Today in Labor History-April 2

April 2, 1863--Bread riots occurred in Richmond, Virginia, as a result of a drought the previous year,
combined with a blockade by the Union and overall civil war-related shortages. Food riots occurred throughout the South around this time, led primarily by women. During the Richmond riot, women broken into storehouses and shops, stealing food, clothing and jewelry before the militia was able to restore order. (Source: Wikipedia)

April 2, 1903--Mexican police fired on more than 10,000 protestors, killing 15 and wounding many more. People had been protesting the reelection of General Bernardo Reyes as governor of Nuevo Leon, who was aligned with Mexico's brutal dictator, Porfirio Diaz. (From the Daily Bleed)

April 2, 1908--Italian police shot and killed workers at a funeral for a comrade who was killed in an industrial accident.(From the Daily Bleed)

 April 2, 1919--A Canadian ban on the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World) was lifted at WWI came to an end. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—December 17

Deborah Sampson painting (from Garden of Praise website)

December 17, 1760 - Deborah Sampson was born on this date in Massachusetts. Sampson disguised herself as a man in order to fight with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. She fought in several skirmishes with British forces before being wounded and discovered She was subsequently discharged from the army. (From Workday Minnesota)

Simon Bolivar, 1800, painted by Jose Gil de Castro, 1825

 December 17, 1830 – Latin American liberationist Simón Bolivar died on this date in Santa Marta, Columbia. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 17, 1875 –Violent bread riots occurred on this date in Montreal.(From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—February 23

Traven's Supposed Birth Place, Rathaus Schwiebus about 1900

February 23, 1882 – B. Traven (1882?-1969) was born on this date in Poznañ, Poland. Traven (also known as Ret Marut, Hal Croves, Bruno Traven, Traven Torsvan, Otto Feige) wrote the Death Ship, Treasure of the Sierra Madre and numerous novels depicting working conditions among Mexican peasants and indigenous people in his Jungle series. He was also active in the Bavarian Soviet of 1918-1919. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 23, 1887 - The Journeyman Bakers National Union was chartered by the American Federation of Labor on this date. Its founder, George Block, was also nominated to head the newly-formed AFL. When he declined, Samuel Gompers was unanimously chosen. Today, the bakers union has become the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union. (From Workday Minnesota)

Jean-Baptiste_Clément_recadré.jpg‎

 February 23, 1903 – Jean-Baptiste Clément (b.1836) died on this date. Clement was a Paris Communard, poet, singer and author of the famous song "The Time of Cherries." He was one of the last on the barricades during the commune, ultimately being forced into hiding and taking refuge in England. He was condemned to death in absentia, later returning to France after the Amnesty of 1879. Paris now has schools and a street named for him. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 23, 1917 – A strike began among women textile workers in Petrograd. Demonstrations turned into bread riots and spread throughout the city. The troops who crushed similar demonstrations in 1905 refused to put down the uprising, with many joining in by the end of the month. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 23, 1995 – Two hundred high school students rioted outside Patterson City Hall, New Jersey, in response to the shooting of a classmate by police. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—December 17

Deborah Sampson painting (from Garden of Praise website)

December 17, 1760 - Deborah Sampson was born on this date in Massachusetts. Sampson disguised herself as a man in order to fight with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. She fought in several skirmishes with British forces before being wounded and discovered She was subsequently discharged from the army. (From Workday Minnesota)

Simon Bolivar, 1800, painted by Jose Gil de Castro, 1825

 December 17, 1830 – Latin American liberationist Simón Bolivar died on this date in Santa Marta, Columbia. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 17, 1875 –Violent bread riots occurred on this date in Montreal.(From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—February 23

Traven's Supposed Birth Place, Rathaus Schwiebus about 1900

February 23, 1882 – B. Traven (1882?-1969) was born on this date in Poznañ, Poland. Traven (also known as Ret Marut, Hal Croves, Bruno Traven, Traven Torsvan, Otto Feige) wrote the Death Ship, Treasure of the Sierra Madre and numerous novels depicting working conditions among Mexican peasants and indigenous people in his Jungle series. He was also active in the Bavarian Soviet of 1918-1919. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 23, 1887 - The Journeyman Bakers National Union was chartered by the American Federation of Labor on this date. Its founder, George Block, was also nominated to head the newly-formed AFL. When he declined, Samuel Gompers was unanimously chosen. Today, the bakers union has become the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union. (From Workday Minnesota)

Jean-Baptiste_Clément_recadré.jpg‎

 February 23, 1903 – Jean-Baptiste Clément (b.1836) died on this date. Clement was a Paris Communard, poet, singer and author of the famous song "The Time of Cherries." He was one of the last on the barricades during the commune, ultimately being forced into hiding and taking refuge in England. He was condemned to death in absentia, later returning to France after the Amnesty of 1879. Paris now has schools and a street named for him. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 23, 1917 – A strike began among women textile workers in Petrograd. Demonstrations turned into bread riots and spread throughout the city. The troops who crushed similar demonstrations in 1905 refused to put down the uprising, with many joining in by the end of the month. (From the Daily Bleed)

February 23, 1995 – Two hundred high school students rioted outside Patterson City Hall, New Jersey, in response to the shooting of a classmate by police. (From the Daily Bleed)

Today in Labor History—December 17

Deborah Sampson painting (from Garden of Praise website)

December 17, 1760 - Deborah Sampson was born on this date in Massachusetts. Sampson disguised herself as a man in order to fight with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. She fought in several skirmishes with British forces before being wounded and discovered She was subsequently discharged from the army. (From Workday Minnesota)

Simon Bolivar, 1800, painted by Jose Gil de Castro, 1825

 December 17, 1830 – Latin American liberationist Simón Bolivar died on this date in Santa Marta, Columbia. (From the Daily Bleed)

December 17, 1875 –Violent bread riots occurred on this date in Montreal. (From the Daily Bleed)