Labor History Nov 2 Reagan signs MLK bill, Debs receives a million votes for President in prison,

[Omaha Steve]

November 2

150 arrested in IWW free speech fight, Spokane, Wash. - 1909


Solidarity Forever: An Oral History of the IWW is a wonderful collection of IWW members’ oral histories interspersed with the authors’ comments about this fascinating and vitally important piece of American and labor history. Includes more than 50 photos and cartoons. Originally published in 1985, now in its fourth printing. Now in the UCS bookstore.

Railroad union leader & socialist Eugene V. Debs receives a million votes for President while imprisoned - 1920

And this: November 2, 1920 - Labor leader Eugene V. Debs, nominee of the Socialist Party, received nearly 1 million votes for president – while running from a prison cell. “Convict #9653” had been jailed for opposing the first World War. He championed the rights of working people and the oppressed.

President Reagan signs a bill designating a federal holiday honoring the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., to be observed on the third Monday of January - 1983

Carmen Fasanella retired after 68 years and 243 days of taxicab service in Princeton, NJ, earning himself a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. He started driving at age 17 and, reportedly, chauffeured Princeton Prof. Albert Einstein around town - 1989

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/big-labor/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_11_2_2011