Today in Labor History—February 11

February 11, 1916 – Feminist and civil-rights activist Flo Kennedy was born in on this date Kansas City, Missouri. As a lawyer, Kennedy represented Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and H. Rap Brown. In 1972 she formed the Feminist Party and filed an Internal Revenue Service complaint alleging that the Catholic Church violates tax-exempt requirements by spending money to influence political decisions. "I'm just a loud-mouthed middle-aged colored lady . . . & a lot of people think I'm crazy. Maybe you do too, but I never stop to wonder why I'm not like other people. The mystery to me is why more people aren't like me." (From the Daily Bleed)

Seattle Strikers and their Supporters Took Over Most City Services, Including Food Distribution

 February 11, 1919 – The Seattle General Strike ended. (From the Daily Bleed)

Sit Down Strikers in Flint

 February 11, 1937 - General Motors recognized the United Auto Workers (UAW) following a 44-day sit-down strike involving 48,000 GM workers. Two months later, company guards beat up UAW leaders at the River Rouge, Michigan plant.  (From Workday Minnesota)

February 11, 1964 – 19,000 students boycotted Cincinnati schools to protest segregation. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 11, 1981 – Eight workers were contaminated when 100,000 gallons of radioactive coolant leaked into a containment building of the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Sequoyah I plant in Tennessee. (From the Daily Bleed)