Labor history Nov 11 Castrated and hanged listed as suicide, 4 Haymarket Martyrs executed, more

November 11

Haymarket martyrs hanged, convicted in the bombing deaths of eight police during a Chicago labor rally - 1887


Our “Kids Library” collection includes The Haymarket Square Tragedy; we’ve collected this special set of attractive and kid-friendly books to help today’s youngsters understand the historic struggle of working people for justice and dignity. Each book explains an historic figure or history-altering incident in easy-to-understand language. All are generously illustrated to hold a young person’s attention. The books are: Mother Jones, Labor Leader; The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire; Cesar Chavez, Fighting for Farmworkers; The Haymarket Square Tragedy. These are perfect for any home library or as a gift to your union hall, local school or public library. In the UCS bookstore now.

And this: November 11, 1887 - Four Haymarket Martyrs, including Albert Parsons and August Spies, were executed. Although they advocated armed struggle and revolution, there was no evidence they had any role in the bombing at Haymarket Square in May 1886. Like Sacco and Vanzetti, the Haymarket Martyrs have come to symbolize the injustices of the capitalist system.

November 11, 1918 - World War I ended. Originally celebrated as Armistice Day, November 11 is now commemorated as Veterans Day.

A confrontation between American Legionnaires and Wobblies during an Armistice Day Parade in Centralia, Wash. results in six deaths. One Wobbly reportedly was beaten, his teeth bashed in with a rifle butt, castrated and hanged: local officials listed his death as a suicide - 1919

November 11, 1919 - Wesley Everest, a young lumberjack who fought back against racist lynch gangs, was mutilated and murdered by a mob in Centralia, Washington. His life was immortalized in a sonnet by songwriter Ralph Chaplin.

57 crewmen on three freighters die over a three-day period when their ships sink during a huge storm over Lake Michigan - 1940

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/big-labor/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_11_11_2011