proletarianthreads.com

There were numerous intersections before the birth of Proletarian Threads. Louie, then a philosophy student, met traveling rabble rouser Holly during a screening of ‘This is What Democracy Looks Like.’ That is ancient history really, the aftermath of which reminds the present of how impacted some of us were by the Battle of Seattle and the emergence of new movements in this hemisphere. This was a fertile time for weaving connections between anti-capitalist and global justice activists in different corners of the bioregion. They knew of each other without really knowing each other, eventually crossing paths while working on indymedia projects. Louie was editing the still kicking Alternative Fuel newspaper in central Michigan; Holly was writing for the now defunct Popular Power newspaper in northern Michigan. At some point both were covering the seeds and strands of a brewing struggle over a controversial ground water diversion scheme by water bottler, Nestle Corporation. One thing led to another and soon they were among a group of feisty activists who founded Sweetwater Alliance, ever more a force “to liberate water and other essential resources and services from corporate control.”

There has been very little looking back. To support their organizing and agitation, D.I.Y. silkscreening became a way to spread the word and raise some dough—usually just enough to get to the next action. Eventually there had to be a more sustainable way forward.

These days Louie and Holly share a watershed in the beautiful northwestern lower peninsula of Michigan. They are part of a growing community of refuseniks, having forsaken the dominant economic paradigm for something more liberatory and joyful. "Dump the bosses off your back" always had a certain je ne sais quoi appeal.

Their work for social change from the roots up continues. To this end, a website with some of the instruments of insurrection they couldn’t help but pass along.

And you . . . as Emma Goldman once said “is there no echo in your soul of your poets’ songs, your dreamers dreams, your rebels’ calls?”

You are invited . . .