Submitted on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 11:14pm

Fellow workers, comrades, unionists, socialists, anarchists and a veritable gaggle of other local Atlantans, bent all of their own fashion someway Leftward, gathered together this past Saturday for the Industrial Workers of the World branch party. The stupendously successful fundraiser had people dancing, drinking, and singing along the whole night through to the sweet sounds of Grand Prize Winners From Last Year, I Want Whiskey, and Flex Your Head. Fresh food was served off the grill and donations were accepted in front, where t-shirts, literature, and a variety of other informative merchandise were on offer.

The house was packed with an estimate of around 60 people at the height of the event and the entire undertaking netted close to $300 for the branch! Thanks to May, owner of Cabbagetown barbershop The Cut, for renting the space to the IWW and thanks to all those who showed and participated in Atlanta’s first Wobbly funding event.

There was a lot of discussion by attendees between musical acts. Among the most important questions at hand were: Can and when will leftwing groups, including members of the ISO, Teamsters, various unions, the IWW, and social activist and student groups, articulate an operative and all-inclusive umbrella network that can be mobilized in times of specific need or crisis? What is the easiest and best way to contact and motivate members of society who would consider themselves of the non-participating mainstream of the culture so as to incite large-scale change during a crisis? What’s the best way to organize nonprofit work places and other nonunion public shops? To what extent should workers’ movements be involved in electoral politics on a state or national level, if at all?

“If we unite and stay conscious and fight together,” said IWW delegate, “who can stop us? It’s workers who have changed society for the better -- common people -- and no one else.” The crowd called back in agreement, joined hands, and sung in unison Ralph Chaplin’s classic ‘Solidarity Forever.’ The group later gathered together for photographs around the framed and newly issued branch charter which was printed on authentic hundred-year-old Wobbly paper.

The Atlanta branch has much work to do in the south, among the most important being the recruiting of new and active members, forming lasting connections with local trade unions, and making the IWW name and presence known in the Atlanta metro area and throughout the southeast. The event on 30 July was an important step toward accomplishing just those goals.

The Atlanta branch is working hard to be a reliable, sustained, integral, and ever-growing component of free society in the American south. Where we stand now, we have nothing to lose and nowhere to go but upward.

In solidarity!

The Atlanta IWW.