from Instagram

Photo shared by Philadelphia IWW on May 30, 2025 tagging @phillydsa, and @industrialworkersoftheworld. May be an image of 2 people, poster and text that says 'COME CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF BEN FLETCHER & PHILLY I.W.W. LOCAL 8 JUNE 21ST NOON SPRUCE ST. HARBOR PARK HISTORICAL MARKER DEDICATION CEREMONY'.
Very excited to announce that we will be dedicating the historical marker honoring Local 8 and Ben Fletcher on June 21st! Over a year ago, we dedicated a mural in their honor and now it’s time to get back together for the historical marker.

Please join us in celebrating Local 8’s legacy of militant unionism and build connections with our local IWW branch.

**Date:** June 21st
**Time:** Noon
**Location:** Spruce Street Harbor Park

We must remember Local 8 and Ben Fletcher because he is a hero the Philadelphian working class created and his memory is still a threat to power, oppression, racism, and greed. As politicians and the owning class continue to ignore our needs and attack our right to organize, it’s important to understand the origins of racial segregation and systemic racism as part of the system that is still with us and that we must actively combat.

As an international, multi-racial, and gender inclusive union that has been around for over a hundred years, our struggle continues today. We organize workplaces to improve our material conditions and help others trying to build democracy in their workplaces too.

Let this historical marker stand as a commemoration to Fellow Workers, both past and present, and a reaffirmation of our need to organize as a working class to abolish the wage system. We reject electoral politics and vote begging as a means of improving our material conditions and instead, we recognize that the solution to our suffering lies with each other. We welcome all who want to organize and strengthen the labor movement, so we can grip industries through militant working class solidarity and win demands.

Thank you and shout out to @gemolteni for the poster designs!