#KnightsofLabor
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michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 9/2/1885: 150 white miners with #KnightsofLabor attacked #Chinese in Rock Springs #massacre, Wyoming. Killed 28 Chinese #miners. Forced others to flee town. Bosses had been hiring Chinese #immigrants at lower #wages. Read more: michaeldunnauthor.com/2021/03/21/a...
“The Massacre of the Chinese at Rock Springs, Wyoming”: Illustration of the 1885 riot and massacre of Chinese-American coal miners, by white miners. Wood engraving from Harper’s Weekly: Harper’s Weekly, Vol. 29. By Thure de Thulstrup – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID ds.14099.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1328452
September 2, 2026 at 1:28 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 7/22/1877: #GeneralStrike in St. Louis during organized by communist Workingmans Party & #KnightsofLabor. Black & white workers united. #Revolutionary. Called for end to #capitalism

Read More: michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/03/31/t...

And: michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/04/04/u...
Illustration from the St. Louis Republic newspaper depicting one of the marches during the 1877 St. Louis General Strike. one person is holding up a sign that reads: »We don't want Bread or Work, we must have Pie. The St. Louis Republic rendered the strikers as greedy and ruthless. By Unknown author – http://mohistory.org/blog/the-1877-st-louis-general-strike/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69482212
July 22, 2026 at 3:14 PM
liamomaraiv.bsky.social
#GospelOfWealth author #AndrewCarnegie's #HomesteadSteelWorks locked out the rest of its workers on #ThisDayInHistory in 1892. That night the #AmalgamatedAssociationOfIronAndSteelWorkers & the #KnightsOfLabor voted to #strike the next day, launching the violent #HomesteadStrike.
June 30, 2026 at 5:30 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 6/20/1893: #EugeneDebs formed American Railway Union, one of the 1st industrial and nonracist unions (along with #KnightsofLabor & #IWW, which he cofounded in 1905). Ran for #POTUS from #prison; there b/c of #antiwar speeches. #socialism #unions
Image of a balding Eugene Debs in a tuxedo, looking straight at the camera, with the following quote: I am opposing a social order in which it is possible for one man who does absolutely nothing that is useful to amass a fortune of hundreds of millions of dollars, while millions of men and women who work all the days of their lives secure barely enough for a wretched existence.
June 20, 2026 at 4:23 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 5/5/1884: #KnightsOfLabor #strike at Union Pacific #railroad over #wages. Knights won, leading rapid growth in membership. Bosses used #Pinkertons to infiltrate & disrupt #union & defeated their strike in 1886.
U.S. Marshalls attempt. to start a train during the 1886 train strike in East St. Louis, Illinois. By Nebinger, G. J., illustrator - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID cph.3b45190.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21269527
May 5, 2026 at 1:43 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 4/21/1910: #MarkTwain died. #author, #antiimperialist, #feminist, supported #KnightsOfLabor #union. Supported #uprising against #Russian czar. Opposed #slavery, #racism. #books #writer #novels #fiction #literature
Portrait of Mark Twain with thick gray moustache and unruly gray hair, with the quote: Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
April 21, 2026 at 1:39 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 3/22/1886: #MarkTwain, gave the speech: “Knights of Labor: The New Dynasty,” where he commended the Knights’ commitment to fair treatment of all workers, regardless of race or gender. #workingclass #KnightsOfLabor #solidarity #union #writer #books #fiction #race #gender
Seal of the Knights of Labor: a 5-pointed star with a circle superimposed on top of it, with the words of solidarity: “That is the most perfect government in which an injury to one is the concern of all.”
March 22, 2026 at 5:09 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 3/15/1917: #SCOTUS approved #8hourday. 5/1/1886 Chicago #KnightsOfLabor led the 1st modern #MayDay Parade. 5/3, #police killed 4 workers demonstrating for 8 hr day. Next day, a bomb killed a cop. Executed 4 innocent #anarchists
Read more: michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/03/24/l...
Poster promoting the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) campaign for the eight hour work day 1912. By Unknown author - https://www.art.com/products/p19247403101-sa-i7180223/poster-promoting-the-i-w-w-campaign-for-the-eight-hour-work-day-1912.htm?RFID=990319https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-poster-promoting-the-iww-campaign-for-the-eight-hour-work-day-1912-35116866.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78950958
March 15, 2026 at 3:40 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 2/16/1885: #KnightsofLabor struck Jay Gould’s Wabash Railroad. The #strike tied up the entire Southwest. Gould agreed not to discriminate against the #union. When they struck again in 1886, >10 people were killed by #police
U.S. Marshalls attempt. to start a train during the strike in East St. Louis, Illinois. By Nebinger, G. J., illustrator - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID cph.3b45190.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21269527
February 16, 2026 at 5:42 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 1/22/1890: #KnightsofLabor & National Progressive Miners #Union merged as #UMW. 1898, won 8-hour day. By 1930s, had >800,000 members. 4/3/1891, 10 killed in Morewood #massacre. 19 killed 19 in Lattimer Massacre, 1897. 8 died in Battle of Virden, 1898. #strike #mining #police
Black and white image of immigrant workers marching up a dirt road, carrying the U.S. flag, in Latimer, Pennsylvania, prior to the massacre there. By unknown - self-made, Public Domain, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15121761
January 22, 2026 at 2:52 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 1/22/1849: Terence Powderly, #KnightsofLabor, was born. KOL members incl #DanielDeLeon, later cofounded #IWW #union & #Socialist Labor Party. KOL claimed to fight for all workers, regardless of gender or race. In reality, was racist, particularly toward #Chinese.
Terrance Powderly side profile, black and white. He is wearing round, wire-rim glasses and has a bushy moustache. By Published in the United States prior to 1923, public domain - Front illustration from his autobiography, Thirty Years of Labor, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32927286
January 22, 2026 at 2:50 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 1/14/1895: #KnightsofLabor launched #Brooklyn trolley #strike over wages & safety. Scabs from Boston, Philly, Pittsburgh. #NationalGuard killed 2.
#workingclass #trolley #union #martiallaw #haymarket #wages #scabs #ParisCommune #militia=
Sketch of the trolley strike from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January 19, 1895, showing the militia guarding the Tompkins Ave. Depot. The soldiers are wearing long coats and caps, and are armed with rifles, with fixed bayonets. https://www.bklynlibrary.org/blog/2014/08/25/great-trolley-strike-1895
January 14, 2026 at 2:52 PM
johnautry.bsky.social
December 28, 1869 - The (Noble and Holy Order of the) Knights of Labor, a labor union formed by tailors in Philadelphia, held the first Labor Day ceremonies in American history.

#KnightsOfLabor

1/3
Knights of Labor logo. 1st Knights of Labor picnic.
December 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
liamomaraiv.bsky.social
The first big American #union, peaking at ~800,000 members in 1886, the #KnightsOfLabor, was founded #ThisDayInHistory in 1869. It opposed #strikes, though, so when members struck anyway against the railroads, leadership refused to negotiate, and workers left for bolder unions.
December 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 12/28/1869: #KnightsofLabor founded. Called for abolition of wage system & one big #union. Like #IWW, slogan was: An Injury to One is the Concern of All. Open to all workers, regardless of race, gender, national origin (except violently anti-Chinese).
Puck magazine cartoon satirizing the first annual picnic of the "Knights of Labor." Shows working men climbing a maypole during a “workingmens picnic.” They struggle, as the pole is greased with monopoly grease. They are surrounded by workingmen with a KOL of banner, while Vanderbilt, Gould, and other robber barons grin and watch. At the top of the pole are flags that read: higher wages, tobacco, ham, wine. By Fort Vancouver National Historic Site - First annual picnic of the "Knights of Labor", CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70805147
December 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 12/9/1869: #KnightsOfLabor founded.
Membership of 700,000 by 1886. Fought for 8-hour day & ending child & convict labor. 1 of the ast #unions organizations to accept blacks & women.

#workingclass #union #strike #racism #Riot #AntiAsianHate #haymarket #eighthourday
December 9, 2025 at 2:49 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 10/4/1887: 10,000 #Louisiana sugarcane workers went on #strike with #KnightsofLabor #union. On Nov 23, the Militia + vigilantes murdered 60 unarmed black workers during Thibodaux Massacre. #Democrats then passed series of laws enforcing segregation & #JimCrow.
Louisiana sugar cane laborers c. 1880. By William Henry Jackson - Attribution to Jackson based on Catalogue of the W.H. Jackson Views (1898). Possibly Baton Rouge; cf. negatives D418-8131 to 8133. "7435" on negative. Detroit Publishing Co. no. 08135. Gift; State Historical Society of Colorado; 1949., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22828998
October 4, 2025 at 3:08 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 9/2/1885: 150 white miners with #KnightsofLabor attacked #Chinese in Rock Springs #massacre, Wyoming. Killed 28 Chinese #miners. Forced others to flee town. Bosses had been hiring Chinese #immigrants at lower #wages.

Read more: michaeldunnauthor.com/2021/03/21/a...
“The Massacre of the Chinese at Rock Springs, Wyoming”: Illustration of the 1885 riot and massacre of Chinese-American coal miners, by white miners. Wood engraving from Harper’s Weekly: Harper’s Weekly, Vol. 29. By Thure de Thulstrup – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID ds.14099.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1328452
September 2, 2025 at 2:02 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 7/22/1877: #GeneralStrike in St. Louis during organized by communist Workingmans Party & #KnightsofLabor. Black & white workers united. #Revolutionary. Called for end to #capitalism

Read More: michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/03/31/t...

And: michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/04/04/u...
July 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 5/5/1884: #KnightsOfLabor #strike at Union Pacific #railroad over #wages. Knights won, leading rapid growth in membership. Bosses used #Pinkertons to infiltrate & disrupt #union & defeated their strike in 1886.
U.S. Marshalls attempt. to start a train during the 1886 train strike in East St. Louis, Illinois. By Nebinger, G. J., illustrator - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID cph.3b45190.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21269527
May 5, 2025 at 1:51 PM
sirwilliamart.bsky.social
Acrylic protest piece inspired by the knights of labor and the hayday riots that led to things like child labor laws and other labor laws and the sacrifices made to gain those rights #maydayprotest #protestart #haydayriots #knightsoflabor #acrylicpainting #FDT #laborday #knight #mayday #protest
May 2, 2025 at 3:21 AM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 4/21/1910: #MarkTwain died. #author, #antiimperialist, #feminist, supported #KnightsOfLabor #union. Supported #uprising against #Russian czar. Opposed #slavery, #racism.

#books #writer #novels #fiction #literature
Portrait of Mark Twain with thick gray moustache and unruly gray hair, with the quote: Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.
April 21, 2025 at 1:34 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 3/22/1886: #MarkTwain, gave the speech: “Knights of Labor: The New Dynasty,” where he commended the Knights’ commitment to fair treatment of all workers, regardless of race or gender.

#workingclass #KnightsOfLabor #solidarity #union #writer #books #fiction #race #gender
Seal of the Knights of Labor: a 5-pointed star with a circle superimposed on top of it, with the words of solidarity: “That is the most perfect government in which an injury to one is the concern of all.”
March 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 3/15/1917: #SCOTUS approved #8hourday. 5/1/1886 Chicago #KnightsOfLabor led the 1st modern #MayDay Parade. 5/3, #police killed 4 workers demonstrating for 8 hr day. Next day, a bomb killed a cop. Executed 4 innocent #anarchists

Read more: michaeldunnauthor.com/2024/03/24/l...
Poster promoting the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) campaign for the eight hour work day 1912. By Unknown author - https://www.art.com/products/p19247403101-sa-i7180223/poster-promoting-the-i-w-w-campaign-for-the-eight-hour-work-day-1912.htm?RFID=990319https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-poster-promoting-the-iww-campaign-for-the-eight-hour-work-day-1912-35116866.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78950958
March 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
michaeldunnauthor.bsky.social
Today in #LaborHistory 1/22/1849: Terence Powderly, #KnightsofLabor, was born. KOL members incl #DanielDeLeon, later cofounded #IWW #union & #Socialist Labor Party. KOL claimed to fight for all workers, regardless of gender or race. In reality, was racist, particularly toward #Chinese.
January 22, 2025 at 2:51 PM