killings

Babylon Burning: West Kingston lock-down and police killings in Jamaica (2001)

Lock-down in Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, Jamaica, 2001

In the summer of 2001, police locked down parts of the downtown area of Kingston, Jamaica. This contemporary leaflet reports on the event, and examines the background to the violence that makes Jamaica the state with the largest police 'kill-rate' (per head of population) in the world.

On Saturday 7th July 2001 July police entered Tivoli Gardens in Downtown Kingston, the Jamaican capital, looking for guns that had killed Willy Haggart, the gang leader, or don, of nearby Arnett Gardens, an event that had resulted in weeks of intermitant gang violence between supporters of both parties in the West Kingston areas Hannah Town and Denham Town.

Argentina: Teachers strike in memory of colleague

On October 5th there were mass walkouts nationwide by teachers in state and private schools in memory of a colleague who had been killed by police.

Carlos Fuentealba died in April after being struck by a tear gas grenade fired from almost point blank range. The attack took place after Jorge Sobisch, the then Governor of Neuquen and current presidential candidate, ordered police to crack down on a protest march by striking teachers.

Man killed by Royal Mail scab

Another lorry crashed by a scab driver, 2007

Tragedy struck yesterday when one of 5,000 Royal Mail managers acting as scabs drove his lorry into an Astra van, killing one and injuring a second person.

The Daily Mirror reported that a strike breaking Royal Mail boss was arrested yesterday after his lorry had a crash with a van killing the driver.

Office worker Phil Edmonds, 46, was at the wheel of the articulated truck when the vehicles collided, pushing the Astra van into the central reservation of a dual carriageway.

1900: The assassination of King Umberto I of Italy

King Umberto I

A short account of the assassination of King Umberto I of Italy in revenge for the brutal suppression of a workers' demonstration in Milan which left hundreds dead.

See also our biography of Gaetano Bresci

Argentina: Striking teacher killed by police

Carlos Fuentealba

Fellow strikers blocked roads across the province on Friday and a national general strike has been called for Monday by the teaching unions after a protester was killed by a tear gas grenade.

Carlos Fuentealba,41, was killed on Thursday night after being hit in the head by the gas grenade, fired into a crowd of protesters by police.

Serantini, Franco, 1951-1972

Franco Serantini

A short biography of Italian anarchist Franco Serantini, who was murdered by police during an anti-fascist demonstration.

Francisco Serantini was born in Cagliari on Sardinia on 16th July 1951 and abandoned at birth. He was given both his names by an official of a literary bent or a priest or policeman who had seen in the paper recently mention of the Romagnol writer of the same name, an author of picturesque novels, one of which was I Bastardi.

1892-1894: The prison revolt and massacre at Cayenne

Iles du Salut prison cell

A short history of the brutal repression at the Cayenne island prison camp in French Guyana. A rebellion against a prisoner's murder was followed by a massacre of anarchists by the authorities.

The Iles du Salut are situated off Cayenne, in what was French Guyana in South America. These three prison islands – of which Devil's Island is the most infamous - were reserved by the French authorities for hard cases, for repeated escapees and for political prisoners. In the course of time many anarchists were sent to these hell-holes.

Girier, Anthelme, 1869-1898

Le Bandit du Nord cover

A short biography of French anarchist orator Anthelme Girier, who was imprisoned and involved in the revolt at the Iles du Salut penal colony.

Anthelme Girier
aka Jean Baptiste Lorion, born 1869 - France, died 16 November 1898 - French Guyana

Pinelli, Giuseppe “Pino”, 1928-1969

Giuseppe Pinelli

A short biography of Giuseppe Pinelli, anarchist railway worker who was murdered by police in the Strategy of Tension. He was immortalised in Dario Fo's play Accidental Death of an Anarchist.

Giuseppe Pinelli, nicknamed Pino
Born 21 October 1928 – Milan, Italy, died 15 December 1969 – Milan, Italy

1916-1927: The execution of Sacco and Vanzetti

Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti

The story of two Italian-born anarchists, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, framed for murder and then executed for their beliefs.

"Did you see what I did to those anarchist bastards?"
- Presiding Judge Webster Thayer

1915: The murder of Joe Hill

Joe Hill

The story of the death of the American trade unionist, revolutionary and popular song-writer Joe Hill, framed for murder and executed.

Don't mourn - organise!

1931: Michael Schirru and the attempted assassination of Mussolini

Michael Schirru

An account of the trial and death of American anarchist Michael Schirru, who travelled to Italy to attempt to assassinate the fascist dictator.

Despite the fact that his "crimes" were not legally punishable by death, Schirru was executed by firing squad.

1919: The murder of Wesley Everest

Wesley Everest

The story of the lynching of the American revolutionary unionist and former soldier Wesley Everest by "patriots."

Death of a Wobbly
Following the Seattle General Strike of 1919, in which the revolutionary rank-and-file union the Industrial Workers of the World was a key player, bosses and the US government stepped up the repression of the IWW.

1886: The Haymarket Martyrs and Mayday

Contemporary illustration of the Haymarket bomb

The history of the world holiday on the 1st May - Mayday, held in commemoration of four anarchists executed for struggling for an 8-hour day.

Originally a pagan holiday, the roots of the modern Mayday bank holiday are in the fight for the eight-hour working day in Chicago in 1886, and the subsequent execution of innocent anarchist trade unionists.

1901: The assassination of President William McKinley

Leon-Czolgosz.jpg

An account of assassination of the President of the United States, William McKinley, by young Detroit-born anarchist, Leon Czolgosz.

At the beginning of the 20th Century, anarchists were in the middle of what was known as the ‘Propaganda by the Deed’ period. The idea was that by killing members of the ruling order, not only would the ‘fear of God’ be put into them but that it would eventually inspire the masses into rising up against their masters.

Shusui, Kotoko, 1871-1911

A short biography of journalist Kotoku Shusui, who helped introduce anarchism to Japan and was executed for treason.

Kotoku Shusui
Born 4 November or 23 September 1871 - Japan, died 24 January 1911 - Japan

Bangladesh: Police open fire on striking workers, killing one

At least one person was killed and 80 injured as police opened fire on garment workers who have been on a wildcat strike demanding a pay increase and the release of two imprisoned colleagues.

The Bangladesh Independent reported that two police officers and seven constables were also injured during a three-hour-long clash between unruly garment workers and police on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway near Mawna crossing in Gazipur yesterday.

Mexican government kill striking workers

Mexican Police have shot and killed 2 steelworkers, injured 45 more in recapturing the occupied SICARTSA steel mill in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán.

The workers of the Miners and Metalworkers Union (SNTMMRM) have been on strike since April 2nd demanding the reinstatement of Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, the union leader whose election victory was annulled by the government, and replaced with a more moderate candidate.

Butchers of Nepal

International organisations have condemned the murders of union and pro-democracy activists in Nepal on the orders of members of the ruling junta.

Members of the government's armed forces opened fire on Nepali Congress (Morang District) killing President Amrit Aryal, town president Kamaksha Parajuli, and political activists Umesh Thapa and Hurrilal Rana on February 8th during municipal polling. Another pro-democracy campaigner was also seriously injured on the same day.

Sirakova, Mariola, 1904-1925

Mariola Sirakova

Biographical information about Bulgarian student, actress and anarchist revolutionary Mariola Sirakova.

Born 1904 - Kilifarevo, Bulgaria, died 2 June 1925 - Belovo, Bulgaria.

Born in Kilifarevo, Bulgaria in 1904, the student-actress Mariola Sirakova belonged to a well-off family. She revolted from an early age against her social background and joined the anarchist movement at a young age.

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