Today in Labor History—October 1

Cherokee Chief John Ross

October 1, 1838 – The Cherokees began the “The Trail of Tears” forced march in which hundreds died of sickness, dehydration, and exposure. (From Workday Minnesota)

October 1, 1851 – 10,000 New Yorkers busted up a police station in Syracuse to free a recaptured escaped slave. William "Jerry" Henry, a runaway slave and craftsman in Syracuse, NY, was arrested by a US Marshall and was set to be returned to slavery. Citizens of the city stormed the sheriff's office, freed Henry and helped him escape to Canada via the Underground Railroad. (From the Daily Bleed)

Building the Suez Canal

 October 1, 1894 – Greek workers employed by the Suez Canal Company went on strike in Egypt. (From the Daily Bleed)

Rubble of the LA Times Building After the 1910 Bombing

 October 1, 1910 – Twenty-one people were killed when the Los Angeles Times building was dynamited during a labor strike. Anarchists were immediately blamed. The McNamara brothers were kidnapped and taken to the private home of a Chicago police sergeant, where many labor leaders believe they were tortured. They were convicted based on the testimony of a third individual who was also presumably tortured  (From the Daily Bleed)

October 1, 1918 -- Street fighting between workers and the authorities occurred in Berlin throughout October and November. By November, the country was in a full-scale revolution, with councils of workers, soldiers, intellectuals and artists replacing the government. (From the Daily Bleed)

October  1, 1928 – Joseph Stalin's first five-year plan was announced, calling for development of heavy industry, seizure of farms, and collectivization of all workers (unions, of course, are forbidden). (From the Daily Bleed)

October 1, 1949 – 500,000 U.S. steel workers went on strike. (From the Daily Bleed)