"Memorial Day Massacre" --- May 30, 1937

[pnorman]

Ten demonstrators were killed by police bullets during the "Little Steel Strike" of 1937. When several smaller steelmakers, including Republic Steel, refused to follow the lead of U.S. Steel (Big Steel) by signing a union contract, a strike was called by the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

As a show of support, hundreds of SWOC sympathizers from all around Chicago gathered on Memorial Day at Sam's Place, where the SWOC had its strike headquarters. After a round of speeches, the crowd began a march across the prairie and toward the Republic Steel mill. They were stopped midway by a formation of Chicago police. While demonstrators in front were arguing for their right to proceed, police fired into the crowd and pursued the people as they fled. Mollie West, a Typographical Union Local 16 member and a youthful demonstrator at the time, still recalls the command addressed to her: "Get off the field, or I'll put a bullet in your back."

http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/memorial.htm

Further details: http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/republic.htm

Graphic photos: http://www.neiu.edu/~reseller/memdaymasscr.htm

LaFollette Commission testimony: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/138/

pnorman

[Selatius]

1. The earliest police forces in America were corporate enforcers (thugs)

Look up the Pinkertons. Modern police forces in the US are descended from these enforcers. Hundreds of workers were slaughtered over the years by these men because they demanded better working conditions and treatment.

This is why I believe in tighter regulations and oversight of all police forces, given the litany of abuses by police officers against anti-war protesters and minorities and others.

[No Exit]

4. How nice--we've come full circle

... at least, that was what I heard about New Orleans: that after the storm, the bigwigs were hiring private security forces. Coming soon to a police department near you! Privatization! (Would they do that to us? Yes, they would!)

[madrchsod]

2. an injury to one- is an injury to all

solidarty is a forgotten word in the neo liberal world

[pnorman]

3. For some of these so-called union leaders,

An Injury To One is ----- A Good Career Move!

pnorman