Today in Labor History February 1, 1913: The IWW Patterson silk workers’ strike began. They were fighting for an 8-hr work day and better working conditions. Over the course of the strike, 1,850 workers were arrested, including Big Bill Haywood and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. Within the first two weeks of the strike, they had brought out workers from all the local mills in a General Strike of weavers and millworkers. Two workers died in the struggle, one shot by a vigilante and the other by a private guard. The strike ended in failure on July 28.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #patterson #strike #IWW #ElizabethGurleyFlynn #8hourday #generalstrike #police #prison #BigBillHaywood #vigilantes

i'm looking for good *modern* anti-authoritarian, pro labor music.

(in other words, while the Wobblies are commendable, their hymns are not what I'm seeking right now.)

any recs?
(looking at you, the part of the fediverse with vinyl collections you haven't talked about in a while. now is your time to shine.)

Today in Labor History January 10, 1914: IWW labor organizer and folk singer, Joe Hill, was arrested for killing two men during a grocery store robbery. He claimed innocence and the evidence against him was flimsy. However, because of his radical associations, they still framed and convicted him. President Wilson, Hellen Keller (also an IWW member) and the Swedish ambassador all asked for clemency. Hill’s final message from prison, before being shot by firing squad, was “Don’t mourn, Organize!” His ashes were sprinkled in every state of the union, except Utah because he didn’t want to be found dead in Utah. They were also sprinkled in Canada, Sweden, Australia and Canada. Some of his most famous songs were “The Preacher and the Slave,” “The Rebel Girl,” “There is Power in a Union,” “Casey Jones, the Union Scab,” and “Mr. Block.” In 1988, an envelope containing his remaining ashes was discovered.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #IWW #anarchism #JoeHill #folkmusic #union #prison

‼️🚨KICKSTARTER WORKERS ARE ON STRIKE🚨‼️

As of 8am this morning, the workers of Kickstarter United/OPEIU Local 153 are on strike.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A BOYCOTT! Creators and allies, please continue using and supporting the platform.

Today in Labor History September 12, 1918: Eugene V. Debs, Labor leader and socialist, was sentenced to 10 years, under the Sedition Act, for opposing World War I. While in jail he received one million votes for president. In the late 1800s, he led several railroad strikes and helped found the American Railway Union. In 1905, he cofounded the IWW, along with Big Bill Haywood, Mother Jones, Lucy Parsons, James Connolly, and others. He ran for president as a socialist five times in his life.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #eugenedebs #socialism #IWW #union #strike #antiwar #sedition #prison #potus #motherjones #bigbillhaywood #lucyparsons

Today in Labor History August 30, 1948: Fred Hampton revolutionary activist and chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party was born. He founded the antiracist, anti-capitalist, working-class Rainbow Coalition, a prominent multicultural political organization that included Black Panthers, Young Patriots (which organized poor whites), and the Young Lords (which organized Hispanics), and an alliance among major Chicago street gangs to help them end infighting and work for social change. In December 1969, the Chicago police & FBI drugged Hampton, shot him and killed him in his bed during a predawn raid. They sprayed more than 90 gunshots throughout his apartment. They also killed Black Panther Mark Clark and wounded several others. In January 1970, a jury concluded that Hampton's and Clark's deaths were justifiable homicides.

Stephen King refers to Hampton in his novel “11/22/63” (2012). In that book, a character suggests that if you could travel back in time to prevent John F. Kennedy's assassination, it could have a ripple effect that also prevented Hampton's assassination.

For a really great history of the Young Patriots movement and organizing and solidarity among poor white radicals, you should read “Hillbilly Nationalists” by Amy Sonnie and James Tracy.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #blackpanthers #FredHampton #chicago #police #policemurder #policebrutality #fbi #racism #stephenking #fiction #books #novel #writer #author #BlackMastadon @bookstadon