Sylvia Weinstein

[Mike Calvert <mike.calvert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following came from the comrades of Socialist Viewpoint in the USA
about the death of their veteran comrade, Sylvia Weinstein.

Mike


A Rebel Woman
by Roland Sheppard


On August 13, 2001, at the age of 75, Sylvia Weinstein died. She was a life
long socialist and working class fighter/leader.  I knew her as a friend
and a comrade for 40 years. She had a passion for life and compassion for
the oppressed. She prided herself on being a "Jimmy Higgins" during her
forty years in the SWP and eighteen years in Socialist Action/Socialist
Viewpoint.
She was a "salt of the earth" socialist from the coal fields of Kentucky.

She worked full time in The Militant office and full time in the national
office of Socialist Action/Socialist Workers Organization. During the
1960s, she helped to make the arraignments and accommodations for Fidel
Castro at the Hotel Theresa in Harlem.  She took time off from the office
to lie down in front of a cement truck during a civil rights picket line at
a construction site. In 1967, In the 1970s she was the main  leader of the
 fight for childcare in San Francisco. She became famous as the "child care
lady". When Socialist Action was formed, in 1983, she assisted the
Greyhound workers when  they went on strike and helped to organize the
unions strike headquarters.

She was the continuation of the spirit of the "Wobblies". Like Joe Hill,
when working people fought for their rights, it's there we found Sylvia.
She was a modest person, who seldom used the word I, she was more
comfortable with a "we".

But, her accomplishments were many. She never  refused any tasks. She could
do many things and in a fight she was worth her weight in wildcats. She was
a fighter, but never got a chance to be part of an insurrection or see the
 accomplishment of her goal for a socialist world. Her legacy demonstrates
a path toward that goal. We are all in a better place because she was here.
She was a working class hero which is something to be. In that sense, she
was  also my hero. She is best described by Joe Hill's song "The Rebel
Girl". But she was more she was a rebel woman. It is how I will always
remember her.

Roland Sheppard


THE REBEL GIRL
(JOE HILL) (1914-1915)

There are women of many descriptions
In this queer world, as everyone knows.
Some are living in beautiful mansions,
And are wearing the finest of clothes.
There are blue blooded queens and princesses,
Who have charms made of diamonds and pearl;
But the only and thoroughbred lady
Is the Rebel Girl.

CHORUS:

That's the Rebel Girl, that's the Rebel Girl!
To the working class she's a precious pearl.
She brings courage, pride and joy
To the fighting Rebel Boy.
We've had girls before, but we need some more
In the Industrial Workers of the World.
For it's great to fight for freedom
With a Rebel Girl. Yes, her hands may be hardened from labor,
And her dress may not be very fine;
But a heart in her bosom is beating
That is true to her class and her kind.
And the grafters in terror are trembling
When her spite and defiance she'll hurl;
For the only and thoroughbred lady
Is the Rebel Girl.