Working Class History
Working Class History#OtD 4 Dec 1974 philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre got permission from a German court to visit Andreas Baader, leader of the Red Army Faction, in Stammheim prison. Books and more about the RAF here in our online store: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/all/red-army-faction
Working Class History#OtD 3 Dec 1916 seven members of the revolutionary Industrial Workers of the World in Australia were sentenced to 15 years in prison for their anti-war efforts. Others were sentenced to 5 and 10 years. More about the Australian @iww@mastodon.social in our podcast: https://workingclasshistory.com/2019/01/28/e19-the-iww-in-australia/
Working Class History#OtD 1 Dec 1921 striking workers at Castleconnell fisheries in Ireland occupied their workplace and declared a soviet (workers' council). It ended on Dec 22 after the boss agreed to arbitration, which later ruled in favour of the workers. Learn more: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8057/castleconnell-soviet
Working Class History#OtD 30 Nov 1994 Guy Debord, cofounder and intellectual leader of the Situationist International, died by suicide. The SI were a Marxist group centred in France which became highly influential after the May 68 revolt. Learn more in these books: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/all/situationists
Working Class History#OtD 30 Nov 1930 legendary Irish-born dressmaker and worker-organiser, Mother Jones, died in Maryland, US. Co-founder of the @iww@mastodon.social, she organised for multiple unions and, in 1902, was called dubbed "the most dangerous woman in America" https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/10324/mother-jones-dies
Working Class History#OtD 29 Nov 1864 the Sand Creek massacre occurred when US troops attacked a peaceful gathering of Cheyenne and Arapaho people. They killed ~170 unarmed people, torturing them then scalping and mutilating the victims. Learn more about Indigenous genocide: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/500-years-of-indigenous-resistance-gord-hill
Working Class History#OtD 29 Nov 1947 the UN passed resolution 181 recommending partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. Approved by the US, USSR and others, it gave 56% of land to the Jewish state despite Jews being only 32% of the population. More in our podcast: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e86-87-class-struggle-in-palestine/
Working Class History#OtD 28 Nov 1971 Jewish anti-fascists of the 62 Group shut down a fascist meeting at the Royal Pavillion Hotel in Brighton, UK. Present were National Front members and former Nazi SS officers, some of whom were hospitalised. More on Jewish anti-fascism: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e35-37-the-43-group/
Working Class HistoryToday is Thanksgiving in the US, or National Day of Mourning/"Unthanksgiving Day" for some Native Americans. Wampanoag people shared food with pilgrims in 1621 but were repaid with centuries of genocide. More on Indigenous resistance: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/books/products/500-years-of-indigenous-resistance-gord-hill
Working Class History#OtD 27 Nov 1835 James Pratt and John Smith, a groom and labourer, respectively, were executed in London for having sex. They were the last men executed in Britain for homosexuality, although executions continued in British colonies. Learn more: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9949/last-uk-men-executed-for-homosexuality