interview--Ahmed White on the history of the Wobblies

In the first two decades of the 20th century, labor relations in America were sketchy. One group arose that was considered radical:  the IWW, of "Wobblies". They were openly Socialist, anti-capitalism, and leaning pretty closely into Marxism, with their talk of class warfare and encouragement of sabotage to make their points. The IWW sought to educate and  organize the primarily unskilled laborers in timber, agriculture and industrial work, people in dangerous jobs that worked long hours for poor pay. During The Great War  (World War I) and the Red Scare that followed it, they were particularly harassed and prosecuted; members were often imprisoned not for actually doing anything illegal but just talking about it, a clear violation of their First Amendment right to free speech. The union would be broken, but its influence was large in the labor movement. Their guiding light was literary giant Jack London!