Today in Labor History August 31, 1909: Francisco Ferrer, the Spanish anarchist educator and creator of the first Modern Schools (Escuelas Modernas), was charged as “author in chief” of the uprising known as the “Tragic Week.” He was executed on October 13, 1909, leading to worldwide condemnation. Hundreds of thousands of people participated in the protests that followed, while supporters created new Modern Schools throughout the world, including dozens in the U.S.

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Today in Labor History January 7, 1919: Argentina’s "Bloody Week" (AKA Tragic Week) began in Buenos Aires. Workers were demonstrating for the 8-hour work day. The authorities opened fire, killing four and wounding 30. Clashes with the authorities on the day of the funerals left another 50 dead. In response, they called for a General Strike. Paramilitary groups attacked workers in collaboration with the police. By January 16 the authorities had fully crushed the strike, killing as many as 700 and wounding 2,000. Many of the victims were Jewish-Russian and Italian anarchist immigrants targeted by racists and anti-Bolshevik hysteria.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #tragicweek #argentina #generalstrike #massacre #anarchism #police #acab #russia #jewish #italian