March 3, 1912: 112 years ago, March 3 1912, Oakland police brutally cracked down on two [...]

112 years ago, March 3 1912, Oakland police brutally cracked down on two Industrial Workers of the World “free speech” rallies, arresting eight demonstrators and hospitalizing three. Police then stormed a solidarity meeting held by the Socialist Party, beating at least 20 people

IWW members had been engaged in a “free speech fight” in Oakland, routinely meeting on downtown street corners to denounce the police, local officials, and capitalism, all in defiance of local ordinances. Downtown merchants demanded police crack down on IWW activities

On March 3rd, after police violently broke up an IWW street meeting, wobblies called a demonstration. About 100 defiantly marched in downtown Oakland under red banners. This second gathering was also attacked. Wobblies were beaten and arrested

A number of demonstrators decamped to Hamilton Hall on 13th St, where the Socialist Party of America (which, in the Bay Area, had very close relationships to the IWW) was holding a meeting. The SPA gave the marchers refuge, and joined the wobblies in jeering passing policemen

The wobblies and socialists called out “three cheers for free speech,” at which the police, without an official order, surged into the hall, indiscriminately beating men and women. Later that night, the SPA demanded a recall of the Oakland authorities who had encouraged the abuse

The recall election was held in August. After a bitter campaign, the socialists failed to oust the mayor and his officials https://t.co/CfBT4kGaw6