Why Portland? Wobblies, Storytellers and the Toilers of the Sea
first published 17th July 2014 When I visit the US this year, I'm not required to spend most of my time nosing around in the IWW archives, as on previous visits. Don't get me wrong, I love archives. I just want to look at some new ones. Though I still feel this is a bit naughty (I'm not over my student hang-ups just yet), I can do whatever research I want. So there. I'm going to visit Portland. I've been invited to record some lovely significant stories. A Palestinian veteran of the first Intifada, now a resident of the city, has offered to let me record his story. I have been offered a guided tour of co-operative ventures in Oregon from an activists' perspective. How can I, perambulating scrapbook that I am, resist that? It's a sign. Or an excuse. Whatever. There's also the fact, of course, that Portland is famous for having my type of person living in it. That will be fun. Apparently the gentrification process there is a bit out of control too, so I...
