Like cotton workers, these women shared the recent heritage of the Mexican Revolution. While their relationship to the politics of the revolution varied, they understood collective resistance to oppression. Many had eagerly followed recent events in the garment industry in the eastern United States, and knew, if incompletely, of the NRA. They readily responded to Pesotta’s attention, like these employees of the Clare Dress Company.

“We want a strike,” said Carmela, a tiny creature with flashing black eyes. “We want to picket our shop.” “Have you ever been on strike before?” I asked. “No, but if others can go out and win, like the Philadelphia and New York dressmakers, why can’t we?” “They say the NRA is back of us—what is the NRA anyway?” another wanted to know.