Today in Labor History Nov 19 Joe Hill was executed by a Utah firing squad on trumped-up charges

[Omaha Steve]

November 19

Joe Hill, labor leader and song writer, executed in Utah on what many believe was a framed charge of murder. Before he died he declared: “Don’t waste any time mourning. Organize.” - 1915

And this:
November 19, 1915 - Joe Hill, a Swedish immigrant organizer and songwriter, was executed by a Utah firing squad after being convicted of murder on trumped-up charges. His last message from prison was “Don’t mourn for me . . organize.”

For more on Joe Hill, see www.joehill.org and http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/history/history/hill.cfm and the Wobblies' website, www.iww.org

View a video of Joan Baez performing the song, "Joe Hill," http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/08/25/1716207


The nation’s first automatic toll collection machine is used at the Union Toll Plaza on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway - 1954

The National Writers Union is founded, representing freelance and contract writers and others in the trade. In 1992 it was to merge into and become a local of the United Auto Workers - 1981

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_11_19_2010

[David Zephyr]

1. K&R for Joe Hill and the IWW

And for all his songs! Thanks, Omaha Steve. :)