“It appears necessary to go back to first principles in search of the most simple truths, and to dispute with some prevailing prejudice every inch of ground.” – Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Journalists with the Associated Press say they found three factories on three continents that could begin manufacturing “hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccines on short notice if only they had the blueprints and technical know-how.” Except that such “knowledge belongs to the large pharmaceutical companies who have produced the first three vaccines.”
On this day, 7 March 1942, Lucy Parsons, anarchist, co-founder of the revolutionary Industrial Workers of the World union and lifelong advocate for working people, the homeless, women, and African-Americans, died in a house fire.
Born into slavery in Virginia to an enslaved mother, Parsons later moved to Texas and became a famous revolutionary firebrand. Instead of voting for politicians, Parsons advocated direct action to change the world, advising workers: “Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.”
As dangerous to the authorities in death as in life, after the fire the police confiscated all her papers and books. She was also the widow of Haymarket martyr Albert Parsons. Learn more about women in the IWW in episode 16 our podcast: https://workingclasshistory.com/2018/12/02/e16-women-in-the-early-iww/https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1666834340168376/?type=3
