Today in Labor History—February 10

February 10, 1794 – The French revolutionist Jacques Roux (1752-1794) committed suicide on this date in his Paris prison cell. Also known as the "Red Priest," Roux denounced those monopolizing the revolution, the speculator, the merchant, government and the parliamentary state.  (From the Daily Bleed)

February 10. 1892 – Four farmworkers were executed during the repression following the January 8 uprising in Jerez, Andalusia, setting off new waves of violence. In January, hundreds of farm workers calling for "social revolution," took over Jerez. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 10, 1898 – Marxist playwright Bertolt Brecht was born on this date in Augsburg. Brecht was a doctor, poet and playwright. He fled the Nazis only to be persecuted in the U.S. by HUAC during the Cold War. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 10, 1913 - Rubber workers belonging to the Industrial Workers of the World went on strike in Akron, Ohio. (From Workday Minnesota)

February 10, 1932 – The CNT called a General Strike in Catalonia, leading to an insurrection. Within a week the Catalan city of Terrassa was taken over and anarchist communism was declared. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 10, 1948 – The great Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein died on this date ("Potemkin," "Ivan the Terrible," "Ten Days That Shook the World").

Today in Labor History—September 5

Execution of Robespiere

September 5, 1793 – The revolutionary government began the Terror. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1794 – Radical democrat Jacques Roux was arrested in France. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1863 – Bread riots occurred in Mobile, Alabama. (From theDaily Bleed)

September 5, 1882 – The first American Labor Day was observed, with 30,000 workers marching in New York City. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1887 – Labor Day was first observed as a legal holiday (to distract workers from celebrating the much more oppositional International Workers Day on May 1 and the historical of violence against the working class epitomized by the Haymarket affair). (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1911 – Students abandoned their classrooms in London and marched in the streets after a boy was punished for encouraging his friends to strike against corporal punishment. Schools in over 60 major towns and cities come out in solidarity. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1917 –Federal agents attacked Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) halls and offices in 48 cities across the nation as part of the Palmer raids against the left. 

September 5, 1964 – Elizabeth Gurley Flynn died in Moscow. Flynn was an anarchist, labor militant and founding member of the IWW before converting and joining the American Communist Party. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—August 21

Execution of the Girondists, woodcut, 1862

August 21, 1752 – French radical priest Jacques Roux (1752-1794) was born in Charente, France. He participated in the French Revolution and fought for a classless society and the abolition of private property, and helped to radicalize the Parisian working class. He became a leader of the far left faction Enrages and was elected to the Paris Commune in 1791. He demanded that food be available for everyone and argued that the wealthy should executed if they horded it. (From the Daily Bleed and Wikipedia)

Nat Turner's capture

August 21, 1831 - Nat Turner launched a slave revolt in Virginia that lasted two days and resulted in the deaths of 60 whites dead. In response, scores of African-Americans were lynched, including many who did not participate in the revolt. (From Workday Minnesota)

August 21, 1893 – Emma Goldman led a march of a 1,000 people to Union Square, where, told the crowd that workers have a right to take bread if they are hungry and to demonstrate "before the palaces of the rich." She was arrested the following week because her speech was “incendiary.” (From the Daily Bleed)

August 21, 1920 – Ongoing violence by coal operators and their paid goons in the southern coalfields of West Virginia led to a three hour gun battle between striking miners and guards that left six dead. 500 Federal troops were sent in not only to quell the fighting, but to ensure that scabs were able to get to and from the mines. A General Strike was threatened if the troops did not cease their strikebreaking activities. (From the Daily Bleed)

August 21, 1952 – A strike began against International Harvester by the United Electrical Workers.       (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—February 10

February 10, 1794 – The French revolutionist Jacques Roux (1752-1794) committed suicide on this date in his Paris prison cell. Also known as the "Red Priest," Roux denounced those monopolizing the revolution, the speculator, the merchant, government and the parliamentary state.  (From the Daily Bleed)

February 10. 1892 – Four farmworkers were executed during the repression following the January 8 uprising in Jerez, Andalusia, setting off new waves of violence. In January, hundreds of farm workers calling for "social revolution," took over Jerez. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 10, 1898 – Marxist playwright Bertolt Brecht was born on this date in Augsburg. Brecht was a doctor, poet and playwright. He fled the Nazis only to be persecuted in the U.S. by HUAC during the Cold War. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 10, 1913 - Rubber workers belonging to the Industrial Workers of the World went on strike in Akron, Ohio. (From Workday Minnesota)

February 10, 1932 – The CNT called a General Strike in Catalonia, leading to an insurrection. Within a week the Catalan city of Terrassa was taken over and anarchist communism was declared. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 10, 1948 – The great Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein died on this date ("Potemkin," "Ivan the Terrible," "Ten Days That Shook the World").

Today in Labor History—September 5

Execution of Robespiere

September 5, 1793 – The revolutionary government began the Terror. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1794 – Radical democrat Jacques Roux was arrested in France. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1863 – Bread riots occurred in Mobile, Alabama. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1882 – The first American Labor Day was observed, with 30,000 workers marching in New York City. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1887 – Labor Day was first observed as a legal holiday (to distract workers from celebrating the much more oppositional International Workers Day on May 1 and the historical of violence against the working class epitomized by the Haymarket affair). (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1911 – Students abandoned their classrooms in London and marched in the streets after a boy was punished for encouraging his friends to strike against corporal punishment. Schools in over 60 major towns and cities come out in solidarity. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 5, 1917 –Federal agents attacked Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) halls and offices in 48 cities across the nation as part of the Palmer raids against the left.  

September 5, 1964 – Elizabeth Gurley Flynn died in Moscow. Flynn was an anarchist, labor militant and founding member of the IWW before converting and joining the American Communist Party. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—August 21

Execution of the Girondists, woodcut, 1862

August 21, 1752 – French radical priest Jacques Roux (1752-1794) was born in Charente, France. He participated in the French Revolution and fought for a classless society and the abolition of private property, and helped to radicalize the Parisian working class. He became a leader of the far left faction Enrages and was elected to the Paris Commune in 1791. He demanded that food be available for everyone and argued that the wealthy should executed if they horded it. (From the Daily Bleed and Wikipedia)

Nat Turner's capture

August 21, 1831 - Nat Turner launched a slave revolt in Virginia that lasted two days and resulted in the deaths of 60 whites dead. In response, scores of African-Americans were lynched, including many who did not participate in the revolt. (From Workday Minnesota)

August 21, 1893 – Emma Goldman led a march of a 1,000 people to Union Square, where, told the crowd that workers have a right to take bread if they are hungry and to demonstrate "before the palaces of the rich." She was arrested the following week because her speech was “incendiary.” (From the Daily Bleed)

August 21, 1920 – Ongoing violence by coal operators and their paid goons in the southern coalfields of West Virginia led to a three hour gun battle between striking miners and guards that left six dead. 500 Federal troops were sent in not only to quell the fighting, but to ensure that scabs were able to get to and from the mines. A General Strike was threatened if the troops did not cease their strikebreaking activities. (From the Daily Bleed)

August 21, 1952 – A strike began against International Harvester by the United Electrical Workers.       (From the Daily Bleed)