Statue of Michigan labor activist Anna Klobuchar Clemenc unveiled in Calumet

Calumet residents gathered on August 22 to unveil a bronze statue of Anna Klobuchar Clemenc, known as “Big Annie,” who led women’s auxiliary actions during the 1913 copper-miners strike in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The sculpture shows Clemenc with a large American flag and rests on a base constructed from original Calumet street bricks from the strike era. The ceremony featured a parade that honored her contributions to labor organizing and her reputation as a steadfast advocate for workers’ rights.

Speakers highlighted her involvement with the Western Federation of Miners’ Women’s Auxiliary and her later life in Chicago. The dedication underscores the community’s effort to preserve the region’s mining heritage and recognize Clemenc’s enduring influence.