Today in Labor History June 11, 1837: The Broad Street Riot occurred in Boston, between Irish Americans and Yankee firefighters. Roughly 800 people brawled, with 10,000 spectators egging them on. The firefighters vandalized nearby homes and businesses and beat residents (mostly Irish). The mayor had to call in the state cavalry, the National Lancers, to put down the riot. While injuries were severe and pervasive, there were no immediate deaths. However, numerous people likely died from their injuries; but since hospital records were poorly maintained in those days, if it all, the actual number of deaths is unknown.

As shocking as this brawl might seem to today’s readers, it was relatively common occurrence in the mid- to late-1800s. First, fire departments were generally private organizations made up of ethnically similar people. Only the first department to arrive at a fire was actually paid. Consequently, there was a financial incentive not only to get there quickly, but to fight off anyone else who showed up. Secondly, Nativist and anti-Catholic sentiment was rampant, which led to regular fights between “native” or Protestant fire crews and immigrant Catholic-Irish crews. However, the injuries and property damage resulting from the Broad Street Riot were so extensive that it prompted the authorities to create the city’s first municipal police and fire departments.

The phenomenon of brawling fire departments is discussed in Noel Ignatiev’s excellent book, “How the Irish Became White.” Such a fight also occurs in my historical novel, “Anywhere But Schuylkill.”

You can pick up my novel here:
https://www.keplers.com/
https://www.greenapplebooks.com/
https://www.historiumpress.com/books/anywhere-but-schuylkill

Or send me $25 via Venmo (@Michael-Dunn-565) and your mailing address, and I will send you a signed copy!

#workingclass #LaborHistory #boston #irish #catholic #racism #firefighters #riot #immigration #police #books #novel #fiction #historicalfiction #author #writer @bookstadon

⚡Riots continued in Northern #Ireland 🇮🇪 where anti-Islamic writings were detected and 12 police officers were injured. #Irish 🇮🇪 Affairs Minister Hilary Benn said that 16 people were arrested on the second night of riots following a stabbing attack in Belfast. [Al-Quds Al-Arabi]

Follow for the latest developments

ReformUK and Nigel Farage ‘fanned flames of race riots in Glasgow’

The finger has been pointed at #Reform UK #MSPs & their leader #Farage after “race #riots” broke out in #Glasgow, #Belfast

People in the #Scottish & Northern #Irish cities were targeted because of the colour of their skin, according to police, as #far-right #agitators led #disorder which saw #arson, #assaults, & clashes with police officers on Tuesday evening.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/26183311.reform-uk-nigel-farage-fanned-flames-race-riots-glasgow/

#FarRight #racism #fascism #extremists #UK

Police blast water cannons at protesters amid unrest over stabbing in Belfast

Protesters in Northern Ireland set small fires and hurled bricks and bottles at the police during a second night of violence over a stabbing in Belfast. The incident sparked anti-immigrant violence.

https://www.npr.org/2026/06/11/g-s1-127401/uk-anti-immigration-protests-belfast

#TopNews #News #Belfast #NorthernIreland #Irish

Northern #Irish #Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has strongly condemned a series of violent attacks on public infrastructure in #Belfast.

She described the attack in North Belfast the previous night as “heinous and wrong”, but said the incidents seen this evening were also unacceptable. Kimmins criticised attacks on homes, family cars, businesses, roads and public transport, and urged political leaders to speak out against them.

She said racism, intimidation and violence have no place in society and warned that the attacks were being used to spread fear, hatred and division.

Kimmins said damaging public #transport and infrastructure only deprives communities of essential services. She expressed concern for the driver and passenger of a Glider bus that was hijacked and set alight, noting that both were reported safe. She also praised Translink staff for continuing to provide transport services before operations were suspended.
https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/infrastructure-minister-condemns-violent-attacks-public-infrastructure