On this day in labor history, the year was 1919.
That was the day May Day celebrators in Cleveland, Ohio were attacked as they marched to protest the imprisonment of Socialist, Eugene V. Debs.
1919 was a year of massive upheaval, marked by countless strikes and protests, riots and bomb threats.
But much of the country was still caught up in the jingoism of the war.
Debs had just entered prison to serve a ten-year sentence.
He had been convicted in Cleveland of sedition for an anti-war speech he gave in Canton, Ohio the year before.
Thousands of trade unionists, anarchists, socialists and communists marched towards Public Square in downtown Cleveland.
Prominent Socialist Charles Ruthenberg led one of the contingents.
He planned to address the rally in defense of Debs and also to promote his candidacy in the upcoming mayoral elections.
May Day marchers carried Red flags and American flags, and banners reading “Workers of the World, Unite.”
Liberty Loan workers stopped them en route, demanding they lower their flags.
Marchers refused and attempted to proceed towards downtown.
Fighting broke out in the streets and lasted for hours until mounted police and army tanks charged the crowd.
Two were killed, at least 40 seriously injured and as many as 120 were arrested.
Ruthenberg was charged with “assault with intent to kill,” though charges were later dismissed.
Socialist Party headquarters were ransacked.
The city immediately moved to restrict parades and socialist meetings, and banned red flags.
Local newspapers were quick to scapegoat immigrants and their supposed Bolshevik sympathies for the riot.
The attack in Cleveland served as an early warning of the Red Scare that would fully erupt by the end of the year.
July 26 - Battle of the Halsted Street Viaduct
July 25 - Pushing Back Against Wartime No-Strike Pledge
July 24 - The Great Railroad Strike Reaches Louisville
July 23 - The 1913 Michigan Copper Miners Strike
July 22 - The 1916 Preparedness Day Bombing
July 22 - The Michigan Copper Miners Strike of 1913
July 21 - The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 Erupts
July 20 - Bloody Friday
July 19 - The ‘34 General Strike in San Francisco Winds Down
July 18 - Striking for Dignity
July 17 - Lumber Workers Put Down Their Axes
July 16 - Bloody Thursday
July 15 - The 1959 Steel Strike
July 14 - A Summer of Public Sector Strikes
July 13 - Striking News in Detroit
July 12 - The ILGWU Comes to Tupelo
July 11 - The Little Steel Strike Begins to Collapse
July 10 - Organizing During Wartime
July 9 - Organizing ALL of NYC Transit
July 8 - WPA Building Trades On Strike
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