Here's the full story of the Haymarket Riot/Affair. Just sent it to some friends so figure I'd post it here too. Plus a connection to the Thibodaux Massacre in Louisiana. (1/)

Started May 3, 1886. Started as a general strike called for by the Knights of Labor and other unions for an 8 hour workday. Knights of Labor was one of the first major unions and had a million members at its peak. (2/)

Police in Chicago were sent in to protect scabs and intimidate strikers. They killed 1-2 strikers. The next day there is a protest against police brutality in Haymarket Square, Chicago mostly facilitated by anarchist. (3/)

The Mayor of Chicago even attends, although as more of an observer. After the Mayor and most others leave. Police move in... again and dynamite is thrown. We don’t know by who. (4/)

Over 100 wounded in the ensuing gunfire combined. 8 police officers killed. 4 strikers/protesters killed.
8 anarchists are arrested. 6 of the 8 were not even at the protest. The 2 who were, were on the stage so it was rather obviously not them. (5/)

4 were sentenced to be executed for murder. 3 were. 1 committed suicide first.
One of the 8 was a Knights of Labor member so they started to lose power/popularity with many labor members and leaders moving to the AFL and Samuel Gompers. (6/)

The Knights of Labor was also integrated for the most part. Which was huge.
They helped facilitate a strike of sugarcane sharecroppers in Thibodaux, LA. 10,000 workers. Most of them Black. The governor called out the militia. (7/)

White vigilantes ended up killing at least 20 strikers. 2 others were arrested and then lynched.

And until the Charleston Church massacre, it was almost not spoken of in Thibodaux at all. (8/)

Shout out to @ZinnEdProject @SmithsonianMag and @USNatArchives for the information for this thread.