Mother, songwriter, and textile worker, Ella May Wiggins helped lead the union strike against Loray Mill (Gastonia, NC) in 1929. Attempts to repress the strike ended in violence and Ella May was murdered. (See my blogposts about the museum opening at Loray Mill, the Mill Mother cd and the strike, the song I wrote, the cd release party and here about music written to memorialize her death. Wiley Cash also recently wrote a fictionalized book about the strike and Sheriff Aderholdt’s and Ella May’s deaths: The Last Ballad.

On September 12 there will be an online discussion from 2:00 to 3:00pm to memorialize Ella May and her fight for better wages and a better life for her children. Si Kahn, Larry Vellani and I will sing songs to memorialize the struggle. Registration is required.