Today in Labor History May 3, 4 striking workers are killed, at least 200 wounded & Pete Seeger born

May 3

Four striking workers are killed, at least 200 wounded, when police attack a demonstration on Chicago’s south side at the McCormick Harvesting Machine plant. The Haymarket Massacre is to take place the following day - 1886

And this: May 3, 1886 - At the height of the movement for the eight-hour day, police opened fire in a crowd of workers participating in a general strike at McCormick Harvester Co. in Chicago. Four workers were killed and anarchists called a public rally the following day at Haymarket Square to protest the police brutality. The resulting violence – and executions that followed -- became known as the Haymarket Massacre. View an excellent website on Haymarket at http://www.chicagohistory.org/dramas/overview/main.htm

Eugene V. Debs and other leaders of the American Railway Union are jailed for six months for contempt of court in connection with Pullman railroad car strike - 1895


Pete Seeger, folksinger and union activist, born in Patterson, N.Y. Among his songs: “If I Had A Hammer” and “Turn, Turn, Turn” - 1919

And this:
May 3, 1919 - Musician and activist Pete Seeger was born in Patterson, New York. He has been involved in almost every major social movement in the United States since the 1930s, including the labor movement. He carved out a career with the singing group, "The Weavers," and as a solo performer and songwriter. He also sang with Woody Guthrie. He is the author or co-author of the songs "Where Have All the Flowers Gone", "If I Had a Hammer", and "Turn, Turn, Turn," among others. In the 1950s, he was blacklisted because of his politics. He is still active, most recently denouncing the Iraq War. Read more about Pete Seeger at www.peteseeger.net/

May 3, 1920 - A young anarchist printer, Andreas Salsedo, plunged to his death from a 14th story window of an FBI detention room in New York City. He had been arrested during the notorious “Red Raids” organized by Attorney General Mitchell Palmer and was being interrogated for printing provocative leaflets. The FBI claimed he committed suicide.

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_05_03_2010

Haymarket Massacre, Pete Seeger... A big day in Labor history, no doubt.
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