On this date 6 US union members protesting war were murdered by American Legionnaires Centralia, Ill

http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history

A confrontation between American Legionnaires and Wobblies during an Armistice Day Parade in Centralia, Ill. 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

we need to remember our history.

So many people today benefit from the blood, sweat, and tears of the labor movement. Many of them don't have a clue about why.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia_Massacre_(Washington)

It's a fascinating story that I'd forgotten about. Many more details and background at the link and worth a read.

:toast:

edit: at the wiki link you have to select "washington"

Glad you knew this better than I did.

OS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everett_massacre

The Everett Massacre (also known as Bloody Sunday) was an armed confrontation between local authorities and members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) union, commonly called "Wobblies". It took place in Everett, Washington on Sunday, November 5, 1916. The tragic event marked a time of rising tensions in Pacific Northwest labor history.

On November 5, 1916, about 300 members of the IWW met at the IWW hall in Seattle and then marched down to the docks where they boarded the steamers Verona and Calista which then headed north to Everett. Verona arrived at Everett before Callista and as they approached the dock in the early afternoon, the Wobblies sang their fight song "Hold the Fort".

Local business interests, knowing the Wobblies were coming, placed armed vigilantes on the dock and on at least one tugboat in the harbor, Edison, owned by the American Tug Boat Company.<2> As with previous labor demonstrations, the local business had also secured the aid of law enforcement, including the Snohomish County sheriff Donald McRae, who had targeted Wobblies for arbitrary arrests and beatings.<3>

As a result, over 200 vigilantes or "citizen deputies", under the ostensible authority of Snohomish County Sheriff McRae, met in order to repel the "anarchists." As the Verona drew into the dock, and someone on board threw a line over a bollard, McRae stepped forward and called out "Boys, who's your leader?" The IWW men laughed and jeered, replying "We're all leaders," and they started to swing out the gang plank. McRae drew his pistol, told them he was the sheriff, he was enforcing the law, and they couldn't land here. There was a silence, then a Wobbly came up to the front and yelled out "the hell we can't."<4>

Just then a single shot rang out, followed by about ten minutes of intense gunfire...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everett_massacre

I have bookmarked the link and will be adding a bit to my FB page from it from time to time.

Might tick off a few of my pro-business, conservative GOP, "friends" or Frienemies.

:fistbump:

www.jimmyjohnsworkers.org Yes there is still an IWW and were still organizing.