On this day in Labor History the year was 1838.
The Second Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women was being held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
For a while, a group of anti-slavery abolitionists had had difficulty finding a venue in the city willing to host their convention.
Undiscouraged by their plight they had decided to build their own facility.
They raised money, built and christened their new building, Pennsylvania Hall.
It opened on May 14th. Just four days later a pro-slavery mob circled the new Hall.
Alarmed by the unrest, the Mayor of Philadelphia convinced the abolitionists to move their meeting away from Pennsylvania Hall.
The angry mob burned Pennsylvania Hall to the ground.
One observer noted describing the scene: “Flames burst in rolling masses from the windows—soon the whole building was enveloped in one dense, dark colored, sheet of flame.”
Undeterred by the violence, the abolitionist women moved their meeting to a large private home.
One of those scheduled to speak was Sarah T. Smith.
Her eloquent words stood in stark contrast to the ugliness that took place at Pennsylvania Hall.
She began her speech, by saying “We are told that it is not within the “province of woman,” to discuss the subject of slavery; that it is a “political question,” and we are “stepping out of our sphere,” when we take part in its discussion.
It is not true that it is merely a political question, it is likewise a question of justice, of humanity, of morality, of religion.”
She went on to say it was a matter of “Whether the laborer shall receive the reward of his labor, or be driven by unrequited toil.”
In the end those who lit the fire that reduced Pennsylvania Hall to ashes, could not quell the fire for justice that was lit by the abolitionist cause.
Listen to our clips at www.LaborHistoryin2.com
Labor History in 2:00 brought to you by the Illinois Labor History Society and The Rick Smith Show