Today in #LaborHistory: July 5 -via- unionist.com
Battle of Rincon Hill, San Francisco, in longshore strike. 5,000 strikers fought 1,000 police, scabs and national guardsmen. Two strikers were killed, 109 people injured. The incident, forever known as “Bloody Thursday,” led to a General Strike - 1934
“It’s a celebration of the working conditions and benefits that we enjoy because of that hard fought victory and all of the many other battles along the way that the labor movement has endured to get us where we are today.” - from http://www.ilwu.org/?p=1759
“The year 1934 marked a turning point for the working-class struggle during the Great Depression, with three strikes in three cities—Toledo, San Francisco and Minneapolis—that showed workers could fight back and win.” - from http://socialistworker.org/2009/09/21/battle-for-the-docks
“The employers were determined to break the strike; they brought in strikebreakers, and on July 5, with the help of City Hall and the police, they decided to open the port.” - fromhttp://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Anniversary-of-a-dark-day-3293265.php
“Two men were killed by bullets, another by injuries, 31 others were shot and an untold number, including police, were clubbed, gassed, beaten and stoned.” - from http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist4/maritime17.html
In honor and tribute to ALL of the Sisters & Brothers of the ILWU Coast Longshore Division … with a special nod to Grant & friends at Local 4 in Vancouver!
Never forget whose shoulders we STAND on!
