massacres

US: The Thibodaux Massacre of 1887

One of the most interesting, and probably least known events in Louisiana history is the Thibodaux Massacre of 1887.The Thibodaux Massacre of 1887 was the second most bloody labor dispute in U.S. history.

Although most of the blood letting occurred in the environs of Thibodaux, the strike encompassed a larger area. The strike affected sugar plantations in St. Mary, Terrebonne ,and Lafourche parishes. These parishes make up an area known as the "sugar bowl." Thibodaux is the parish seat of Lafourche.

1912: The Lena Massacre

A short history of the brutal suppression of a strike by Russian gold miners protesting low wages and inhumane working conditions in 1912.

Situated in the dense forest of south-east Siberia, the massive goldfields that lined the river Lena were, at the turn of the century, amongst the most profitable enterprises in the Russian Empire. The Lena Gold Mining Joint Stock Company (Lenzoloto), the principal owner of the majority of goldfields in the region, was running at profits of 7,000,000 roubles a year.

1831: Merthyr Tydfil uprising

Merthyr Tydfil riots

In 1831, Merthyr Tydfil, iron workers struck against redundancies, rising prices and bailiffs, leading to several thousand workers involved in riots that led to bloody suppression by troops and mass arrests.

Two articles on the riots are included, by local historian Bob Saunders, and an excerpt from the Newgate Calendar:

THE MERTHYR RISING 1831
Bob Saunders
BACKGROUND

1886: The Bay View Massacre

Bay View Massacre memorial ceremony

The little known history of the massacre that occurred in Milwaukee, when 7,000 building workers and 5,000 Polish workers demanded the eight-hour work day.

The deadly stand-off between workers and the National Guard was the culmination of events that began on Saturday May 1, 1886.

A historical marker, pictured above, is located at Russel and Superior on Jones Island in Bay View. It commemorates the Bay View Massacre.

1962: The Novocherkassk Tragedy

Electric train VL60PK, main product of the Novocherkassk NEVZ works in the early 1960s

An account of the workers uprising in Novocherkassk, USSR, which lasted from June 1-3 and ended in a massacre and mass arrests.

The Novocherkassk Tragedy, June 1-3 1962
by Piotr Suda

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

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.

1932: The Geneva Massacre

Communist paper headline from the time

An account of the shooting of over 100 people by the Swiss army at an anti-fascist demonstration.

In 1932, the sympathisers of the Union Nationale fascist party led by Georges Oltramare planned to assemble on 9th November at the Salle Communale of Plainpalais in Geneva to publicly accuse the Socialist leaders Nicole and Dicker. The Socialist Party called a counter-demonstration.

1914: The Ludlow Massacre

ludlow-monument.jpg

The history of the Ludlow Massacre of striking coal miners, which was one of the most brutal attacks on organised labour in North American history.

It was the pinnacle of efforts by the National Guard and local strike-breakers under the command of the Rockefeller family to suppress a strike of twelve thousand workers

Issues concerning labour had dogged the United States for many years preceding World War I and had resulted in widespread strike

1988: The Halabja Massacre

5,000 dead - Halabja

The history of the Saddam Hussein's poison gas attack, with the complicity of the West, in the working class stronghold of Halabja.


Eyewitness in Halabja

Large-scale Massacre of Prisoners in Peru, 1986 - ICG

Peruvian prison

Poorly written but still interesting article about a massacre of prisoners in Peru in 1986.

From Communism #6

Social-democratic peace is nothing else but the peace of tombs.

The tombs of all the proletarians who struggle against the State.

International Solidarity with the Proletariat and its prisoners in Peru!

* * *

We are publishing here a translation of an article that was first published in our Spanish review "Comunismo" (No.22 - June 86).

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