On this day in Labor History the year was 1916.
That was the day when what came to be known as the On this day in Labor History the year was 1916.
That was the day when what came to be known as the Everett Massacre took place in Washington State.
The Everett Shingle Workers Union had gone out on strike in May.
Organizers from the Industrial Workers of the World came to the area to support the strike and to make a stand for free speech.
Over the summer tensions began to mount.
The police began to arrest IWW speech makers.
Then, in August, violence erupted between strike breakers and picketers at the Jamison Mill.
The IWW decided to bring in a group of about 300 members for free speech rally.
They came from Seattle by two steamer boats.
But the first boat was met at the docks by the sheriff and a large group of armed deputies.
A gun battle broke out.
One passenger, Ernest Nordstrom told the harrowing tale of what happened to the Seattle Union Record saying, “I couldn’t swear to where the first shot came from, but as it comes to me I thought the first shot was a warning shot not to go ashore. After that there were shots—gee whiz—all kinds of shots, and when they commenced all ran to the other side and the boat began to tip.”
“I am sure there is no excuse for this whatsoever-there need have been no bloodshed.”
The passenger avoided capsizing the boat, and turned around to flee back to Seattle.
At least five IWW members on board were killed, along with two of the deputies.
After the violence, the Shingle Workers union called off their strike.
74 IWW members were arrested, but only one stood trial. None were convicted.
“I am sure there is no excuse for this whatsoever-there need have been no bloodshed.” took place in Washington State.
The Everett Shingle Workers Union had gone out on strike in May.
Organizers from the Industrial Workers of the World came to the area to support the strike and to make a stand for free speech.
Over the summer tensions began to mount.
The police began to arrest IWW speech makers.
Then, in August, violence erupted between strike breakers and picketers at the Jamison Mill.
The IWW decided to bring in a group of about 300 members for free speech rally.
They came from Seattle by two steamer boats.
But the first boat was met at the docks by the sheriff and a large group of armed deputies.
A gun battle broke out.
One passenger, Ernest Nordstrom told the harrowing tale of what happened to the Seattle Union Record saying, “I couldn’t swear to where the first shot came from, but as it comes to me I thought the first shot was a warning shot not to go ashore. After that there were shots—gee whiz—all kinds of shots, and when they commenced all ran to the other side and the boat began to tip.”
“I am sure there is no excuse for this whatsoever-there need have been no bloodshed.”
The passenger avoided capsizing the boat, and turned around to flee back to Seattle.
At least five IWW members on board were killed, along with two of the deputies.
After the violence, the Shingle Workers union called off their strike.
74 IWW members were arrested, but only one stood trial. None were convicted.
“I am sure there is no excuse for this whatsoever-there need have been no bloodshed.”
December 7 - Strong Arming Goldminers
December 6 - Breaking Through the Racial Divide
December 5 - Striking in Solidarity
December 4 - Organizing to End Slavery
December 3 - Learning & Labor at Oberlin
December 2 - 21st Century Corporate Greed
December 1 - Standing Up for Themselves and Their Patients
November 30 - Angel of the Stockyards is Born
November 29 - The Fight for $15 & A Union
November 28 - Disaster in the Mines
November 27 - Death Trap in Newark
November 26 - The Birth of William Sylvis
November 25 - Chicago Printers Walk Off the Job
November 24 - The Hollywood Ten
November 23 - The Thibodaux Massacre
November 22 - Uprising of the 20,000
November 21 - Autoworkers Join the Postwar Strike Wave
November 20 - Birth of the Time Clock
November 19 - Joe Hill’s Final Words
November 18 - Accident or Murder?
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