The Bread and Roses Strike of 1912 brought Lawrence, Massachusetts, to a standstill during the harshest winter since the 1888 blizzard, dominating national newspaper headlines for weeks. Despite freezing temperatures, hunger, and violence, 20,000 people from 51 nations living within seven square miles held fast. This strike remains a landmark in U.S. labor history due to its extraordinary organization across ethnic and gender lines. What can we learn from this epic public clash that occurred 114 years ago? Join us to explore these lessons in love and solidarity in hard times and consider how they resonate today.

Rev. Jenny Zappala is a community minister in Bremerton, WA. She has written for newspapers and magazines in Western Washington on staff and as a freelancer for many years. Rev. Jenny has a particular interest in ‘Bread and Roses’ because she has family roots in Lawrence, Mass.