On this day in 1914, the Ludlow Massacre occurred when the Colorado National Guard and a private security force attacked 1,200 striking coal miners, killing 21 people, including women and children. The event took place during the Coloardo Coalfield War, a period of violent labor unrest in Colorado from 1913-1914.
The massacre was the culmination of months of labor strife in Ludlow, Colorado. It began at a meeting between the anti-union militia and a reluctant labor leader Louis Tikas. Although Tikas disocuraged violence, the strikers, who had noticed machine guns placed above the Ludlow colony, took cover in ad hoc fire positions.
Accounts differ as to who shot first, but a battle commenced between the armed factions, leading to nearly dozen deaths, including one twelve-year old boy who was shot in the head. After the violence subdued, Tikas and other strikers were found shot in the back.
The chief owner of the mine, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., was widely condemned for having orchestrated the massacre. In retaliation, the miners armed themselves and attacked dozens of anti-union establishments over the next ten days, destroying property and engaging in several skirmishes with the Colorado National Guard in a 40-mile front from Trinidad to Walsenburg.
An estimated 69 to 199 deaths occurred total during the strike, leading historian Thomas G. Andrews has called it the “deadliest strike in the history of the United States”.
Although the strikers’ demands were not met, the event electrified national discussions of labor and had a positive impact on labor rights in the long run.
– Colorado Experience: Ludlow Massacre :red-fist:
– Woody Guthrie Ludlow Massacre :hammer-sickle:
Hola Camaradas :fidel-salute-big: , Our Comrades In Texas are currently passing Through some Hard times :amerikkka: so if you had some Leftover Change or are a bourgeoisie Class Traitor here are some Mutual Aid programs that you could donate to :left-unity-3:
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Foundations of Leninism :flag-su:
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Anarchism and Other Essays :ancom:
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Next Friday 23 of April we are gonna watch :meow-floppy:
Gamera Guardian of the Universe :turtle-pogger:
The giant turtle is awakened from his long slumber to protect Japan from a rival monster’s destructive power.
