Today in Labor History May 14, 1940: Emma Goldman (1869-1940) died in Toronto, at the age of 70. She had been raising money for anti-Franco forces in Spain. Goldman emigrated to the U.S. from Lithuania in 1885. The Haymarket Affair radicalized her and attracted her to the anarchist movement. She planned the assassination of industrialist Henry Clay Frick, along with her lover Alexander Berkman. However, Frick survived and Berkman was sentenced to 22 years in prison. After that, she renounced “propaganda by the deed.” Nevertheless, she continued to agitate for women’s and workers’ rights and for anarchism. And she went to prison numerous times for “inciting to riot” and for distributing information about birth control. She also went to prison in 1917 for “inducing persons not to register” for the draft. When she was released, the U.S. deported her, and 248 other radicals, to Russia. She initially supported the “workers’ revolution.” However, after learning about the violent suppression of the Kronstadt rebellion by the Bolsheviks, she denounced the Soviet Union.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #anarchism #EmmaGoldman #soviet #russia #haymarket #birthcontrol #feminism #revolution #riot #antiwar #rebellion #prison #kronstadt #rebellion #fascism #antifascism

RIOT ON SUNSET STRIP – PUNTATA DEL 05 05 2026

https://radioblackout.org/podcast/riot-on-sunset-strip-puntata-del-05-05-2026/

Today in Labor History May 11, 1963: The Birmingham riot began when racists set off several bombs targeting the African-American leaders of the Birmingham Campaign. The Campaign was a mass protest for racial justice. In response to the bombings, African American protesters burned down businesses and fought police in downtown Birmingham. They were frustrated both by the cops’ complicity in racist attacks against them, and the ineffectiveness of nonviolent protest. Governor Wallace deployed the state militia against the protesters. Many believe this event proved pivotal in Kennedy’s decision to propose a major civil rights bill.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #civilrights #racism #alabama #police #acab #bombing #Riot #jimcrow #birmingham #BlackMastodon #policebrutality

Today in Labor History May 10, 1768: People rioted in London when the authorities imprisoned John Wilkes. The police arrested him for writing an article criticizing the king. Wilkes was a British radical journalist and politician. He was a Member of Parliament at the time of his arrest. During the riot, government soldiers opened fire, killing six or seven protesters. The event is known as the Massacre of St. George’s Fields.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #riot #massacre #london #police #censorship #journalism

Today in Labor History May 8, 1970: About 200 construction workers in New York City attacked a crowd of Vietnam war protesters. As a result, over 70 people were injured, including four police officers. Peter Brennan, head of the New York building trades, was honored at the Nixon White House two weeks later, eventually named Secretary of Labor.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #hardhat #Riot #vietnam #antiwar #nixon #vigilantism #police #PoliceBrutality #newyork

Today in Labor History May 5, 1886: The Bay View Massacre occurred in Milwaukee, one day after the Haymarket bombing, in Chicago. Workers in both cities were demonstrating for the 8-hour work-day. There were approximately 1,400 strikes that year for the 8-hour day. In Milwaukee, the governor called out the state militia. They shot and killed seven protesters, including a 14-year-old boy. No militiamen were ever charged. However, the authorities convicted fifty of the strikers and sentenced them to hard labor for "rioting."

#workingclass #LaborHistory #bayview #massacre #riot #EightHourDay #union #strike #haymarket #mayday