‘You are made to hate each other because upon that hatred is rested the keystone of the arch of financial despotism which enslaves you both.’ ibid. Tom Watson, populist leader
Jim Crow laws enforced segregation and curtailed African-American voting rights. During the same time period poor white voters were also disenfranchised. ibid.
In California a genocidal campaign had reduced the indigenous population from 150,000 in 1846 to 30,000 by 1870. ibid.
The robber barons took every opportunity to bribe politicians and crush their competitors. ibid.
Congress became known as the Millionaires Club. ibid.
By 1900 something like 20% of all American workers were under the age of 18. ibid.
Police were also used to discipline the working class. In Tompkins Square New York 1874, 7,000 workers protested unemployment only to be savagely attacked by police. ibid.
A spirited labour press emerged in all of the major cities. ibid.
Unions around the country were becoming increasingly militant. ibid.
‘Anarchy is on trial … Make examples of them, hang them … save our institutions, our society.’ ibid. Julius S Grinnell, prosecutor of anarchists
One in eleven steelworkers died while on the job, often from a lack of sleep. ibid.
When Chinese railroad workers went on strike in 1867 demanding higher wages, shorter working hours, a ban on whipping, and the right to quit their jobs, almost no-one came to their aid. ibid.
The New Orleans strike was emblematic of a growing spirit of solidarity between workers. ibid.
‘My friends, it is solidarity of labor we want … We must be together; our masters are joined together and we must do the same thing.’ Plutocracy II: Solidarity Forever, Mother Jones
In the late 19th century a brutal class-war was underway in the United States. And as in all wars the poor suffered the majority of casualties. ibid.
American industry had the highest job accident rate of any country in the industrialised world. ibid.
Presiding over society was a small group of industrialists and bankers nicknamed the Robber Barons. ibid.
The National Guard came to the Pinkertons’ rescue protecting strike-breakers and defeating the union. ibid.
Among the targets were the Molly Maguires … a secret society of Irish immigrants … during the 1870s, victims of perilous working conditions. ibid.
One of the most important labor struggles in the late 19th century was the Pullmans’ strike of 1894. ibid.
Chicago 1894: 12,000 US army troops were sent in to attack their own citizens. ibid.
Day of Blood at Lattimer! Lower End Mine Strike Takes a Terrible Turn … They fire on Marching Strikers with Terrible Effect … Deputies Use Rifles! … 16 killed 70 wounded. ibid. newspaper report
Working class prisoners were used as virtual slaves … More African/Americans died under the convict-leasing system than during slavery. ibid.
The link between wealth and voting rights sometimes caused unrest. ibid.
The Women’s Movement was also plagued by the same class and racial bigotries that afflicted labour unions. ibid.
‘I cannot think it probable that [working people] will be permanently contented with the condition of labouring for wages as their ultimate state. To work at the bidding and for the profit of another, without any interest in the work … is, not even when wages are high, a satisfactory state for human beings.’ ibid. John Stuart Mill
‘The IWW was openly anti-capitalist.’ ibid. historian
Migrant workers from Mexico had become a super-exploited class. ibid.
Most of the San Diego press cheered on the violence … The vigilantes represented the bankers and merchants. ibid.
‘The insurrectional fact, destined to affirm socialist principles by deed, is the most efficacious means of propaganda … It is therefore necessary to destroy with violence, since one cannot do otherwise, the violence which denies these means to the workers.’ ibid. Erico Malatesta 1876
‘Remember that you are fighting more than your own fight. You are fighting for the entire working class and you must stand together.’ ibid. Big Bill Haywood, IWW leader
The Lawrence Textile strike of 1912 which involved immigrants from over forty different nationalities, both men and women … Before long, police began attacking the picket lines. ibid.
‘Your violent and chaotic society always bears within it war as a sleeping cloud bears a storm.’ Plutocracy III: Class War, Jean Jaures, French socialist leader
Massive wealth inequality remained. Between the years 1800 and 1920 economic inequality in the United States increased more than a hundred-fold. ibid.
The most notorious of the battles occurred in Ludlow, Colorado, 1914 … ‘owned by the Rockefeller trust … The National Guard fired into the tents.’ The killing of their [strikers’] families caused national outrage. Protests erupted across the country. ibid.
An expression of growing working-class solidarity. ibid.
The Socialist Party was also experiencing national growth. ibid.
Joe Hill had a unique weapon in his arsenal: not just speech but song. ibid.
Another important Labour Leader imprisoned under the Espionage Act was the anarchist Ricardo Flores Magon. ibid.
‘IWW stood for Industrial Workers of the World. Work, Good Wages & Respect – that’s what they wanted for the workers.’ The Wobblies, woman, 1979
At the turn of the century America was changing rapidly from a basically rural society to an urban industrial one … One of the striking features of the period was the rapid growth of the enormous corporations which began to control the basic industries. ibid.
The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organize as a class, take possession of the earth and the machinery of production, and abolish the wage system. ibid. preamble
‘The IWW was the only thing that was accepting Negro or black workers.’ ibid. black worker
A year after the Lawrence Strike another strike broke out in Paterson, New Jersey, 1913 … They were defeated in their demands for an eight-hour day and higher wages. ibid.
‘You either had to stop living or become a rebel.’ ibid. woman
They would use the soapboxes as recruiting stations. ibid.
‘Rebellious slaves – that’s what we were.’ ibid. old boy
The rights of ownership of the people over the lands they traditionally occupy shall be recognised. The rights of the people to the natural resources pertaining to their lands shall be specifically safeguarded: UN ILO Indigenous and Tribal People Convention 169. When Two Worlds Collide ***** captions, 2016
American entrepreneurs: bring your factories here. Come! ibid. Alan Garcia, president of Peru 2007
I grew up in a collective environment. Where we all enjoy what the earth gives us … Our territories are sacred to us. ibid. Alberto Pizango, president Organization for Native Amazon Peoples
Now you’ll see the damage the crude oil is causing in our region. ibid.
These laws gave private companies the right to exploit rainforest resources. ibid. Victor Belaunde, former congressman
Protests have sprung up in four Amazonian regions. ibid. news
There are dead and wounded people … ibid. reporter
Nine indigenous men are killed. ibid.
What a shame that a democratic government is making Peruvians kill each other. ibid. Pizango
Asylum [for Pizango] was granted in accordance with international laws. ibid. Nicaraguan diplomat
Back in Peru, Alberto Pizango is charged with rebellion, sedition, murder and conspiracy against the State. ibid. caption
Long live the struggle of the Amazonia people! ibid. demonstration in Lima
13 days after the confrontation in Bagua, Congress overturns two of the controversial laws, including Forestry Law 1090. ibid.
But they keep making deals under the table to let the companies in. ibid. Pizango
I’ve decided that I must go back. ibid.
What’s wrong with this world when oil or a piece of gold is worth more than a human life? ibid. father or murdered rozzer
Despite the government’s recent pledge to halt deforestation by 2021, deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon continues to rise. ibid. caption
No government officials were ever charged. ibid.