Okla-homey
11/8/2010, 08:23 AM
Nov. 8, 1917: Tulsans run radical unionists out of town
93 years ago today, seventeen members of the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.), a/k/a the "Wobblies," were flogged with whips, smeared with hot tar and coated with feathers by a group of Tulsans wearing long black robes and black masks.
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab7/Okla-homey/I200px-Label_svg.png
The IWW was founded in Chicago in June 1905 at a convention of two hundred socialists, anarchists, and radical trade unionists from all over the United States (mainly the Western Federation of Miners) who were opposed to the policies of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The Wobblies were different from typical trade unions in that they sought to organize all industrial workers, irrespective of craft or trade.
The black robbed men were members of the "Knights of Liberty." The chased the Wobblies out of town and for a distance northwest of Tulsa, firing pistols and shotguns into the air as they ran.
Placards appeared around Tulsa the next day warning, "Notice to I.W.W.'s: Don't let the sun set on you in Tulsa."
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab7/Okla-homey/I800px-18_Mar_2007_Seattle_Demo_IWW_07A.jpg
The I.W.W. still exists. Sort of. There are approximately 2000 of them in the U.S. They generally occupy their time protesting capitalism. Seen here in Seattle in 2007.
93 years ago today, seventeen members of the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.), a/k/a the "Wobblies," were flogged with whips, smeared with hot tar and coated with feathers by a group of Tulsans wearing long black robes and black masks.
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab7/Okla-homey/I200px-Label_svg.png
The IWW was founded in Chicago in June 1905 at a convention of two hundred socialists, anarchists, and radical trade unionists from all over the United States (mainly the Western Federation of Miners) who were opposed to the policies of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The Wobblies were different from typical trade unions in that they sought to organize all industrial workers, irrespective of craft or trade.
The black robbed men were members of the "Knights of Liberty." The chased the Wobblies out of town and for a distance northwest of Tulsa, firing pistols and shotguns into the air as they ran.
Placards appeared around Tulsa the next day warning, "Notice to I.W.W.'s: Don't let the sun set on you in Tulsa."
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab7/Okla-homey/I800px-18_Mar_2007_Seattle_Demo_IWW_07A.jpg
The I.W.W. still exists. Sort of. There are approximately 2000 of them in the U.S. They generally occupy their time protesting capitalism. Seen here in Seattle in 2007.