You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Friday September 11, 1903
Cripple Creek, Colorado - Chas. Kennison, President of Miners' Union No. 40, Arrested
Charles G. Kennison was arrested in Cripple Creek yesterday. The arrest was due to an encounter with an employee from the El Paso mine which took place on the early morning train to Elkton. This employee, T. J. Sturdevant, who, we are told, is one of the notorious mine guards of the El Paso Mine, insulted Kennison and struck him in the head and mouth. Kennison was armed and pulled out his gun ready to defend himself. The trouble was stopped by other passengers on the train. Kennison got off the train in Elkton and went about his business there.
Upon his retrun to Cripple Creek, Kennison notified the sheriff's office of his whereabouts, and was soon taken into custody. The military came looking for him in the county jail, but have not seized him thus far. Under Sheriff Gaughan states that this is a civil matter and that the military has no right to interfere.
Lieutenant Wahm states that the military wants him and will take him in any event:
Certainly I will take him, even though he is released on bond. If he is not released on bond and is confined in the county jail I will go back to the camp and will secure sufficient force to get him anyhow.
No attempt has been made to arrest the assailant, T. J. Sturdevant. And this notwithstanding that General Bell claims that the militia is in the district to preserve law and order without taking sides in the labor dispute. We are supposed to believe the General's claim of neutrality even though it was the mine owners who paid the freight bill for hauling the military into the strike zone.
A Denver paper printed this statement from Brother Kennison:
I am guilty of the offense charged [carrying a concealed weapon.] I carried a weapon for the sole purpose of defending my life. The guards at the El Paso mine said that they would stretch me up to an electric light pole. Manager Sam McDonald of the Strong and Gold King properties told me on Bennett avenue that I would be in my grave before the strike was over. I was brutally assaulted this morning and shamefully abused by a lot of scabs and I drew a revolver in defense of my life. I do not care to say any more about the matter at the present time. No, I am not a deputy sheriff. I had a commission but I surrendered it some days ago.
SOURCE
The Cripple Creek Strike
-by Emma F Langdon
(Part I, 1st pub 1904)
NY, 1969
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Thursday September 11, 1913
Calumet, Michigan - Big Annie Clemenc Arrested with five other women.
Big Annie Clemenc with her flag
Big Annie Clemenc, known throughout Michigan's Copper Country for leading the daily parades of striking miners with her massive American flag, was arrested yesterday in Calumet along with five other women. As they attempted to convince a miner not to go back to work, the women were accosted by Cruse's deputies. The women fought back against the deputies but were, eventually, arrested. Three hundred supporters followed behind the women as they were taken to the Calumet jail. The crowd remained outside the jail for two hours, cheering loudly for their release.
The crowd followed the six women as they were taken to the court of Judge William Fisher, and the cheering began again as Annie, Maggie Aggarto, and the four other women were released on their own recognizance. The women came out of the court undaunted, shouting and clapping their hands. They marched down the street with their supporters following behind cheering and shouting.
The six women are ordered to appear again in court next week.
SOURCES
Rebels on the Range
-by Arthur W Thurner
MI, 1984
Big Annie of Calumet
-by Jerry Stanley
NY, 1996
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Wednesday September 11, 2013
!973 and 2001: WE NEVER FORGET
Today we remember two great injustices: the 9/11, 2001 attacks in the USA and the 1973 Coup in Chile. This diary by Kossack Eileen B remembers those who perished in the 9/11 attacks with photos of the "missing persons" flyers posted by their loved ones. The diary also tells the story of the hero, Danny Lewin.
We remember the 1973 Coup in Chile with this September 9th interview with Joan Jara, the widow of Victor Jara.
Part I of interview with Joan Jara
Part II of interview with Joan Jara
Transcript:
http://www.democracynow.org/...
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It Could Have Been Me-Holly Near
The Junta took the fingers from Victor Jara's hands
They said to the gentle poet "Play your guitar now if you can!"
Well Victor started singing until they shot his body down
You can kill a man but not his song
When it's sung the whole world round