Today in Labor History—June 1

June 1 is the day that U.S. labor law officially allows children under the age of 16 to work up to 8 hours per day between the hours of 7:00 am and 9:00 pm. (From Workday Minnesota) Time is ticking away, Bosses. Have you signed up sufficient numbers of low-wage tykes to maintain production rates with your downsized adult staffs?

 

Tupac Amaru

June 1, 1572 – The Battle of Coyaochaca between Hurtado de Arbieto and the rebel army of Tupac Amaru was fought in Peru. (From the Daily Bleed)

June 1, 1771 – A crowd of women was arrested while destroying the fences around Rewhay Common, England, in attempt to resist the enclosures of the commons that was occurring throughout the coutnry. Another group of women marched to Burton-on-Trent where they freed their comrades. (From the Daily Bleed)

 

Arggghh, Matey, Nicaragua is My Personal Slave State!

June 1, 1855 – American pirate William Walker conquered Nicaragua, ceded it to the U.S. south, and reintroduced slavery. Walker was later captured and executed in Trujillo, Honduras. (From the Daily Bleed)

 

Captain Jack, Modoc Warrier

June 1, 1873 – Captain Jack, who led a band of 52 warriors against the U.S. army near Tule Lake, California, finally surrendered to U.S. troops. The fight was part of the Modoc Wars, in which the Modoc tribe (southern Oregon and Northern California) resisted domination by the U.S. Many of his own people had joined with the U.S. forces to help capture him. Captain Jack had led the most expensive Indian War in US history. (From the Daily Bleed, Wikipedia)

 

Cananea Riot, 1906

June 1, 1906 – The bloody Cananea copper miners' strike began in Sonora, Mexico. The miners were demanding 5 pesos a day and an 8-hour workday, commensurate with the U.S. citizens who were working with them side-by-side. As many as 100 miners were killed. (From the Daily Bleed)

June 1, 1909 – W. E. DuBois founded the NAACP. (From the Daily Bleed)

 

Raising of U.S. Flag as U.S. Occupied Veracruz

June 1, 1914 – 80 militia men refused to board a train as reinforcements for the U.S. invasion of Veracruz, Mexico. The U.S. ultimately occupied the region for six months because President Huerta refused to provide the U.S. with a 21-gun salute as an apology for arresting nine U.S. sailors. More significantly, Veracruz was an important oil port. Germany and Britain had been battling for its control. The occupation gave the U.S. greater influence on the still unfolding Mexican revolution, as well as the growing tensions in Europe. (From the Daily Bleed)

June 1, 1914 – U.S. troops arrived in Colorado to reclaim coal mines from striking miners, after the Colorado National Guard massacred 19 in the miners’ camp. 2 women and 11 children were among those killed. (From the Daily Bleed, and here and here)

June 1, 1916 – Pacific Coast longshoremen (ILA) struck up and down the Pacific coast. (From the Daily Bleed)

 

Propaganda Poster for the May 30th Movement

June 1, 1925 – The Shanghai General Strike began, as part of an ongoing labor insurgency occurring throughout China's industrial cities. The day prior, police opened fire on protesters. (From the Daily Bleed)

June 1, 1929 --A meeting of the Korean Anarchist Federation (KAF) was held in Peking in which it was decided to divert all resources outside Korea itself to Manchuria. Over 2 million Koreans were living in Manchuria at the time, and the KAF was a significant force. Their significance was short-lived, however, as the Japanese attacked from the south, while Stalinists attacked from the north. By 1931, many of the anarchist leaders were dead and the region was devastated. (From the Daily Bleed and The Korean Anarchist Movement)

June 1, 1942 - The Polish Socialist newspaper, Liberty Brigade, made the first public report that that the Nazis were gassing Jews by the thousands. In the article, they published an interview with a young Jew, Emanuel Ringelblum, who had escaped the Chelmno death camp. (From Workday Minnesota)

June 1, 1963 – The U.S. Supreme Court banned formal prayers and religious exercises from public schools. (From the Daily Bleed)

June 1, 1968 – Libertarian Socialist Helen Keller died in Westport, Connecticut. (From the Daily Bleed)

June 1, 1981 – Two Filipino longshore labor organizers, Domingo & Viernes, were assassinated in Seattle, Washington on orders of U.S.-backed dictator Ferdinand Marcos. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—May 31

Scene at Bossenden Wood

May 31, 1838 -- Kentish peasants clashed with armed British troops at Bosendon Wood. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1905 – The Spanish anarchist Alexander Farras threw a bomb into a procession headed by French President Loubet and the King Alphonso XIII of Spain. The leaders were not hurt, though several people were wounded. Farras was never caught. Four other anarchists were arrested, tried and acquitted. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1906 – Another attempt was made on King Alphonso XIII. This time, anarchist Mateo Morral hid a bomb in a bunch of flowers and threw it at the King during his royal wedding. Because he worked in Modern School’s publishing house and was a friend of Francisco Ferrer (the founder of the first Modern Schools), Ferrer was later arrested and imprisoned as an accomplice.

Protest for Sacco and Vanzetti in London, 1921

May 31, 1921 - The infamous trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, in which the two Italian anarchists were railroaded for a crime they did not commit, began in Dedham, Massachusetts. Judge Webster Thayer’s anti-worker and anti-immigrant opening remarks set the tone for the trial. (From Workday Minnesota)

May 31, 1921 – Over 300 were killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the worst race riot in U.S. history. The violence was precipitated by a false report in the Tulsa Tribune, accusing a black man of attacking a white girl in an elevator. While the headline made the front page, there was an accompanying editorial on the back page calling for a lynching. White Tulsans began shooting blacks, and then looted and burned their homes and businesses, completely destroying the black community of Greenwood. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1955 – The Supreme Court ordered school integration "with all deliberate speed." (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1961 – A U.S. sponsored coup in the Dominican Republic led to the killing of Dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. Dominicans then voted in Juan Bosch, who incensed the military and the ruling elite by refusing to buy military airplanes, announcing agrarian reforms, legalizing divorce, and increasing workers' wages. Within seven months there was another coup, by the same generals who led the coup against Trujillo, School of the Americas alumni: Generals Imbert and Wessin y Wessin. The U.S. immediately recognized the new government. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1968 –Student protests were spreading throughout the world, with protests on this date in Vienna, in Denmark and Buenos Aires on June 1, and the Yugoslav insurrection beginning soon after. Thousands of students went on strike in Brazil on June 6, followed by protests in Geneva and Turkey, 20. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1986 – The Tiananmen Square demonstrations entered their 18th day, with 100,000 filling the Square. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 2000 – Protesting teachers burn pamphlets at a fence around the Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, as riot police attempted to protect the building. Teachers throughout the country had been protesting for better wages and education reform since May 15.

Today in Labor History—March 17

During the mid-1800s, thousands of Irish emigrated to the U.S., fleeing religious and political persecution and poverty in their native country. Once here, they faced severe discrimination, including employment notices stating “No Irish Need Apply.” Many Irish workers turned to the labor movement for support and union membership grew thanks to Irish leadership and determination. (From Workday Minnesota)

Stop! Whoever Proceeds Will Be Shot. (From Wikipedia)

March 17, 1920 – A General Strike  in Germany help defeat the Kapp Putsch. (From the Daily Bleed)

Bolshevik Assault On Kronstadt Mutineers (from Wikipedia)

March 17, 1921 – The Kronstadt mutiny was defeated by the Bolshevik’s on this date under the direction of Trotsky, who boasted he would "shoot them like pigeons." He was not exaggerating, resulting in a terrible slaughter. (From the Daily Bleed)

March 17, 1966 – César Chávez & the National Farm Workers Association marched from Delano to Sacramento, California, from March 17 to April 11, arriving on Easter Sunday. (From the Daily Bleed)

March 17, 1996 – 30,000 marched in Villahermosa, Mexico, in support of a campaign to blockade state-owned oil wells that displace thousands of poor people. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—September 24

Canada's First IWW Charter, Vancouver, 1906

September 24, 1918 – The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) were declared illegal in Canada. The ban was lifted in 1919. By 1923, the IWW had several branches in Canada, including th e Lumberworkers IU 120 and Marine Transport Workers IU 510 in Vancouver, and an LWIU branch in Cranbrook BC for a total of 5,600 members. (From the Daily Bleed)

Student Demonstration, August 27,  Mexico City

 September 24, 1968 – Soldiers battled students at the National University in México City, killing 17 and arresting at least 1,000. On September 23, students held off the army from the Polytechnic campus for more than 12 hours. (From the Daily Bleed)

 

September 24, 1969 – The Chicago 8 Conspiracy Trial began on this date in 1969. David Dellinger, Rennie Davis, Thomas Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, John Froines, Lee Weiner, Bobby Seale went on trial before Judge Julius Hoffman for inciting a riot.  (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—May 31

Scene at Bossenden Wood

May 31, 1838 -- Kentish peasants clashed with armed British troops at Bosendon Wood. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1905 – The Spanish anarchist Alexander Farras threw a bomb into a procession headed by French President Loubet and the King Alphonso XIII of Spain. The leaders were not hurt, though several people were wounded. Farras was never caught. Four other anarchists were arrested, tried and acquitted. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1906 – Another attempt was made on King Alphonso XIII. This time, anarchist Mateo Morral hid a bomb in a bunch of flowers and threw it at the King during his royal wedding. Because he worked in Modern School’s publishing house and was a friend of Francisco Ferrer (the founder of the first Modern Schools), Ferrer was later arrested and imprisoned as an accomplice.

Protest for Sacco and Vanzetti in London, 1921

May 31, 1921 - The infamous trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, in which the two Italian anarchists were railroaded for a crime they did not commit, began in Dedham, Massachusetts. Judge Webster Thayer’s anti-worker and anti-immigrant opening remarks set the tone for the trial. (From Workday Minnesota)

May 31, 1921 – Over 300 were killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the worst race riot in U.S. history. The violence was precipitated by a false report in the Tulsa Tribune, accusing a black man of attacking a white girl in an elevator. While the headline made the front page, there was an accompanying editorial on the back page calling for a lynching. White Tulsans began shooting blacks, and then looted and burned their homes and businesses, completely destroying the black community of Greenwood. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1955 – The Supreme Court ordered school integration "with all deliberate speed." (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1961 – A U.S. sponsored coup in the Dominican Republic led to the killing of Dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. Dominicans then voted in Juan Bosch, who incensed the military and the ruling elite by refusing to buy military airplanes, announcing agrarian reforms, legalizing divorce, and increasing workers' wages. Within seven months there was another coup, by the same generals who led the coup against Trujillo, School of the Americas alumni: Generals Imbert and Wessin y Wessin. The U.S. immediately recognized the new government. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1968 –Student protests were spreading throughout the world, with protests on this date in Vienna, in Denmark and Buenos Aires on June 1, and the Yugoslav insurrection beginning soon after. Thousands of students went on strike in Brazil on June 6, followed by protests in Geneva and Turkey, 20. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 1986 – The Tiananmen Square demonstrations entered their 18th day, with 100,000 filling the Square. (From the Daily Bleed)

May 31, 2000 – Protesting teachers burn pamphlets at a fence around the Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, as riot police attempted to protect the building. Teachers throughout the country had been protesting for better wages and education reform since May 15.

Today in Labor History—March 17

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

During the mid-1800s, thousands of Irish emigrated to the U.S., fleeing religious and political persecution and poverty in their native country. Once here, they faced severe discrimination, including employment notices stating “No Irish Need Apply.” Many Irish workers turned to the labor movement for support and union membership grew thanks to Irish leadership and determination. (From Workday Minnesota)

Stop! Whoever Proceeds Will Be Shot. (From Wikipedia)

March 17, 1920 – A General Strike  in Germany help defeat the Kapp Putsch. (From the Daily Bleed)

Bolshevik Assault On Kronstadt Mutineers (from Wikipedia)

March 17, 1921 – The Kronstadt mutiny was defeated by the Bolshevik’s on this date under the direction of Trotsky, who boasted he would "shoot them like pigeons." He was not exaggerating, resulting in a terrible slaughter. (From the Daily Bleed)

March 17, 1966 – César Chávez & the National Farm Workers Association marched from Delano to Sacramento, California, from March 17 to April 11, arriving on Easter Sunday. (From the Daily Bleed)

March 17, 1996 – 30,000 marched in Villahermosa, Mexico, in support of a campaign to blockade state-owned oil wells that displace thousands of poor people. (From the Daily Bleed)

Mexican Security Forces Kill Two Student Teachers

At least two student teachers were killed by security forces in Mexico this week, according to the Los Angeles Times and the Teacher Solidarity website. The student teachers were participating in a protest demanding increased funding for their college and were shot while blockading a road in Guerrero state. At least 20 other demonstrators were arrested and two others were seriously injured. The national teachers union is calling the deaths an act of "repression" and "murder" and called for protest demonstrations.

The confrontation occurred Monday on the highway connecting Mexico City to Acapulco. Between 300 and 500 unarmed students and activists connected with the teachers college blocked the Autopista del Sol to demand increased funding for the Raul Isidro Burgos normal college in Ayotzinapa. Students were accused of throwing projectiles at the police and the police shot tear gas and then fired into the crowd. Federal, state and ministerial police were involved, as well as the army and armed cops in plainclothes.

A student witness said the federal police fired first at the demonstrators and that the students, who were unarmed, did not throw anything until after they had been fired upon by the police.

Today in Labor History—September 24

Canada's First IWW Charter, Vancouver, 1906

September 24, 1918 – The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) were declared illegal in Canada. The ban was lifted in 1919. By 1923, the IWW had several branches in Canada, including th e Lumberworkers IU 120 and Marine Transport Workers IU 510 in Vancouver, and an LWIU branch in Cranbrook BC for a total of 5,600 members. (From the Daily Bleed)

Student Demonstration, August 27,  Mexico City

 September 24, 1968 – Soldiers battled students at the National University in México City, killing 17 and arresting at least 1,000. On September 23, students held off the army from the Polytechnic campus for more than 12 hours. (From the Daily Bleed)

September 24, 1969 – The Chicago 8 Conspiracy Trial began on this date in 1969. David Dellinger, Rennie Davis, Thomas Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, John Froines, Lee Weiner, Bobby Seale went on trial before Judge Julius Hoffman for inciting a riot.  (From the Daily Bleed)