Today in Labor History—December 22

December 22, 1731 – There was a Dutch revolt against a meat tax on this date. (From the Daily Bleed)

The UST Buford, AKA the Soviet Ark, AKA An Xmas Gift to Lenin and Trotsky

 December 22, 1919 – During a strike by 395,000 steelworkers, approximately 250 "anarchists," "communists," and "labor agitators" were deported from the United States and sent to Russia, on the U.S.S. Buford (dubbed the Christmas Gift for Trotsky). Included among the deportees were Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman (the man who shot Henry Clay Frick in retaliation for his role in the Homestead massacre). This marked the beginning of the first "Red Scare." (From Workday Minnesota)

December 22, 1922 – The International Congress of Revolutionary Syndicalists met in Berlin, leading to the founding of the International Workers Association (AIT/ IWA). The anti-authoritarian AIT served as an umbrella organization for numerous anarcho-syndicalist trade unionists from 12 countries (FORA, USI, SAC, FAUD, CNT, etc.) with several million members at its height. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 22, 1997 – Méxican paramilitaries associated with the ruling PRI party massacred 45 peasants in the village of Acteal. Chiapas. (From the Daily Bleed)