Revolt on Goose Island

Kari Lyndersen talked about her book Revolt on Goose Island: The Chicago Factory Takeover, and What It Says About the Economic Crisis (Melville House; June 30, 2009). In her book she recounts the takeover of a Chicago factory by workers who refused to leave when it was shut down. After receiving $45 billion in federal funds, Bank of America terminated a line of credit to Republic Windows and Doors, which shut down without providing for its workers. Eventually, arrests were made, but the peaceul protest sparked national attention and led to a minimal turnout at the auction of the company’s assets. Onstage with Ms. Lydersen were labor rights advocate Danny Postel, who moderated the discussion, and Armando Robles, the local UE president who helped to plan and participated in the worker takeover of Republic Windows and Doors. Among the topics discussed were the events that lead to the occupation of the plant, Barack Obama’s role in raising the conflict from a local stage to a global stag close