Today in Labor History—July 13

Rioters and Federal Troops Clash During New York Draft Riots

July 13, 1863 – Modern history's bloodiest riot began when 50,000 Civil War draft protesters burned buildings (including an orphan asylum), stores and draft offices in New York City. They also attacked police, as well as blacks, who they blamed for the war. 1,200 died. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1869 -- Street riots against Chinese laborers began in San Francisco. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1892 -- Martial law was declared in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, with National Guards and federal troops coming to “restore order” after the dynamiting at the Frisco mine on July 11. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1917 – A 3-day General Strike began in São Paulo, Brazil, following the killing of the anarchist shoemaker, Antonio Martinez on July 10. Martinez was killed police during a demonstration in support of textile strikers. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1934 - The Southern Tenant Farmers' Union was launched in Arkansas. (From Workday Minnesota)

July 13, 1991 – The Chicago police chief called for the suspension of constitutional rights so his cops could fight crime more effectively, praising the "low crime rate" of Nazi Germany. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1995 - Newspaper workers struck against The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. Hundreds of workers were locked out in the strike. (From Workday Minnesota)

Today in Labor History—July 11

13th Century Illustration of the Battle of the Spurs

July 11, 1302 – Flemish weavers defeated the Flemish cavalry and the French in the Battle of the Spurs (the Battle of Kortrijk). The French were attempting to subdue the County of Flanders. The French had kidnapped the Count of Flanders, angering members of the Flemish guilds. In response, the citizens of Bruges went on to murder every Frenchmen they could find. (From the Daily Bleed and Wikipedia)

July 11, 1892 –Frisco Mine was dynamited by striking Coeur D’Alene miners after they discovered they had been infiltrated by Pinkertons and after one of their members had been shot. Prior to this, the mine owners had increased work hours, decreased pay and brought in a bunch of scabs to replace striking workers. Ultimately, over 600 striking miners were imprisoned without charge by the military in order to crush the strike. (Sources: Wikipedia, Fire in the Hole, and the Daily Bleed)

July 11, 1905 – The Niagara Movement, (precursor to the NAACP), was founded on this date. W.E.B. Du Bois was among its founders. (From the Daily Bleed)

(Image from the Daily Bleed)

(Image from the Daily Bleed)

 July 11, 1917 – The Bisbee deportation began on this date, with vigilantes and goons forcibly shipping over 1,200 striking members of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) from Bisbee into the Sonoran desert. One IWW member (Wobbly), James Brew, was killed in the deportation today. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 11, 1947 – Eight black prisoners were killed in Brunswick, Georgia, for refusing to work in a snake infested swamp without boots. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—July 13

Rioters and Federal Troops Clash During New York Draft Riots

July 13, 1863 – Modern history's bloodiest riot began when 50,000 Civil War draft protesters burned buildings (including an orphan asylum), stores and draft offices in New York City. They also attacked police, as well as blacks, who they blamed for the war. 1,200 died. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1869 -- Street riots against Chinese laborers began in San Francisco. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1892 -- Martial law was declared in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, with National Guards and federal troops coming to “restore order” after the dynamiting at the Frisco mine on July 11. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1917 – A 3-day General Strike began in São Paulo, Brazil, following the killing of the anarchist shoemaker, Antonio Martinez on July 10. Martinez was killed police during a demonstration in support of textile strikers. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1934 - The Southern Tenant Farmers' Union was launched in Arkansas. (From Workday Minnesota)

July 13, 1991 – The Chicago police chief called for the suspension of constitutional rights so his cops could fight crime more effectively, praising the "low crime rate" of Nazi Germany. (From the Daily Bleed)

July 13, 1995 - Newspaper workers struck against The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. Hundreds of workers were locked out in the strike. (From Workday Minnesota)