A Labor Strike Massacre on Memorial Day
Memorial Day May 30, 1937
Do you know the history of the Little Union Strike of 1937. A strike that occured in Chicago, Illinois.
Did you know that on Memorial Day May 30, 1937 during the Little Steel Union Strike Chicago PD shot and killed ten unarmed demonstrators.
Facts:
In 1937 the U.S. Steel company signed a union contract with steel worker.
However, the smaller steel manufacturers which were called the “Little Steels” Manufacturers refused to sign, so in protest the Steel Worker Organizing Committee and Congress of Industrial Organizations called a strike.
Unionist, their families and sympathizers gathered at a former tavern and dance hall that served as the headquarters of the SWOC. There was an outdoor picnic lunch, with speakers, and
an estimated crowd between 1,500 to 2,500.
The crowd began to march across the prairie towards the Republic Steel mill to picket, as they marched a line of roughly 300 Chicago police blocked their path, as the crowd marched forward the police fired on the crowd. As the crowd fled, police shot and killed ten people, four dying that day and six others subsequently from their injuries.
Unionist who were killed-
Hilding Anderson, 27, Burnham, Illinois (USW Local 65) (died as a result of his injuries June 3, 1937)
Alfred Causey, 43, Chicago, Illinois (USW Local 1010)
Leo Francisco, 17, Chicago, Illinois (western union) (died as a result of his injuries June 15, 1937)
Earl Handley, 37, East Chicago, Indiana (USW Local 1010)
Otis Jones, 33, Lincoln, Illinois (USW Local 1033) (died as a result of his injuries June 8, 1937)
Sam Popovich, 45, East Chicago, Indiana (USW Local 1010)
Kenneth Reed, 23, East Chicago, Indiana (USW Local 1010)
Joseph Rothmund, 48, Chicago, Illinois (wpa) (died as a result of his injuries May 31, 1937)
Anthony Tagliori, 26, Chicago, Illinois (USW Local 1033) (died as a result of his injuries June 1, 1937)
Lee Tisdale, 50, Chicago, Illinois (USW Local 1011) (died as a result of his injuries on June 19, 1937)
“In the wake of the massacre, the footage from Paramount News was suppressed for fear of creating, in the words of an official at the agency, "mass hysteria."
No policemen were ever prosecuted.
A coroner’s jury declared the killings to be justifiable homicide. Because shooting someone as they are running away is always justifiable.
At the heart of every American worker is a fair and decent wage. When the only option at the negotiating table is a strike. STRIKE.
Reference:
Avila, Larry (December 10, 2017). "2007 Legends inductees 'Memorial Day Massacre' victims". The Times of Northwest Indiana.
"Memorial Day Massacre". Illinois Labor History Society. 22 January 2016.
CellyBlue-I Do Know This!
CellyBlue -- I do know this! -- Yes, I do know about the murderous suppression of the Republic Steel Mill union strikers. I have seen film of the strike-breaking, and it is frightful.
Two U.S. Presidents brought in Federal Troops to break strikes, 1877 under Rutherford B. Hayes (otherwise, a forgettable President) and 1894 under Grover Cleveland.
As one who grew up in industrial Southern California among unions, it boggles my mind that the U.S. Army had been called to break the back of the average worker who was trying to eke out a living for daily bread for oneself and one's children.
Today, there is some resurgence of unions after 40 years of Government hostility, but the pressures against unionization is very strong and has the weight of American history.
How people can indulge and tolerate the murder of wage-earners trying to support self, spouse and children is unfathomable.
🙏🏼