 20th century.

Professor Mullen’s story about brave men of conviction whose solidarity stand for free speech is absolutely amazing and it needs to be remembered. Once you know the history you will understand why a blue ribbon committee has been assembled to commemorate the 1911 Wobbly Walk Through the Siskiyous.

Committee Members are from around Oregon and represent a very diversified group that includes labor educators, folk singers and even current dues paying Wobblies. The list of committee members: Jay Mullen, Nancy Spencer, Gerry Cavanaugh, Marko Bey, Brenda Gould, Derek Volkart, Brendan Phillips, Ross Rieder, Susan Stoner, Wes Brain, Ivend Holen, Mark Ross, Barbara Byrd, Patrick Dodd, Rich Rohde, and Scott Fife. Two elected politicians have been asked to be on the committee in an “advisory” role, Oregon State Representative Peter Buckley and Oregon’s Senator in Congress Jeff Merkley.

The following words come from Jay Mullen’s written research documenting the miraculous events which unfolded nearly 100 years ago:

“…to those men of conviction who voluntarily, for the cause of free speech, hit-the-grits and disappeared into the snowfall to confront possible death, not in the face of hostile gunfire, but in the face of an indifferent nature’s blizzard. History forgets more heroes than it remembers. Those Wobblies warrant memory.”

The Wobbly Walk Free Speech Monument is a campaign of
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice http://www.sojwj.org