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Clara Lemlich and the Uprising of the 20,000
10/29/2025
Clara Lemlich and the Uprising of the 20,000
In 1909, a 23-year-old immigrant named Clara Lemlich stood up in New York’s Cooper Union and said, “I have no more patience for talk—I move that we go on a general strike.” The next morning, 20,000 garment workers—mostly young immigrant women—walked off the job. Their courage changed labor history forever. Tune into our latest episode to hear how their fight reshaped workers’ rights for generations. --- Music from today's episode is by: Tar Sahno and Semion Krivenko-Adamo Sources: Jewish Women’s Archive, “Uprising of 20,000 (1909).” Global Nonviolent Action Database (Swarthmore College), “Triangle Shirtwaist Factory women strike, win better wages and hours, New York, 1909.” AFL-CIO, “Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.” PBS American Experience, “Clara Lemlich and the Uprising of the 20,000.”
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