David Rovics — also known as “The Wobbly Musician” — will be performing in a free “commUNITY” concert this Sunday at Centralia Square Parkview Terrace & Bar.
The event is aimed at celebrating successful fundraising efforts for the new Centralia Massacre of 1919 International Workers of the World (IWW) memorial to be placed in George Washington Park, according to a news release.
Centralia Square Parkview Terrace & Bar is located at 202 W. Centralia College Blvd. across the street from George Washington Park. Rovics’ show will begin at 7 p.m. on July 23.
The new memorial will honor the IWW union victims of the Centralia Massacre of 1919, also known as the Centralia Tragedy, the Centralia Conspiracy and the Armistice Day Riot. It will be installed and dedicated on Nov. 11. The memorial was approved by the Centralia City Council following a request by the IWW in October 2022.
The IWW made the request as the American Legion statue, known as “The Sentinel,” is approaching the 100-year anniversary of its dedication on Nov. 11, 1924.
“For almost 100 years, ‘The Sentinel’ has told one side of the story of the tragedy. It states that four Legionnaires were ‘slain while on peaceful parade.’ The IWW plaque will say that the union victims were ‘defending their union hall,’” IWW Member Mike Garrison, who is donating the plaque, said previously in a statement.
Names of the IWW victims will be listed on the plaque, including: Eugene Barnett, Ray Becker, Bert Bland, O.C. Bland, John Lamb, James McInerney, Loren Roberts and Britt Smith, who were all imprisoned; Elmer Smith, who was disbarred; and Wesley Everest, who was lynched.
Despite having occurred nearly 103 years ago, the cause of the violence that broke out in the streets of Centralia between the Wobblies and American Legion in 1919 is still contested with both the American Legion and IWW largely blaming each other.
Rovics is a Portland-based songwriter, musician and podcaster who has been performing on tour internationally since the 1990s.
Aside from his concerts, he is known to regularly perform at protests, including those against the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, D.C., in April 2000, the G8 summit protests in 2005 and 2007, the G20 summit protests in 2009 and 2010, and many other protests both in the U.S. and Europe, according to the release. Some of the protests he played at had nearly a quarter of a million people in attendance.
“These sorts of crowds make David feel very good, since at his own gigs he considers himself lucky if 50 people show up,” the release stated.
In addition to the free concert and discussion about the Centralia Tragedy of 1919, Rovics and the event organizers plan to set aside time to discuss homophobia, racism and justice in Lewis County, as well as political and cultural violence in the county, according to the release.
For more information on the concert this Sunday, email the Centralia Memorial Committee of the IWW at centralia2019@gmail.com.
For more information on the Centralia Tragedy of 1919, including both the American Legion’s account and an alternate investigation, visit https://tinyurl.com/27djhc3y.
To learn more about Rovics and listen to his music, visit https://www.davidrovics.com/.
