Minneapolis, MN – On March 8, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) will hold a celebration of International Women’s Day here. The celebration will include a showing of the film “With Babies and Banners: Story of the Women's Emergency Brigade”, about the powerful role of women in the historic 1936-37 Flint Sit-down Strike at General Motors – a key event in the fight to build unions in the U.S. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at 4200 Cedar Avenue S.

“On March 8, people across the globe will celebrate International Women’s Day, recognizing the contributions of women as leaders of progressive movements – past and present – and to advance our demands for liberation,” states Tracy Molm of FRSO.

The story of International Women’s Day began in New York City in 1909, when 20,000 women garment workers went on strike for 13 cold winter weeks to win better pay and working conditions. They worked seven days a week for less than a living wage. Their strike won improvements in wages as well as working and safety conditions. Two years later, German revolutionary Clara Zetkin, inspired by the women of New York, proposed that March 8 be celebrated around the world as International Women’s Day.

“International Women’s Day, like May Day, was born out of the struggles of the U.S. working class. With this great history in mind – and much important work before us – let us mark March 8, 2013,” says Molm.

#MinneapolisMN #InternationalWomensDay #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #womensMovement