What we’re about
The purpose of this group is to get some social interaction after being in lockdown for so long. It can be hard to find a friend group or meeting new people, especially in this day and age. All are welcome! Our events will range from going out to get dinner or drinks, to trivia nights, bowling, laser tag, camping, hiking, you name it. Really whatever people want to do we can do!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Social Justice on Screen: Salt of The Earth with post-film talk (Free)Capitol Theater, Olympia, WA
Salt of the Earth is a film that is seldom seen on the screen but seldom forgotten when you see it.
It’s the story about A Mexican-American workers who strike for safer working condition and better wages in 1951 New Mexico. Considered a subversive film when it was released in 1954 it was made by a blacklisted director jailed because he refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (Joe McCarthy’s friends), then investigated by the FBI, and finally rejected by film distributors because it was “too hot” to handle.
What was too hot for 1950s America? Well, as its producer described it the film was “unequivocally pro-labor, pro-minority, and pro-women.”
Salt of the Earth will be shown for free at the Capitol Theater, sponsored by the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Central Labor Council in comjunction with the Olympia Film Society. It will be followed by a discussion focused on local immigrant justice issues (it is being screened on May 1, International Workers’ Day, after all).
Here’s the blurb about the film from the Olympia Film Society.
See the union movie dubbed “dangerous” and “subversive” by the American mainstream press, and even by some unions! Blacklisted during the anti-communist McCarthy witch-hunt, a group of Hollywood filmmakers and the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers came together in 1951 to make “Salt of the Earth”, a story about a group of Mexican-American zinc mine workers and their families who go on the picket line to protest unsafe working conditions. Because of the blacklisted nature of the film, very few professional actors were cast, with most of the parts being played by union members of Mine Mill Local 890, many of whom actually took part in the strike that inspired the film! Dir: Herbert J. Biberman / 1954 / US / 94 min
The OFS's description leaves out the role women—the workers’ wives and daughters—have in the movie and, without giving too much away, well, they rock.
The movie starts at 7 p.m., but the doors open at 6:00 p.m.
As this is being shown by the labor council I’m not sure what to expect in terms of attendance. But the Capitol seats about 700 people so I’m sure there will be space for anyone who wants to come.
If you’d like to sit together, I plan to arrive around 6:30, linger around outside for a few minutes and gather everyone up, then head inside to be seated in the theater with my popcorn and beer/cider by about 6:45, maybe a little later. I generally try to sit in the middle of the theater on the first floor.
Did I mention it is free?
Cross-posted with the Olympia Activities Social Group.
