The Fire
The Triangle Waist Company was located one block east of Washington Square Park. There were over 500 employees – most were young women, most were recent immigrants. March 25, 1911 a fire broke out on the 8th floor. The workers ran to the fire escape. It collapsed, dropping them to their death. On the 9th floor a critical exit was locked. People on the street watched as the workers began to jump out the windows. Fire trucks arrived but their ladders only reached the 6th floor. The elevators ran as long as they could, workers pressed into the cars; some tumbled down the elevator shaft.
In the end 146 people died. There was a trial but the owners, long known for their anti-union activities, got off. The fire became a rallying cry for the international labor movement. Many of our fire safety laws were created in response to this tragic event.
We remember because we are still fighting for social justice for all.
The Coalition
In concert with individuals and organizations across the country, the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition is spearheading the creation of commemorative events – activism, education, art – for the March 2011 Centennial.
The Coalition supports:
- The creation of innovative participatory activities, to build the muscles of active social engagement.
- New collaborations between communities
- Establishing a permanent memorial
The Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition is honored to have City Lore as our fiscal sponsor.
For more information please see our FAQ page.
To see the minutes/agenda from our monthly meetings:
October 21, 2010
more coming soon!
[...] A number of organizations have come together for the centenary. [...]
[...] labor, libraries, unions on March 23, 2011 at 5:44 pm Friday being the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that killed 146 workers — mostly women, mostly immigrants — I am thinking about [...]
[...] is a craft action to commemorate the 146 victims of the 1911 Triangle Waist Factory fire in New York City and to connect that history to thecontemporary crisis in the global garment [...]