Liam O'Mara IV, PhDMay 15
#BenReitman, #anarchist and lover to #EmmaGoldman, was abducted from his hotel room in #SanDiego, #California, on #ThisDayInHistory in 1912, during that city's #FreeSpeechFight. He was savagely beaten and tortured by vigilantes (and perhaps police) working for local businesses.
Liam O'Mara IV, PhDMar 26
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.
Liam O'Mara IV, PhDJan 8
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.
Peter RileyNov 2, 2023

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.