Today in history May 4, 1886, the Haymarket Square Riot took place. A day after police had killed four striking workers,injuring several others protestors. This was a time of violent repression by the police. The demonstrators were calling for greater power and economic security, standing against capitalism, calling for an eight hour day and to protest about the increased brutality of the police. At the May 4th meeting a number of radical and anarchist speakers addressed a crowd of over 3,000 people. The meeting was peaceful but the mood became more confrontational when the police tried to disperse the crowd. As scuffles broke out, someone who has never been positively identified threw a bomb at police lines.. (some have since claimed was an agent provocateur in the pay of the authorities to try and stoke up division.) The bomb landed and exploded unleashing shrapnel. One officer was killed and several were wounded. The police responded by drawing their weapons and firing into the panicked crowd. Seven policemen were killed, most likely from police bullets fired in the chaos, not from the bomb itself. Four civilians were also killed and more than hundred persons injured.
The aftermath created widespread hysteria, further repression and a national wave of xenophobia, as hundreds of foreign born radicals and labor leaders were rounded up in Chicago and elsewhere in what is seen as the first great political witch hunt and frame up trial, used as an excuse to crack gown on the entire labor movement. A grand jury eventually indicted 31 suspected labor radicals in connection with the bombing, and eight anarchist leaders form the revolutionary syndicalist tradition were convicted of instigating violence and conspiring to commit murder. in a controversial trial, despite lack of evidence and no connection to the actual bomb. Judge G Gary imposed the death sentence on seven of the men, and the eighth was sentenced to 15 years in prison.In what is seen as a racist show trial, which like all kangaroo courts was a travesty of justice. Many of the accused not even present when the incident took place. These men have become known as the Haymarket Martyrs, Albert Spies, Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer and George Engel who were tried and convicted and executed for their political beliefs, not for their actions on May 3th, who still occupy an honored history of the class struggle in the United States and internationally whose sacrifice is remembered every year on May 1st International Workers Day, whose deaths sparked protests around the world. Six hundred thousand working people turned out for their funeral. When one of the accused Albert Spies mounted the gallows and a noose was placed around his neck he shouted out. " There will be a time when our silence will be more powerful, than the voices you strangle today." Rather than suppressing labor and radical movements the events of 1886 and the execution of the Chicago Anarchists,actually mobilised and galvanised a new generation of radicals and revolutionaries. Emma Goldman a young immigrant at the time later pointed to the Haymarket affair as her political birth. Lucy Parsons widow of Albert Parsons , called up on the poor to direct their anger at those responsible - the rich. In 1938 , fifty-two years after the Haymarket riot , workdays in the United States were legally made eight hours by the Fair Labor Standards Act. It is up to us to keep the memory of the Haymarket martyrs alive. to learn the lessons of their struggle so that they did not die in vain, acting as enduring symbols of labors struggles for justice.
No matter who is elected to the National Assembly for Wales this Thursday, they won't be pledging allegiance to you or to Wales, but to the Queen.
Regular visitors here will already know that I don't believe in a hereditary monarchy, so yes I have a problem with this, I do have my own ways of swearing though.
It's one of the greatest ironies of our political system that are democratically elected representatives are currently forced to swear allegiance to an unelected monarch, and not their constituents.
Frankly it's an insult to democracy, and to all those who decide to take part!
After campaigning to be elected, if successful , they will then be forced to pledge allegiance to the Queen. " I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Her Heirs and Successors, according to Law. "
" Y wyf i, yn datgan ac yn cardernhau yn ddifrifol ac yn ddidwyll, y gwasanathaf yr Ail, ei hefeddion o'i holynwyr, yn unol air gyfraith. "
If your Assembly Member refuses to take the oath they'll be banned from proceedings, won't be paid any salary, and after two months they'll no longer be a Member of the Assembly.
Should they simply not be able to make a broader pledge to their constituents and the people of Wales generally
If you agree call on the National Assembly for a New Oath for Wales.
Sign the following petition calling for a Welsh oath of allegiance to the Welsh people - NOT to the Queen.:- https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/welsh-assembly-a-new-oath-of-allegiance-to-the-people-not-the-queen
(The people of Gaza currently have to endure a life under occupation, while also having to cope with only 3 hours of electricity a day. The following poem is dedicated to their daily resistance.
Darkness surrounds the lives of the people of Gaza, but the echo of dignity sizzles and sustains under times heavy burden, the struggling flame of resilience never fades.
The sorrow of existence now well tended, comfort found huddled in ruins under starry sky's, where shadows meet endurance to ignite, hearts, mind and blood. Among the cracks and dust strains of hope refuse to die, pavements littered with citrus scent allow imprisoned people to remain free, and with touch and words in this hard place, pride is shared, freedoms light still growing strong.
The hourglass delivers comfort against the darkness, light shines, people find ways to survive that allows thoughts to persist, laughter and kindness to rise in togetherness, dignity stands proud, against the darkness of oppression, currents of resistance never fade.
What are the Origins of May Day - Rosa Luxemburg ( 5/3/1871 - 15/1/19)
Rosa Luxemburg
' The happy idea of using a proletarian holiday celebration as a means to attain the eight-hour day was first born in Australia. The workers there decided in 1856 to organise a day of complete stoppage together with meetings and entertainment as a demonstration in favour of the eight-hour day. The day of this celebration was to be April 21. At first, the Australian workers intended this only for the year 1856. But this first celebration had such a strong effect on the proletarian masses of Australia, enlivening them and leading to new agitation, that it was decided to repeat the celebration every year. In fact, what could give the workers greater courage and faith in their own strength than a mass work stoppage which they had decided themselves? What could give more courage to the eternal slaves of the factories and the workshops than the mustering of their own troops? Thus, the idea of a proletarian celebration was quickly accepted and, from Australia, began to spread to other countries until finally it had conquered the whole proletarian world. The first to follow the example of the Australian workers were the Americans. In 1886 they decided that May 1 should be the day of universal work stoppage. On this day 200,000 of them left their work and demanded the eight-hour day. Later, police and legal harassment prevented the workers for many years from repeating this (size) demonstration. However in 1888 they renewed their decision and decided that the next celebration would be May1, 1890. In the meanwhile, the workers' movement in Europe had grown strong and animated. The most powerful expression of this movement occurred at the International Workers' Congress in 1889. At this Congress, attended by four hundred delegates, it was decided that the eight-hour day must be the first demand. Whereupon the delegate of the French unions, the worker Lavigne from Bordeaux, moved that this demand be expressed in all countries through a universal work stoppage. The delegate of the American workers called attention to the decision of his comrades to strike on May 1, 1890, and the Congress decided on this date for the universal proletarian celebration. In this case, as thirty years before in Australia, the workers really thought only of a one-time demonstration. The Congress decided that the workers of all lands would demonstrate together for the eight-hour day on May 1, 1890. No one spoke of a repetition of the holiday for the next years. Naturally no one could predict the lightning-like way in which this idea would succeed and how quickly it would be adopted by the working classes. However, it was enough to celebrate the May Day simply one time in order that everyone understand and feel that May Day must be a yearly and continuing institution. The first of May demanded the introduction of the eight-hour day. But even after this goal was reached, May Day was not given up. As long as the struggle of the workers' against the bourgeoisie and the ruling classes continues, as long as all demands are not met, May Day will be the yearly expression of these demands. And , when better days dawn, when the working class of the world has won its deliverance then too humanity will probably celebrate May Day in honour of the bitter struggles and the many sufferings of the past.'
1894
So today May Day, the 1st of May is now recognised all over the world as International Workers Day. It is a day for the working class to down tools and take to the streets in protest against capitalism and wage slavery. We should not forget Chigago , Haymarket either, where on May 4, 1886, demands for an eight hour working week became particularly intense. Where a demonstration largely staged by a group of anarchists, caused a crowd of some 1,500 people to gather. When policemen tried to disperse the meeting, a bomb exploded and the police opened fire on the crowd. More than 100 people were injured. Eight leading Chicago anarchists were subsequently arrested, and charged with the bombing, despite no evidence of their involvement, five were sentenced to be hanged, two were given life sentences and the last was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The trial is now known by legal historians as one of the worst miscarriages of American history.
In 1889 the congress of the Second International Workingman's association adopted a resolution to take up the fight for the 8 hour working day and to make 1st of May a worldwide day of protests in memory of the Haymarket martyrs, as they had become known.
The first British May Demonstration was held in the 1890's and in London alone, attracted 300,000 protestors in Hyde Park, and has continued to this day. Since then, May Day has become established as an annual event to commemorate all the workers who have died in the struggle against those who exploit them. A celebration of international struggles and our solidarity. Many today will remember the 400 plus who have died in the recent Bangladesh building collapse.With these acts of solidarity we also lay down the foundations of a future world. In Britain we even have a Bank holiday now close to the day, that the Tories have considered scrapping because of it's association, which thankfully has failed.
Today also marks a neo-pagan festival,Beltane, the Celtic festival of Summer's beginning a time to dance under a Maypole, a time of cleansing and renewal,drink and be merry, follow Jack in the Green, the mystical Green Man of legend.
I see no reason why not to celebrate all of the above.
Happy May Day
Heddwch/peace
The world is currently, being destroyed by psychopaths, dont keep calm, go out and make change. But be careful do not be a garbage can for anything that does not fuel your intellect, stimulate your imagination and help connect with others. Refuse to carry other peoples head trash. When conflict arises , face it with who you are, whilst being open to other perspectives. Respect your intellect and heart felt passions. Give respect to others by not taking what they are responsible for, if you do not, it can infect you with a mind virus of cynicism or defeat and you wont even know it. But without action very little will be done, be persistent ,and try and be consistent, I realise though that under present conditions of capitalist domination it is easy to switch to negative thought patterns, that can lead to cynical resignation, that can become an obstacle in itself. So find others that you can connect with, share your ideas, that help one another build together, help create a new world, a better one. Avoid cutting yourself from this possibility no matter what the circumstances. The secret is to to begin, there is no room for compromise. Laugh together, avoid disconnection, avoid futility and fruitlessness, focus on struggle and change. Resignation is death. Revolt is life. Avoid head trash. It's obviously not as easy as it sounds, I've been on anti-depressants for last ten years, but recently been avoiding them, reconnecting taking a chance, my inner scream still carries an anguished enthusiasm for changing the world. I guess it takes time, chemicals can help, can lead to a life though of numbness, especially in the absence of community or solidarity, alienation can lead to all sorts of malaise, if you really want to change, there are ways to achieve it, don't trust me though I'm no shrink or doctor, I know that it is not always possible to prevent unhelpful thoughts from occurring, these words just some gathered food for thought, just remember to look after yourself, and if your strong enough you can look out for and help others.
There is currently a lot of discussion in the public realm in the UK about anti-semitism (anti-jewish racism), As Israel lobby groups ( among others) try to equate the two. For some being critical of Israel is now seen as the same thing as being anti-jewish or rasict. Personally I will always oppose beyond the pale and vile racism wherever it tries to lay it's hat. An abhorrent stain that has no place in modern society and should always be condemned and given zero tolerance. I am not a member of the Labour Party but like many others I have been talking to feel that the crisis of anti-semitism in the Labour party has been deliberately created by the media, whilst co-ordinated by the right wing element of the party and the Zionist lobby. The prospect of a pro Palestinian like Jeremy Corbyn as elected leader has triggered a dirty tricks operation worthy of a CIA effort to destabilise a South America country, all aided by a compliant media, serving to stir things up and foster division, running on hysterical soundbites to smear instead of encouraging unity.The Daily Mail being chief among them, with a terrible history of their own when it comes to this issue. Is is wrong to simply criticize a country that illegally treats and oppresses the Palestinian people on a daily basis. Anti-semitism tragically exists and must continually be exposed and fought against, in the same way as other forms of racism by all concerned with fighting racism and fascism. I should also point out that Anti-semitism and anti-zionism are not the same. Zionism is a political ideology which has always been contested within jewish life since it first emerged in 1897. In my humble opinion it is entirely legitimate for non-jews as well as jews to xpress opinions about it. Remember not all jews are zionists and not all zionists are jews. As an anti racist and an anti fascist I do not think it is helpful to discredit those who simply make legitimate criticism of Israeli policy. I will continue to support anyone who seeks to promote peace with justice. What is being forgotten about though and utterly marginalised is the Palestinian narrative. Should we forget the fact that for the Palestinian people, Zionism is an ideology that denied their very existence and has continued to justify their ethnic cleansing from their home and lands. We should be seeking some balance, not get whipped up by hysteria, by forces serving to feed their own dubious agendas. We should continue to fight racism, fascism with all our might whilst exploring and understanding all narratives.
Here is a link to an interesting article I discovered earlier. Heddwch/peace.
Another Labor of love from Cassetteboy. Jeremy Hunt should stop telling us how reckless and dangerous the Junior Doctors' strikes are, because trained medical professionals clearly feel his policies are far more reckless and dangerous. Jeremy Hunt can keep saying that it is in the best interests of the NHS, but the actions of him and his government speak far louder than his lies. Time for him to drop the ego and listen to the heart of the NHS - the doctors. Luckily the junior doctors are standing together, taking part in the first all-out strike in the history of the NHS, it's up to us to support them, as they continue to defend and save a publicly funded , publicly owned, our beloved N.H.S.
Scoffing cucumber sandwiches on gilded lawns, Like ravenous vultures they feed on the helpless, Mock the poor, ignore our pain, While washing down champagne, Reeking of greed, taking all that we need, Lying and cheating is their game, Exploiters of people for profit, The world is their oyster, See how they scoff it, Fed by a relentless drive for more, Appropriated from the labor of others, After pushing and grabbing for far to long, In the end will have to make amends, Having been found proven, To have been in the wrong, But may pay no heed, The greed remains, Too entangled, Trapped inside, Too deeply hidden, To be removed.
During the afternoon and early evening of Monday, April 26th, 1937, the German and Italian fascist air forces destroyed the Spanish town of Guernica in a raid lasting three hours. The war crime was ordered by the Spanish nationalist military leadership and carried out by the Congor Legion of the German luftwaffe and the Italian Aviazone Legionairre. Designed to kill or main as many civilians as possible, Operation Rugen was deliberately chosen for a Monday afternoon when the weekly town market would be at its most crowded. Guernica, in the Basque country where revolutionary sentiment among workers was deep, was defenceless from the bombers, which could fly as low as 600 feet. The airplanes made repeated raids, refuelling and returning to drop more bombs. Waves of explosive, fragmentary, and incendiary devices were dumped in the town. In total, 31 tons of munitions were dropped between 4.30 in the afternoon and 7.30 in the evening. In the aftermath of the raid, survivors spoke of the air filled with the screams of those in their death throes and the hundreds injured. Civilians fleeing the carnage in the fields surrounding the town were strafed by fighter planes. Human and animal body parts littered the market place and town center, a horror soon immortalised by Pablo Picasso's Guernica. Guernica was effectively wiped of the map. From a population of 5,000 some 1,700 residents were killed and a further 800 injured. Three quarters of the buildings were raised to the ground. Farms four miles away were flattened.
The savage and barbarous attack was a deliberate attempt to terrorise and intimidate the workers of Republican Spain. Spanish nationalist general Emilio Mola had spoken of destroying the industry of Barcelona and Bilbao in order to cleanse the country. In other words, the Nationalists would endeavour to destroy the industrial proletariat. As the historian Paul Preston has recently written in Spanish Holocaust, the Nationalist forces had launched a scorched earth policy during their rapid advance through Spain, most notably in Badajoz, where many hundreds of revolutionary workers were machine gunned to death in the city's bullring. The fascist government of Berlin and Rome were only to glad to assist Franco in his 'cleansing' of the Spanish population, as both a geo-political necessity and as a test for their military command, new military technology and fighting forces. At his trial for war crimes at Nuremberg, the leading Nazi Hermann Goering would tell the tribunal that he had urged Hitler to send German forces to stem socialism in the Iberian theatre and to test out the Luftwaffe. We should never forget.
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2012/04/twih-a23.html The destruction of Guernica was part of Franco's wider, brutal campaign against the existence of the Spanish Republic. This campaign led not just to widespread destruction of property, but thousands of civilian casualties too, as well as widespread displacement. Many sought refuge abroad, as many as 3,800 Basque children were evacuated to England and Wales for the duration of the war. The British Government at the time callously refused to be responsible for the children, but throughout the summer children were dispersed to camps throughout Britain. Eight of these colonies were here in Wales. They were received with a mixture of hostility and kindness, but they had all managed to escape the grips of Franco's fascist Spain. Picasso's picture still resonates with clarity, capturing the full terror and horror of this terrible moment in history.
Guernica: The history and art of:-
Guernica - Paul Eluard - P Picasso - Victory at Guernica
Music: Richard Wagner and Herbert Von Karajan
extract from poem written by Paul Eluard, a surrealist poet and friend of Picasso, in August, 1937.
Lovely world of cottages
Of the night and fields
Faces good in firelight good in frost
Reusing the night the wound and blows
Faces good for everything
Now the void fixes you
Your death will serve as a warning
Death the heart turned over
They made you pay your bread
Sky earth water sleep
And the misery of your life.
Finally after 27 long years of struggle and anguish, the bereaved families of Liverpool fans who lost their lives in Hillsborough in1989 have been delivered some kind of justice as a jury has ruled that 96 Liverpool fans who died had been unlawfully killed and that fans behaviour did not contribute to their deaths. Police response and planning at fault. But why has this agony taken so long for this jury to vindicate the families long fight for justice, hindered perhaps by the approach over the years by South Yorkshire Police to hide away adverse findings. Evidence that they did not want us to see. What the families have had to endure for the last 27 years is truly horrifying and shocking, cover ups by the police , the state, and successive Tory and Labour governments. From the onset survivors of Hillsborough have spoken of how they were intimidated and threatened by police and left feeling traumatised, accused of wasting police time because they did not like their evidence, because it did not fit into their versions of the event, led about by the police, the scum newspaper, vilified and labelled, the dead were demonised, the falsefying of statements, but by group efforts and the support of individuals justice has come, late, but better than never. Thank goodness to all those who never gave up. Shame still hangs however over the lying police, lying press government and FA as people still lying covering up on top, but a scrap of justice is finally offered 27 years overdue.No lie lasts forever. Those responsible should pay the price.
PS
Don't ever buy this racist, sexist, lying, homophobic, anti-working class pile of ****
To "wipe that smile of his face, he.s almost giving the impression he is revelling in standing up too the junior doctors."
Here we go nursery level rhyming time Dennis Skinner a complete winner, Jeremy Hunt a complete ****.
Enough said but will add that I support the junior doctors 100 % .Their fight is our fight we should not be held to ransom.
We will hear a lot of non-trutha about junior doctors in next few days in parts of the media in an attempt to discredit them but the Tory's are losing the argument, the junior doctors are fighting for all of us, the heart and soul of the NHS, that's why we have to and must continue to support them.
Flowers are blooming again Leaves are popping Insects are buzzing, The afternoon delivers sun, fresh air, To blow away morning's face.
I have a favourite place Somewhere I go to hide away, Where fragrance floats and mingles I stand awakening, moving shadows, Bouncing over primroses and bluebells Today sowing seeds over earth Offering some food for the bees.
The flower's weeds will ripen And wild winds will scatter, Sending shoots and roots, From this present time, Far into the future, Release an abiding, shining hope That lights a way through the dark.
As greenery blossoms Soft rays of warm light, Clear pathways of soul and heart React to understanding, Drift in fine feeling Creating glorious scenes, Surveying all I will sit and dream . .
On the airwaves, sent out rap, house, funk, psychedelia, one man soul train, strutting sexy stuff, musical textures of freedom, Hendrix, Sly Stone, James Brown, an eclectic musical virtuoso, his brain an inner studio, of deep funk devotion, innovator of musical genius, an ego that electrified,with duality of free expression, today's forecast cloudy with a chance of purple rain, as another uncompromised voice is lost, cadences of difference will keep on singing, eliminate gender, point another way, doves will cry for all, eyes will close, as third eyes open. Meteors will blaze a fiery trial. Indelible footprints will continue to reveal.
Prince Roger Nelson, Rest in Power.
" Dearly beloved, we are gathered, here today, to get through, this thing called life. Electric word life, It means forever, and that's a mighty long time, But I'm here to tell you, There's something else, The afterworld. A world of never ending happiness, You can always see the sun , day or night, Let's go crazy, Let's go nuts, Look for the Purple banana, Til they put us in the trunk, Let's go!
We're all excited, But we don't know why, Maybe it's because, We're all gonna die. Let's go crazy, Let's go nuts. " from; Prince - Let's go crazy ; 1984.
Today the Queen otherwise known as Mrs Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, turns 90, a long life indeed, and also shares a birthday with my own grandson who himself turns four today, so salutations to him as well. Many of us today instead of joining in the sycophantic celebrations that are taking place would instead actually like to have a debate about Britain's future. After all no-one should be head of state for decades without any elections. Do we simply sit back and watch her son Charles become King, after her reign? A long life is not an excuse in itself for a long reign. The fact that the Queen is now the longest reigning monarch I do not see in itself as a cause for celebration, but an opportunity and reminder of how much we need real radical democratic reform. Millions of us are simply not interested anymore in royal milestones, in times of austerity, and as usual we are denied the opportunity to hear any real debate about the future of the monarchy. In a statement posted by Republic a grassroots movement that has over 5,000 members and 35,000 supporters it said todays event " reminds us that support for the monarchy is bound up with support for the Queen." The group has also criticised the BBC's coverage, I agree with them, adding it is the usual fawning display that simply does not warrant or deserve this amount of coverage, is there not much more worthy things that need reporting? It is completely over the top. The Republican movement in Britain has announced that it will campaign to make the case for holding a referendum on the future of the British monarchy after the Queen's death. Like me it does not think that the British monarchy a harmless tourist attraction that most people think, rather that it has a history of abusing public money and meddling in politics. Furthermore is it not the case that as long as we remain subjects not citizens, of our country, our political and social attitudes will continue to retain an archaic flavour that is harmful equally to our image of ourselves and attitude of others towards us. Until we turn our back on hereditary power at the top of our political, military and religious institutions we have little chance of shaking of the mentality of society defined by class that serves to prop up the same elitist status quo. How can we continue to tolerate a hereditary monarch representing the feudal society of medieval England in a modern democratic state. How is it is still acceptable that the British taxpayer still has to pay £75,000,000 a year to support one of the richest families in Britain ( wealth accumulated and robbed from people during previous centuries) when people are made homeless, forced to sleep on the streets, how can we justify spending this on relics that serve no purpose while 13 million of us are in poverty and 913,000 of us are having to rely on foodbanks.. The Queen's private residence Buckhingham Palace estimated to be £55 billion!! The monarchy like slavery , sexual and class discrimination and colonial exploitation is a throwback to our shameful past and an impediment to a bright future. So happy birthday Mrs Windsor, but please let the British public decide now whether we want you or not, I have already made up my mind, it is outdated and does not serve our modern needs,an irrelevent drain on our society so viva republic.
On this day April 20th, 1914, the National Guard and Colorado Fuel & Iron Company guards carry out the Ludlow massacre.
It happened after months of
intermittent violence between the striking miners and the mine
detectives employed by the J.D. Rockefeller owned Colorado Fuel &
Iron Company.
Miners were generally paid according to tonnage of coal produced,
while so-called "dead work", such as shoring up unstable roofs, was
often unpaid. Between 1884 and 1912, mining accidents claimed the lives of more than 1,700 Coloradans
In 1913 alone, 104 men would die in Colorado’s mines, and 6 in the
mine workings on the surface, in accidents that widowed 51 and left 108
children fatherless.
Colliers had little opportunity to air their grievances. Many colliers resided in company towns,
in which all land, real estate, and amenities were owned by the mine
operator, and which were expressly designed to inculcate loyalty and
squelch dissent.
Frustrated by working conditions which they felt were unsafe and unjust,
colliers increasingly turned to unionism. Nationwide, organized mines
boasted 40 percent fewer fatalities than nonunion mines. Colorado miners had repeatedly attempted to unionize since the state's first strike in 1883. The Western Federation of Miners organized primarily hard rock miners in the gold and silver camps during the 1890s. Beginning in 1900, the UMWA began organizing coal miners in the western states,
including southern Colorado. The UMWA decided to focus on the CF&I
because of the company's harsh management tactics under the conservative
and distant Rockefellers and other investorsors. To break or prevent
strikes, the coal companies hired strike breakers,
mainly from Mexico and southern and eastern Europe. CF&I's
management mixed immigrants of different nationalities in the mines, a
practice which discouraged communication that might lead to
organization.
Despite attempts to suppress union activity, secret organizing by the
UMWA continued in the years leading up to 1913. Eventually, the union
presented a list of seven demands on behalf of the miners:
Recognition of the union as bargaining agent
An increase in tonnage rates (equivalent to a 10% wage increase)
Enforcement of the eight-hour work day law
Payment for "dead work" (laying track, timbering, handling impurities, etc.)
Weight-checkmen elected by the workers (to keep company weightmen honest)
The right to use any store, and choose their boarding houses and doctors
Strict enforcement of Colorado's laws (such as mine safety rules, abolition of scrip), and an end to the company guard system
The major coal companies rejected the demands and in September 1913,
the UMWA called a strike. Those who went on strike were promptly evicted
from their company homes, and they moved to tent villages prepared by
the UMWA. The tents were built on wood platforms and furnished with
cast iron stoves on land leased by the union in preparation for a
strike.
When leasing the sites, the union had strategically selected
locations near the mouths of canyons that led to the coal camps, for the
purpose of monitoring traffic and harassing replacement workers.
Confrontations between striking miners and working miners, referred to as "scabs" by the union, sometimes resulted in deaths. The company hired the Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency to protect the new workers and harass the strikers.
Baldwin–Felts had a reputation for aggressive strike breaking.
Agents shone searchlights on the tent villages at night and fired
bullets into the tents at random, occasionally killing and maiming
people. They used an improvised armoured car, mounted with a machine gun the union called the "Death Special"
to patrol the camp's perimeters. The steel-covered car was built in the
CF&I plant in Pueblo, Colorado from the chassis of a large touring sedan. Frequent sniperr
attacks on the tent colonies drove the miners to dig pits beneath the
tents where they and their families could be better protected.
As strike-related violence mounted, Colorado governor Elias M. Ammons
called in the Colorado National Guard on October 28. At first, the
Guard's appearance calmed the situation, but the sympathies of Guard
leaders lay with company management. Guard Adjutant-General John Chase, who had served during the violent Cripple Creek
strike 10 years earlier, imposed a harsh regime. On March 10, 1914, the
body of a replacement worker was found on the railroad tracks near Forbes, Colorado.
The National Guard said that the man had been murdered by the strikers.
In retaliation, Chase ordered the Forbes tent colony destroyed. The
attack was launched while the inhabitants were attending a funeral of
infants who had died a few days earlier. The attack was witnessed by
photographer Lou Dold, whose images of the destruction appear often in accounts of the strike.
The strikers persevered until the spring of 1914. By then, the
state had run out of money to maintain the Guard, and was forced to
recall them. The governor and the mining companies, fearing a breakdown
in order, left two Guard units in southern Colorado and allowed the
coal companies to finance a residual militia consisting largely of
CF&I camp guards in National Guard uniforms.
On the morning of April 20, the day after Easter was celebrated by
the many Greek immigrants at Ludlow, three Guardsmen appeared at the
camp ordering the release of a man they claimed was being held against
his will. This request prompted the camp leader, Louis Tikas,
to meet with a local militia commander at the train station in Ludlow
village, a half mile (0.8 km) from the colony. While this meeting was
progressing, two companies of militia installed a machine gun on a ridge
near the camp and took a position along a rail route about half a mile
south of Ludlow. Anticipating trouble, Tikas ran back to the camp. The
miners, fearing for the safety of their families, set out to flank the
militia positions. A gunfight soon broke out.
The fighting raged for the entire day. The militia was reinforced
by non-uniformed mine guards later in the afternoon. At dusk, a passing
freight train stopped on the tracks in front of the Guards' machine gun
placements, allowing many of the miners and their families to escape to
an outcrop of hills to the east called the "Black Hills." By 7:00 p.m.,
the camp was in flames, and the militia descended on it and began to
search and loot the camp. Louis Tikas had remained in the camp the
entire day and was still there when the fire started. Tikas and two
other men were captured by the militia. Tikas and Lt.Karl Linderfelt,
commander of one of two Guard companies, had confronted each other
several times in the previous months. While two militiamen held Tikas,
Linderfelt broke a rifle butt over his head. Tikas and the other two
captured miners were later found shot dead. Tikas had been shot in the
back. Their bodies lay along the Colorado and Southern Railway
tracks for three days in full view of passing trains. The militia
officers refused to allow them to be moved until a local of a railway
union demanded the bodies be taken away for burial.
During the battle, four women and eleven children had been hiding
in a pit beneath one tent, where they were trapped when the tent above
them was set on fire. Two of the women and all of the children
suffocated. These deaths became a rallying cry for the UMWA, who called
the incident the "Ludlow Massacre."
In addition to the fire victims, Louis Tikas and the other men
who were shot to death, three company guards and one militiaman were
killed in the day's fighting.
The Ludlow Massacre became a rallying cry for union organizers and
labor activists for years afterwards. It would be decades before the
rights the Ludlow strikers fought for, such as the right to join an
independent union, an eight-hour workday, and child labor laws — were
enshrined in law with the passing of the National Labour Relations and Wagner acts as part of FDR’s New Deal.
These strong protections for unions paved the way for the longest
period of prosperity in American history, the Long Boom of the post-WWII
economy.
Though it has been mostly forgotten by the history books, the Ludlow Massacre inspired historians like Howard Zinn and Georg McGovern to write about it. Zinn described the Ludlow Massacre as "the culminating act of perhaps the
most violent struggle between corporate power and laboring men in
American history". Musicians like Woody Guthrie among other wrote songs about Ludlow.
Today
the Ludlow Monument, stands at the site
of what was the Ludlow colony. It is now officially a national historic
landmark, commemorating “a pivotal event in American history,” when
workers and their families fought and died so that they did not have
to surrender their rights and freedom at the job site. May they rest in power.
Lest we forget. Unions learnt from Ludlow, fought back strong, and were able to forge and implement new forms of welfare support and working class power. Over the years with stricter labour laws and increased enforcement of them curtailed the right of employees and gave strength to those in unions. So that business leaders are denied repeating the abuses of old. Long may this be so.
There was a massive demo in London over the weekend. Thousands took to the streets in other cities too. All largely ignored by the mainstream media including the BBC, who did however take time to provide us with the story of two young Royals jetting half way round the world to be photographed sitting on a bench. This was the actual news - Royals sitting on a bench. A bench that had apparently been sat on by another royal bum many years previously. 150,000 people ignored who had traveled from all over the UK to protest against austerity, Tory misrule and a sick system, ordinary proud people who had gathered to denounce public sector cuts, the treatment of the disabled and the vulnerable through welfare cuts and the privatisation of the N.H.S. I know which story I was most interested in hearing about, much more significant and relevent than a thousand words about royalty. Guess I'm just biased. Sad to see the BBC along with Murdoch's sky news missing this huge discontent in British society for something so trivial. I guess it will take more than marching to divert the media's gaze. In other news, Jamaica plans to end Queen's rule as Head of State, who knows hopefully it will be our turn next.
Life is a voyage of discovery and transformation Containing equal measures of ugliness and beauty, Prisms of moveability and change Balancing acts between holding on and letting go, Riding on waves of wonder and transition Surging high above or deep below, Navigating times eternal cycles The pulse of the morning and the light of evening stars, Moments slow - then last forever On journeys without maps, where roads turn into rivers, Divisions forcefields continue to be unbroken Love's reasoning uninterrupted constantly flows, As no cages or fences remain to lock us in.
Today I remember the life of Vittorio Arrigoni a renowned Italian human rights/ peace activist, who served as a volunteer for the International Solidarity Movement, who worked closely with the fishermen and farmers of the occupied Gaza strip. Who for ten years worked for the recognition of Palestinian rights under Israeli occupation. During the Israeli offensive against the Gaza strip in 2008-09 he acted as a human shield while working with the Palestinian Red Crescent humanitarian organisation. He was also abroad the 2008 Free Gaza Movement Vessel and was imprisoned in Israel several times. He also worked as a freelance journalist for the Italian daily IL Manifesto and for his own blog Guerilla radio. His daily dispatches written between bombing raids and patchy internet access ended with the plea - "Stay human." which became the motto of anti-israeli peace protests in his native Italy. His authoritative and deeply moving eyewitness accounts were published in 2010 under the title Gaza - Stay human. On April 14 2011 he was kidnapped and the next day brutally murdered by militants in Gaza, which caused international outcry and was unanimously condemned by both Hamas and the Palestinian National authority. A senseless, shocking mindless act. Known for his infectious smile, and deep humility and the tattoo he bore on his arm of the word resistance written in arabic. Along with his dedicated support of the Palestinians, who embodies many of the qualities that draw people to Palestine - his immense bravery - against the odds - when confronting incredible violence and his unwavering determination to stay human and loving in the face of inhumanity towards the very end. He remains a hero to the Palestinian people and many others across the globe.
Currently going viral, new one from Cassetteboy. If your not worried about the Investigation Powers Bill ( aka the snoopers charter) you obviously don't know enough about it. The Investigators Poers Bill will make us less safe and less free. It will force communication companies like Sky, BT, Google and facebook to collect and hand over details and record everything you do online. All of this will be logged abd analysed and used to build an intimate picture of your life, as a means of keeping us under control. It is a dangerous piece of legislation, which is also a human rights issue, who knows how your data could be used if the information they hold on you got into the wrong hands, the Governments hands already pretty dangerous. At the end of the day it could needlesly violate your rights. Visit https://www.privacyinternational.org and join the campaign against the Governments sinister new snooper charter.
France As spring awakens, tens of thousands of people have recently occupied the streets of major European capitals. People taking to the streets to protest against their governments and call for the resignation of their political leaders. In Reykjavik, Iceland mass protests bought down their Prime Minister in wake of the Panama papers and in London similar demonstrations have taken place demanding that dodgy Dave Cameron resigns. While in France a burgeoning movement of anger has emerged known as uit Debout ( up all night ) that has swept the country people's assemblies have been organised and city squares have been occupied inspiring the world. And in Athens, Greece refugees have marched to demand open borders and respect for their human rights and dignity. We are witnessing a resurgence of mass protests, an unprecedented escalation in large scale citizen protests, movements building for a better future, trying their best to achieve social change. People not usually interested in politics interested in this spirit of change. People connecting and joining the dots, demanding another way, it seems like an impossible spirit to kill. Diverse in their goals but unified by their people power but all motivated by a strong desire for change. The long history of social movements that have the ability to transform our lives is a notable one, that seek to end the rule of money so that people and planet come before profits. With the impact of austerity hitting us all hard, causing economic hardship and unfairness the inevitable results are these waves of rebellion. The mainstream media seems intent on ignoring these mass protests, but the spirit is growing and spreading, hope is alive and in the air, people now boiling with rage but with the desire to construct something brand new, from the bottom up, whilst despising a system made by the elite for the elite, a system that everybody is beginning to realize is broken and cannot be fixed. As our leaders continue to treat us as dirt, want us to remain broken, together we will rise and in solidarity we will find our strength. With resistance, triumph and compassion I have a strong belief that our futures can be changed for the better, forwards we move, our roads are clear. All these things give me hope as I write. One of lives lessons is always moving on. These movements have no limit, no borders and belong to all who wish to be part of it. This spring hope is well and truly in the air. As the late singer Phil Ochs once said "In such ugly times the only true protest is beauty." I will end with the following poem by Emily Dickinson :- Hope is the thing with feathers " Hope is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without words- And never stops -at all - And sweetest - in the gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I've heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me.
Tory leader who looks like a train continues to treat us as idiots, as he tries desperately to react to the public's disgust at his and others tax avoidance and evasion. He has announced that HMRC will be working with the National Crime Agency to lead a wold class task force to investigate allegations of tax dodging and money laundering bought to light by the leak of 11 million files by a Panama Law firm. But Cameron in charge does not exactly inspire much confidence - a man who has made a career out of advising people on how to dodge tax who once publicly stated that the whole concept of tax was ' legalised extortion.' And so the story keeps on running, since he has not drawn a line under the story, we all now know how much money he has been making, profits made and how supposedly bloody transparent he is. Now that we have started we will continue to keep asking much needed questions. Each day he looks more and more at unease , the case of Dave a man who looks like a train continuing to treat us all as idiots. We should keep pointing out to him how big money has continually corrupted and tainted British politics. This is a man who has had the audacity to cut the benefits of disabled people who cannot dress or look after themselves , while the tax payer continues to pays him around 53 k a year to help him and his wife (Samantha worth in her own right £29 million ) to dress and look after themselves. David Cameron cannot keep on treating us as idiots, with added lies and expect the people to continue to trust him. His ethics and morality have now been called into question and it is clear that he is not passing the test as he continues to be evasive and defensive and his obvious unwillingness to be straight to the public that he supposedly serves . because of this his credibility now lies in shatters as his policies continue to lead to direct cuts in services and benefits that are hurting millions of people right now in Britain. No wonder that Dennis Skinner had the tenacity to call him ' Dodgy Dave" and did not to withdraw the remark and then subsequently got kicked out for speaking the truth. Thank Dennis. Yes dodgy Dave by name and nature I hope that he will continually be given the shunt and shown all the derision that he deserves. Even he admits he could have handled this affair much better, it just shows yet again how his government is run for the privileged few and not for the majority of the population.
Dennis Skinner on dodgy Dave
Let us hope that this sorry affair will lead to new rules being put in place , that lead to more openness and transparency that enables the British public to know more about the dubious nature of our leaders business dealings. Old research also reveals that wealth does not trickle down - it just floods offshore :-- http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jul/21/offshore-wealth-global-economy-tax-havens/ In response to his gaffes a large scale public call for a general election in 2016 is now going viral. British patience has finally reached its limit. It also comes as no surprise to learn that as our Tory Government destroys our steel industry, that Margaret Thatcher a political hero of Cameron's who herself contributed to the destruction of the coal industry and society as a whole, also benefited from not paying no tax. It has been revealed that her own children will continue to avoid millions in inheritance tax since their mothers house in Belgravia, London, was registered to an offshore trust yet still taxpayers had to fork out for the cost of her funeral three years ago this month. Has it not always been the case up to now of one rule for some and a completely different one for the rest of us less fortunate. Sadly tax avoiders usually need to be pushed before they can change their attitudes. In the meantime when Cameron's election leaflet pops through our doors in the next few days printed by a German printing company you can send it back to the following address and the Conservative Party will get the 'bill for the postage.
In light of Howard Marks's passing this great advocate for the legislation of cannabis, is it not time to change the law. It is a fact that 45% of us here in Britain have tried it, and a majority of 47% currently support its legislation. As seen in the Independent newspaper on Saturday. Is it not time that the UK reformed its cannabis policy speak out about its continual prohibition and offer direct comparisons how UK citizens are treated unfairly compared to our equals in Spain, Uruguay, Canada, Jamaica, and a growing number of US states. At the moment Cannabis consumption, possession and supply are currently illegal under current UK legislation. Possessing or cultivating any form of cannabis without a home office licence, anywhere in the UK is prohibitive. I personally believe the law to be an arse, surely now is the time for change. The war on drugs costly, stupid and counter-productive. Up to £900 million could be raised annually through the taxation of the regulated cannabis market, which demonstrates a potential revenue that at the very least deserves further investigation, it could be such a good thing as our economy because it certainly needs all the help it needs. This combined with much evidence in the safety and efficiency of cannabis for medical relief, that helps people enormously suffering from Alzheimers, cancer, chronic pain, Chrones disease and multiple sclerosis. We should rage against its continual suppression, the criminalisation of people, simply because of their use of it. The country is awash with booze that personally has not served me too well, at least with the use of cannabis I have been at least able to feel some benefits, especially in relation to ongoing depression issues. It would be a step in the right direction because at the moment so many creative people stuck in prison for no reason, apart from being caught in possession of an innocent herb, at the at the end of the day our current drug policies have made things even more bad, since more dangerous drugs are available on the market than weed unregulated that makes a mockery of our current drug laws. I would add that I personally believe that cannabis has the capability to heal the world, which makes it an incredible commodity. Many people still using it for pleasure, as part of an essential lifestyle decision, prohibition has not curbed its use one iota , in fact I would argue that in a sense it has made it more popular which makes it more appealing in the sense of a 'forbidden fruit' especially to youth. Legalise, regulate it and tax it now , let society as a whole profit from its use instead of criminal gangs. The benefits of marijuana as effective treatment alternatives are plain to see, not only to individuals but to society as a whole. It would ultimately would contribute to reduced crime and the protection of our civil liberties. It is so necessary and the only way forward , I hope that Mr Howard Marks as he moves skywards would agree with my words. Who the hell are the legislators who can tell me or you what I or you can or cannot do with our own minds and bodies.
Sad to hear that Howard Marks - A.K.A Mr Nice - has passed away of inoperable cancer at the age of 70. The father of four was born in Kenfig Hill, Wales in 1945 and went on to study at Oxford University at Balliol college where he took nuclear physics, and later got post graduate qualifications in philosopy he was also a fluent Welsh speaker and practicing Bhuddist. As a drug smuggler he found infamy however, asnd was sentenced to 25 years inprisonment , realeased on parole in 1995 for good behaviour. In his 1996 autobiography Mr Nice he wrote with humour and unashamed bravado about his life and the sheer scale of his daily deeds and escapades involving a whole host of characters ranging from the C.I.A. M.I.6. the P.L..O. the I.R.A to the mafia. Mr Nice was one of 43 aliases he used which struck a chord in the public imagination.
A man I was fortunate to meet, at a speaking tour and remember rushing up to him at Hay -on - wye one year in order for him to sign some king size rizlas of mine, and amiable friendly bloke I could not hope to have encountered. Mischeivious twiknling eyes and warm handshake On his release he became a notable campaigner for the legislation of cannabis and toured a comedy show, a man regarded as a true modern day folk hero, counter cultural icon and loveable rogue. A life spent indulging in all things good, friendship, laughter music and of course drugs. A man of very few regrets he will be remembered with fondness. He certainly lived quite a life. Reflecting on his crimes he said " Smuggling cannabis was a wonderful way of living - perpetual culture shock, absurd amounts of money, and the comforing knowledge of getting so many people stoned." Still passionate about the issue he stood for Parliament on four seperate occassions on the single issue of the legislation of cannabis. He had completed eight cycles of chemotherapy and had initially responded well, but alas his condition finally succumbed. He died surrounded by loving family members at his Bridgend home in the early hours of Sunday. One of his last acts was to set up the Mr Nice foundation, to ensure causes dear to him continue to get support. It is still outrageous that after his death the innocent little drug that is cannabis is still illegal, and that the war on drugs is still not succeeding. Let us hope that in the coming years, legislation is finally achieved, that it becomes controlled and sanitised . Howard Marks, Mr Nice, R.I.P keep on rolling deep. Hashes to ashes. Stoned immaculate. Do not go gentle into that good night.
Some musical respite, dedicated to all those whistleblowers that keep on exposing illegal and unethical acts. And to those currently blocking Whitehall, because Cameron must go. Good luck to all those that hit back against a not fit for purpose government. Songs of freedom will continue to roar, signifying the soul of solidarity. Standing strong, spouting subversion, spreading salvation supplements. Blistering blossoms of the heart, releasing compassion and realization, sweeping away the veils of injustice, absorbing and reflecting the mirror of our souls. Often silenced swept under carpets, a mass that refuses to be kept hidden, with wild abandon, keeps awakening.
