14 #Wobblies were arrested on #ThisDayInHistory in 1915 in a failed effort to drive the #syndicalist #union out of #SiouxCity, #Iowa. Their "crime" was holding street meetings to provoke arrest & fill the gaols in a #FreeSpeechFight lasting 'til #IWW won its rights in late April.
To break #union organizing, the city of #SanDiego banned public speaking on #ThisDayInHistory in 1912, so a violent #FreeSpeechFight began where the #IWW faced #RightWing thugs & the police. Members were tortured & dumped in LA, and "seditious" speech remained banned until 2020.

Today in Labour History

1811 #Luddite weavers & knitters destroy machines in #Sutton & #Ashfield England, which were a threat to their livelihoods.

1909 150 arrested in #IWW #freespeechfight, #Spokane, Washington USA

1928 Police fire on striking #dockworkers in Melbourne, Australia killing one man.