Important Events From This day in History May 31

 

31 May, 2005 U.S.A. Watergate Mole Goes Public

2005 : The former member of the FBI "W. Mark Felt" stepped forward as "Deep Throat," the secret Washington Post source who worked with reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein that helped bring down President Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate scandal.

31 May, 1859 UK Big Ben

1859 : Big Ben rings out over the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, England for the first time.

31 May, 1889 U.S.A. Dam Break Johnstown, Pennsylvania

1889 : A dam breaks at a lake above Johnstown, Pennsylvania causing a tidal wave over twenty feet in height to sweep over Johnstown, PA eight miles below. Sweeping everything before the avalanche of water including houses, factories, and bridges. The death toll is estimated to be in the thousands as there was very little warning for residents.

31 May, 1916 World War I The Battle of Jutland

1916 : A German naval fleet consisting of 24 battleships, five battle cruisers, 11 light cruisers and 63 destroyers were just off the Jutland Peninsula, were attacked by a British fleet of 28 battleships, nine battle cruisers, 34 light cruisers and 80 destroyers in one of the greatest sea battles in History known as The Battle of Jutland or the Battle of the Skagerrak, a total of 100,000 men aboard 250 ships were involved in the battle.

31 May, 1921 U.S.A. Tulsa Race Riots

1921 : Following an accusation of improper conduct between a Dick Rowland, a black shoeshiner and Sarah Page, a white elevator operator, hundreds of white people gather and start to form what looks like a lynch mob which ends with the traditionally black district of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma being burnt to the ground with many black citizens choose or were forced to relocate after the riot which ended on June 1st 1921 after the National Guard troops from Oklahoma City declare martial law.

1917 Japan Builds Up War Machine

1917 : Japan spends nearly $130 million dollars on expanding their naval might during World War I at the same time that America and European nations expanded their naval forces. Due to Japan's inability to import large guns from England at this time, the country faced difficulties in building their own.

1935 India Earthquake

1935 : At 3 AM an earthquake hits Northwestern India leaving an estimated 20,000 people dead in Quetta. Among the dead were 44 members of the Royal Air Force. The Punjab government was quick to send relief in the form of relief supplies, workers, and health professionals. While railways suffered minimal damage, many heavily populated areas were greatly destroyed.

1938 China Japanese Bombing

1938 : 30 Japanese bombers have bombed the Chinese cities of Canton and Hankow and also shot down 18 Chinese planes in dogfights over the cities.

1941 Crete World War II

1941 : The German Army using over 22,000 Paratroopers conquer Crete.

1952 France Communists

1952 : Police throughout the country raided many Communist organization's headquarters and seized documents and weapons. It was likely that party members had previous knowledge of the raids according to reports indicating that much paper burning and barricading took place before the 7:35 am raid.

1957 U.S.A. Arthur Miller

1957 : The House for Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) convicts the playwright Arthur Miller of contempt of Congress for refusing to reveal the names of alleged Communist writers with whom he had attended five or six meetings in New York. Among his many well known plays was Death of a Salesman, he is also remembered for being married to Marilyn Monroe ( 1956 - 1961 ) and what many do not know is he wrote the Screenplay for "The Misfits" which starred Marilyn Monroe (1961) and was her last film before her death in 1962.

Today in Labor History May 31, 2025

 

Rose Will Monroe, Rosie the Riveter

The Johnstown Flood occurred on this date.  More than 2,200 died when a dam holding back a private resort lake burst upstream of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  The resort was owned by wealthy industrialists including Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick.  Neither they nor any other members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club were found guilty of fault, despite the fact the group had created the lake out of an abandoned reservoir. – 1889

The infamous trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, in which the two Italian anarchists were railroaded for a crime they did not commit, began in Dedham, Massachusetts. Judge Webster Thayer’s anti-worker and anti-immigrant opening remarks set the tone for the trial. – 1921

Some 25,000 white autoworkers walked off the job at a Detroit Packard Motor Car Company plant heavily involved in wartime production, when three black workers were promoted to work on a previously all-white assembly line.  The black workers were relocated and the whites returned. – 1943

Rose Will Monroe, who became known as “Rosie the Riveter” died at the age of 77.  Rose worked at an aircraft parts factory during World War II, and was “discovered” by filmmakers producing a film promoting war bonds.  The song and the iconic poster were already well known and a real-life Rosie who was a riveter “proved too good for the film’s producers to resist,” said Monroe’s daughter. – 1997

Friday Morning in the Blogosphere

 The press room clean-up crew 1976

29 English-language news outlets in Europe to follow - Journalism UK

This owner thinks newspapers are better off diminished than dead - Nieman Lab

Minden Press-Herald reintroduces paywall to support local journalism - Minden Press-Herald

Striking the pose, missing the form: The business case for honest self-reflection - E&P Magazine

Bluesky has caught on with many news influencers, but X remains popular - Pew Research Center

Important Events From This day in History May 30

 

30 May, 1911 U.S.A. Indianapolis 500

1911 : The first ever running of the Indianapolis 500 is won by Ray Harrounat at an average speed of 74.59 miles an hour.

30 May, 1922 U.S.A. Lincoln Memorial

1922 : The Lincoln Memorial built to honor Abraham Lincoln the 16th president of the United States, is dedicated by Former President William Howard Taft in Washington, D.C.

30 May, 1937 U.S.A. Memorial Day Massacre

1937 : The Memorial Day Massacre takes place when Ten union demonstrators are killed and 84 are wounded when police opened fire in front of the South Chicago Republic Steel plant.

30 May, 1959 England Hovercraft

1959 : The first full size hovercraft , the SR-N1, designed by Sir Christopher Cockerell, is launched and tested at Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

30 May, 1937 Spanish Civil War

1937 : For the first time in the Spanish Civil War a foreign power has been openly involved in the bombing of the Spanish port of Almeria, Four German War ships bombed the city causing the loss of 400 lives. There are growing concerns that this could lead to a full scale war in Europe and the British foreign secretary Anthony Eden has appealed to Germany to take no further action.

1967 Biafra Independence

1967 : Biafra proclaims its independence from Nigeria, but war breaks out in July and Nigerian forces take control of oil fields leaving the country no form of revenue which causes mass starvation of over 1,000,000 people. In January 1970 Biafra surrenders to Nigerian forces and becomes part of Nigeria once again losing it's independence.

1954 U.S.A. Tornado's Nebraska

1954 : A series of tornadoes and torrential rain has struck Nebraska leaving 6 dead and many more injured and homeless 10 miles southeast of Norfolk.

1967 Egypt Destruction of Israel

1967 : President of Egypt President Nasser states in a public statement that his basic objective is the destruction of Israel. King Hussein of Jordan together with other Arab Countries have now signed a pact that any attack on either of them is an attack on all and will take measures including the use of armed forces to repulse such an attack".

1967 Soviet Union to support Arab countries against Israel

1967 : Following the statement by the Soviet Union to support Arab countries against Israel, 10 Additional Soviet Warships are travelling through the Dardanelles on the way to the Mediterranean sea where the US 6th Fleet is based, together with the very fragile peace in the middle east many are hoping this is a political mover rather than a military buildup by the soviets.

1967 U.S.A. Evel Knievel

1967 : Evel Knievel the motorcycle daredevil stuntman successfully clears sixteen cars in Gardena, California.

1971 U.S.A. Mariner 9 Launched

1971 : The US space probe Mariner 9 was launched on its mission to Mars. Where it will send more than 7,000 pictures of the planet back to Earth.

1979 U.S.A. DC 10's Grounded

1979 : Following the Crash of an American Airlines DC 10 in Chicago earlier this week with the loss of 274 lives all DC 10's are currently undergoing inspections of the engine mountain bolts by government inspections prior to use.

Today in Labor History May 30

 The Memorial Day Massacre

The Ford Motor Company signed a “Technical Assistance” contract to produce cars in the Soviet Union, and Ford workers were sent to the Soviet Union to train the labor force in the use of its parts. Many American workers made the trip, including Walter Reuther, a tool and die maker who later was to become the UAW’s president. Reuther returned home with a different view of the duties and privileges of the industrial laborer. – 1929

In what would become known as the Memorial Day Massacre, police opened fire on striking steelworkers, their families, and supporters who were marching to the Republic Steel plant in South Chicago to set up a picket line. The Police killed ten people and pursued those fleeing the attack, wounding over 160. No one was ever prosecuted. – 1937

The Ground Zero cleanup at the site of the World Trade Center was completed three months ahead of schedule due to the heroic efforts of more than 3,000 building tradesmen and women who had worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for the previous 8 months. – 2002

Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere

 

Business Insider lays off 21% of staff - The Wrap

Why explainers matter: Building trust through clarity in chaotic times - E&P Magazine

Questions for “Multi-Local” News—And the Need for Clear Answers - Second Rough Draft

The autocrat's playbook: How democracy dies and what we can do to stop it - Journalism UK

Termination notices expected to go out to all remaining Voice of America employees - Politico

Important Events From This day in History May 29

 

29 May, 1980 U.S.A. "Dallas" Who Shot JR

1980 : The guessing game continues over who shot JR in the hit television series "Dallas" with speculation including Dusty, Sue Ellen and just about anybody in the show. But viewers will have to wait for the fall before the cliff hanger is resolved as the cast and CBS are giving nothing away.

29 May, 1953 Tibet Conquest Of Mount Everest

1953 : Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal become the first explorers to reach the top of Mount Everest . Due to the amount of time it took to descend the mountain it was June 2nd before the rest of the world were told about the conquest.

29 May, 1985 Belgium Heysel Stadium Disaster

1985 : Minutes before the start of the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus at Heysel Stadium in Brussels, crowd Violence Erupts which causes a wall to collapse killing 39 football fans and injuring at least another 400.

29 May, 1914 Canada The Empress of Ireland

1914 : The Empress of Ireland and A Norwegian coal freighter, the Storstad, crash in St. Lawrence River in thick fog causing the deaths of 1,073 passengers and crew, this was one of the worst maritime accidents in history.

29 May, 1928 North Pole Italian Dirigible Italia

1928 : The fate of the Italian Dirigible Italia (airship) is not looking good and rescue parties are searching for any remains 1 week after she set out on the heroic trip to reach the North Pole.

29 May, 1932 U.S.A. World War I Vets

1932 : As the great depression of the 30s continue World War I veterans known as the " Bonus Army " begin arriving in Washington to demand cash bonuses they weren't scheduled to receive for another 13 years be paid early to allow them to survive, by late June over 20,000 World War I vets were camped in vacant government buildings and open fields around the capitol.

More about the Bonus Army Protest

1942 U.S.A. Bing Crosby / White Christmas

1942 : Bing Crosby records the world's top selling record White Christmas, for the soundtrack of the film Holiday Inn.

1943 U.S.A. "The Million Dollar Band"

1943 : "The Million Dollar Band" was heard for the first time on NBC radio.

1944 Italy World War II

1944 : The allies are pounding the last ditch defenses of the German 10th Army as they surround Rome in Italy and are now only 17 miles from Rome.

1960 England Sophia Loren

1960 : Sophia Loren has called in Scotland Yard after a million dollars of Jewels had been stolen which included Diamonds, Rubies and emeralds. She is in England shooting the film version of George Bernard Shaws "The Millionaires."

1968 Manchester United win European Cup

1968 : Manchester United beat Portuguese side Benfica 4-1 to become the first English club to win the European Cup. The Manchester United team include the legendary George Best, who was named European Footballer of the Year.

1968 U.S.A. Truth In Lending Act

1968 : The (TILA) Truth In Lending Act passes into law with regulations designed to protect consumers in credit transactions requiring clear disclosure of key terms of the lending arrangement and all costs. It is part of the "Consumer Credit Protection Act".

Today in Labor History May 29, 2025

 

Animators working for Walt Disney began what was to become a successful five-week strike for recognition of their union, the Screen Cartoonists’ Guild. The animated feature Dumbo was being created at the time and, according to Wikipedia, a number of strikers are caricatured in the feature as clowns who go to “hit the big boss for a raise”. – 1941

The United Mine Workers (UMWA) and the U.S. government signed a pact establishing one of America’s first union medical and pension plans. The UMWA Welfare and Retirement Fund permanently changed health care delivery in U.S. coal fields. The Fund was used to build eight hospitals in Appalachia. It also established many clinics and recruited doctors to practice in rural coalfield areas. – 1946

The United Auto Workers (UAW) at General Motors won a hospitalization plan. – 1950

The United Farm Workers of America reached agreement with Bruce Church Inc. on a contract for 450 lettuce harvesters, ending a 17-year-long boycott. The pact raised wages, provided company-paid health benefits to workers and their families, created a seniority system to deal with seasonal layoffs and recalls, and established a pesticide monitoring system. – 1996

UAW members at General Motors accepted major contract concessions in return for a 17.5 percent stake in the financially struggling company. – 2009

Wednesday Morning in the Blogosphere

 

So, you want to be a film critic? - E&P Magazine

Behind the Curtain: A white-collar bloodbath - Axios

At the nonprofit Salt Lake Tribune, a turnaround and now a big gamble - Poynter

Northwest Minnesota newspaper closures ‘like a death in the family’ - Twin Cities

How new, platform-driven news outlets are attracting young audiences - Nieman Lab

Important Events From This day in History May 28

 

28 May, 1967 Great Britain Francis Chichester

1967 : British sailor Francis Chichester arrives back in Plymouth after sailing round the world single-handed in his boat Gipsy Moth IV.

28 May, 1977 U.S.A. Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire

1977 : A fire takes hold and fire races through the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky killing 165 people. When the fire began it is believed over 3,000 were in the club and the combination of lack of sprinkler systems and audible automatic fire alarms together with poorly marked fire exits resulted in the large number of deaths that night.

28 May, 1937 Spain Civil War

1937 : The Civil War in Spain is now also being fought in the air as both sides are using more than 70 airplanes to bomb and ravage the cities of Valencia and Santander in some of the worst destruction ever seen by the use of aircraft in a war with civilians being the biggest casualties.

2006 U.S.A. Barry Bonds

2006 : Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hit his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth on the all time greatest list.

28 May, 1951 U.S.A. Macy's / Gimbals Price War

1951 : The two biggest retailers in New York City are planning to go head to head with an old fashioned price war Macy's the worlds largest department store and Gimbals who have said they will not be undersold. Macy's has stated they will cut 6% off of a quarter of it's products throughout the store.

28 May, 1965 India Mine Explosion Dharbad Kills 375

1965 : A mine explosion caused by the ignition of a build up of methane gas near Dharbad, India kills 375 people and injures hundreds more.

28 May, 1974 Northern Ireland Strike

1974 : The Protestant Extremist Ulster Workers Council has suspended a 15 day strike which has crippled the economy and bought the country to it's knees Northern Ireland , they have been striking because they are not happy with the current power sharing agreement between majority Protestants and Minority Catholic currently in place in Northern Ireland. Following the crippling strike Northern Ireland's first power-sharing assembly has collapsed and Northern Ireland is once again facing direct rule from Westminster.

1982 British Capture Port Darwin and Goose Green

1982 : British troops re-capture Port Darwin and Goose Green in the Falkland Islands taking almost 1500 Argentine prisoners.

1984 Iran / Iraq War

1984 : The continued fighting between Iran and Iraq is now reaching close to 4 years and Iran's President has warned other Persian Golf Countries to stay Neutral or they will bear the consequences.

1987 Soviet Union Mathias Rust

1987 : A 19 year old West German, Mathias Rust, flying a light plane undetected from Helsinki to Moscow and lands safely in Red Square.

Today in Labor History May 28

 Arrested during the Rochester General Strike

French authorities executed proto-anarchist revolutionary Gracchus Babeuf. Babeuf formed a secret society, known as the Conspiracy of the Equals, that plotted to overthrow the revolutionary government, with one that was truer to Jacobin ideals. The group included Sylvain Maréchal, Jacques Roux, Jean Varlet and others. Throughout his life, Babeuf advocated for the poor and for the abolition of private property. He said “Society must be made to operate in such a way that it eradicates once and for all the desire of a man to become richer, or wiser, or more powerful than others.” - 1797

400 rebellious slaves, led by Louis Delgrès, blew themselves up in In Guadeloupe, rather than submit to Napoleon’s troops. Delgres had fought as an officer for Revolutionary France against Great Britain. The Jacobins had freed the slaves, but Napoleon threatened to reimpose slavery throughout the empire. During his resistance, the French army drove Delgrès and his followers into a fort. When they realized there was no escape, they committed suicide by igniting the gunpowder stores, attempting to kill as many French troops as possible in the process. Much later, the French built a memorial for him opposite that of Toussaint Louverture, the leader of the Haitian revolution. However, the true location of both men’s remains are a mystery. - 1802

 The Ladies Shoe Binders Society formed in New York. The following year, a similar society formed in Philadelphia. In 1860, 20,000 women shoe workers participated in one of the largest strikes to date. - 1835

The first American law prohibiting employment of women was passed to prevent women from working in coal mines in Illinois. – 1879

At least 30,000 workers in Rochester, New York, participated in a general strike in support of the nearly 500 municipal workers who had been fired for forming a union. The next day, the city agreed to reinstate all of the discharged workers, drop the illegal charges against arrested picketers, and recognize the workers’ right to organize and bargain collectively. – 1946

Tuesday Morning in the Blogosphere

 

Wikipedia faces new attacks from conservative critics - E&P Magazine

How this year’s Pulitzer awardees used AI in their reporting - Nieman Lab

Student reporters are under pressure to protect sources — and still tell the truth - Poynter

How Britain's news brands are reinventing themselves for the digital age - Journalism UK

Redbird buys Telegraph in £500m deal with Abu Dhabi to keep minority stake - Press Gazette

Important Events From This day in History May 27

 

27 May, 1936 England RMS Queen Mary

1936 : The Cunard liner RMS Queen Mary leaves Southampton on her maiden voyage to New York with more than 1800 passengers.

27 May, 1941 World War II Bismarck

1941 : The German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the Atlantic by the Royal Naval ships Dorsetshire, King George V and Rodney after it had been damaged by torpedoes dropped by British aircraft from HMS Ark Royal.

27 May, 1923 France First Le Mans 24 hour race

1923 : The first Le Mans 24-Hour race ends with a win for Andre Lagache and Renee Leonard covering 1,372.928 miles in a Chenard-Walker car. The latest race run in 2007 is won by Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner covering 3129.75 miles in an Audi R10.

27 May, 1937 U.S.A. Golden Gate Bridge

1937 : Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County, California is opened to pedestrian traffic and more than 200,000 pedestrians walked across on opening day. The next day the Golden Gate Bridge is opened to vehicular traffic.

27 May, 1922 U.S.A. Checks

1922 : The increasing use of checks has led to a larger number of arrests by the police for people issuing fraudulent checks and banks have decided to try and halt this problem by only issuing checks for customers who are upstanding citizens.

27 May, 1943 U.S.A. The Ballpoint Pen

1943 : The Ballpoint pen, is patented in America by Hungarian Laszlo Biro.

1950 U.S.A. Frank Sinatra

1950 : Frank Sinatra made his TV debut on NBC's "Star-Spangled Review." He went on to be one of the most successful and recognizable figures in music history.

1955 British General Election

1955 : The British General Election is won by the Tories under Sir Anthony Eden.

1963 Kenya Jomo Kenyatta

1963 : The Kenya African Nation Union, wins the country's first general election and the leader of the party Jomo Kenyatta will become Kenya's first premier.

1964 India Jawaharlal Nehru Dies

1964 : Jawaharlal Nehru the founder of modern India and prime minister, dies at the age of 74.

1971 Sicily Mount Etna

1971 : Walls of Lava are threatening two towns in Sicily as they continue towards the towns of Sciara and Giarre. This is the 54th day Mount Etna has been erupting and many experts are predicting a further major eruption due to the increased lava flow and smoke.

1989 S&H Green Stamps

1989 : S&H Green stamps have been part of the retail landscape for over 50 years but the loss of it's largest customer Publix Supermarkets in Florida could well be the final nail in it's coffin this week. S&H Green Stamps has been in existence for 94 years and it's heyday in the 1960's when it was an important part of the retailing industry and very few people did not collect the Green Stamps to trade back for toasters and other gadgets is now passed due to many things ranging from the increase in discount coupons to the change in work patterns including more women working.

Today in Labor History May 27, 2025

 

The U.S. Supreme Court declared the Depression-era National Industrial Recovery Act to be unconstitutional, about a month before it was set to expire. – 1935

The U.S. Fishermen and Allied Workers Union merged with Harry Bridges’ ILWU. – 1947

Delegates of the Insurance Agent’s International Union and the Insurance Workers of America, having ratified the merger agreement at their respective conventions, convened as delegates of the merged union, the Insurance Workers International Union. The 15,000-member organization merged with the United Food and Commercial Workers in 1983. – 1959

Friday Morning in the Blogosphere

 Very few remain

Meeting Gen Z where they scroll - E&P Magazine

Google cut pledged funds to support California newsrooms - The Hill

The world’s first journalism school is still leading the way - E&P Magazine

Nurturing the next generation of talent, with the YOJO newsroom - Journalism UK

Hearst journalists vote to unionize and demand bargaining immediately - Hearst Newsguild

Important Events From This day in History May 23

 

23 May, 1940 U.S.A. "I'll Never Smile Again"

1940 : "I'll Never Smile Again" was recorded by Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey and the Pied Pipers. The song was the first #1 hit on the weekly Billboard Best Selling Singles chart. Since then, it has been a popular standard for many artists in a variety of genres.

23 May, 1929 Australia Gold Rush

1929 : A new gold rush is starting in Australia as gold has been found just 3 feet below the surface and claims are now being made all over the area in South West.

23 May, 1998 Northern Ireland Referendum

1998 : A referendum on the Good Friday peace agreement held in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic yesterday ended with 3 to 1 support. The Good Friday peace agreement paves the way for devolution from Westminster with a new all-inclusive Northern Ireland Assembly.

23 May, 1953 U.S.A. Flooding in Lake Charles Louisiana

1953 : Following the flooding in Lake Charles Louisiana which is now starting to recede the threat of Typhoid is increasing which could increase the death toll caused by the flooding and medical teams are on hand to provide typhoid shots.

23 May, 1934 U.S.A. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow

1934 :Bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and gunned down with over 100 rounds of ammunition by police in Black Lake, Louisiana. Following the deaths of Bonnie and Clyde slain in Louisiana by federal agents, their bodies are being transported back to Texas and are to be buried in separate graves in different parts of Dallas. They were inseparable in life committing robberies and murders side by side across the nation but in death Bonnie's mother has stated Clyde took her daughter away from her but she will take her daughter back in death against Bonnie's last wishes.

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were notorious during the great depression years as outlaws, they were featured in newspapers through out the country because of their escapades robbing banks , small stores and gas stations. They became notorious not because they robbed and killed so many but because of the authorities inability to catch them. Many thought them as heroes because of their status as a modern day "Robin Hood" but reality is they killed ordinary people and did not "Give To The Poor".

While researching for this piece I came across one of Bonnie Parker's Poems and I have included a few of the verses below this was written just a short time before her death:

23 May, 1937 U.S.A. John D. Rockefeller

1937 : John D. Rockefeller the American industrialist once the worlds richest man before he gave his millions away has died at 97 yrs old, he went from a $4.50 clerk to the worlds richest man only to give most of it away in the last 30 years for philanthropic deeds.

23 May, 1941 World War II British Warships Mediterranean

1941 : The Axis powers of Germany and Italy have claimed to have sunk or badly damaged 26 British warships in an all out banish to British warships from the Mediterranean.

1945 World War II Heinrich Himmler

1945 : Heinrich Himmler, Hitler's second in command, committed suicide while in Allied custody by using a tiny vial of poison in his mouth at the time of his capture.

1966 Great Britain Nationwide Seamen's Strike

1966 : The British government declares a state of emergency following the start of the nationwide seamen's strike one week ago. The state of emergency will allow the Royal Navy to take control and clear the ports and lift restrictions on driving vehicles to allow for the free movement of goods.

Today in Labor History May 23, 2025

 

Battle of Toledo

The first American nursery school was established in New York City as a way to “relieve parents of the laboring classes” and offer their children “protection from idleness” and other evils that typically infected the rabble. – 1827

An estimated 100,000 textile workers, including more than 10,000 children, went on strike in the Philadelphia area.  Among the issues: 60-hour workweeks, including night hours for the children. – 1903

The Battle of Toledo erupted when sheriffs arrested picket leaders at the Auto-Lite plant in Toledo, Ohio, and beat an old man. 10,000 strikers blockaded the plant for seven hours, preventing strikebreakers from leaving. Ultimately, the crowd was broken up with tear gas and water cannons. The National Guard was called in the following day. The strikers held their ground against the troops, who shot and killed two of their members and wounded 15 others, winning union recognition and a 5% raise after two weeks on the picket line. – 1934

A U.S. railroad strike starts and was later crushed when President Truman threatened to draft strikers. – 1946

Congress passed the first law to ensure women received equal pay for equal work. The legislation was originally submitted in 1947. – 1963

The Granite Cutters International Association of America merged with Tile, Marble, Terrazzo, Finishers and Shopmen, which five years later merged into the Carpenters. – 1983

Labor folk singer and IWW member Utah Phillips (1935-2008) died. – 2008

The Killing Fields (2018) Katie Hopkins' documentary about South Africa

NOTE: This documentary was originally published in September 2018

Plaasmoorde: The Killing Fields is a world-first — a documentary that goes well beyond polite interviews in safe places and deep into uncomfortable places, where the heart of the truth lives. Included in this groundbreaking work are interviews with active farm attackers and serving police officers who confirm corrupt police are complicit in the mass-slaughter of South Africa’s whites.

Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere

 Palm Springs California

A vision for the future of AI in the printroom - Print Week

Looking at the Biden “Cover-Up” Books - Second Rough Draft

How Printers are Embracing Offset and Digital - Printing Impressions

How do you report on the weather when data is disappearing?- Nieman Lab

Facebook slammed for ‘attack on local journalism’ after third site ‘restricted’ - Press Gazette

How two major newspapers published a summer reading list with books that don’t exist - Poynter

Important Events From This day in History May 22

 

22 May, 1981 England The Yorkshire Ripper

1981 : The Yorkshire ripper Peter Sutcliffe has been found guilty of killing 13 women and the attempted murder of 7 others. and is sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in jail.

22 May, 1989 China Tiananmen Square in Beijing

1989 : Students have now occupied Tiananmen Square in Beijing for the 10th day protesting for the pro-democracy movement in China , the total number now exceeds 45,000 and conditions are worsening and the Government in China is considering ways to quell the protesters after the military has stated they will not attack the protesters.

22 May, 1927 China Earthquake

1927 : An earthquake measuring 8.6 on Richter scale strikes Xining in the eastern part of Qinghai province It was one of the deadliest earthquakes on record with a total count of 200,000 deaths.

22 May, 1933 U.S.A. Federal Emergency Relief Fund

1933 : The Federal Emergency Relief fund has given 8 states a total of $5,336,317 in relief funding today to pay for welfare programs including Texas and Washington State.

22 May, 1972 President Richard Nixon Visits Soviet Union

1972 : President Richard Nixon the first US president to visit Moscow arrives for talks with Soviet leaders over "international issues" including the war in Vietnam and the current Nuclear Arms Race. During his week long visit a treaty to halt the nuclear arms race Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (Salt) was agreed which limits the two superpowers to 200 defensive nuclear missiles each. The other important agreement was to work together more in space exploration which will the two countries first joint manned venture into space in June 1975.

1972 Ceylon Change Name To Sri Lanka

1972 : Ceylon changes it's name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka.

1990 Yemen

1990 : After 150 years separation, Marxist South Yemen and conservative North Yemen are unified as the Republic of Yemen.

1998 Indonesia Protesters

1998 : Heavily armed soldiers marched into Parliament in Jakarta to evict anti-government student protesters who were protesting about the amount of government corruption in Indonesia, this follows weeks of riots against the current administration over corruption and the economy.

2000 Lebanon Hezbollah

2000 : Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Muslim militant group supported by Syria and Iran, take over several outposts abandoned by the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army in Israel's southern occupation zone.

2003 US and UK take control of Iraq

2003 : The U.N. Security Council gives the U.S. and Britain a mandate to rule Iraq, ending 13 years of economic sanctions.

2008 Kenya 19 Arrested Over Witch Burning

2008 : Eight women and three men, aged between 80 and 96, were burned to death when they were accused of being witches in the western Kisii district of Kenya 19 have now been arrested connection with the murders.

2008 Italy to Restart Nuclear Program

2008 : The Italian government announced it would restart its nuclear program more than twenty years after it was ended. The previous program was ended after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine. Officials in Italy stated that a new nuclear program could reduce the country's reliance on other energy sources such as oil and natural gas.

2010 Boy Becomes Youngest to Climb Everest

2010 : Jordan Romero, a thirteen year old boy from the United States, became the youngest person to climb Mount Everest. The boy set out with his father and three Sherpas from Kathmandu and traveled to the Chinese side of the mountain where there are no age restrictions for climbers. Romero had already scaled five of the highest peaks on the seven continents, adding Everest as his sixth.

2011 Devastating Tornado Hits Missouri

2011 : A devastating tornado cutting a six mile path through the city of Joplin in Missouri. The tornado left much of the city with out power and damaged nearly two-thousand buildings. There were reports of over one-thousand injuries and at least one-hundred and fifteen people were found dead with many more unaccounted for. The city with a population of 50,000 people was expected to receive disaster relief, as the Missouri Governor, Jay Nixon, declared a state of emergency in the state.

2011 Mexico Army General Shot Dead

2011 : A recently retired Mexican army general was shot dead near Mexico City, Mexico. General Jorge Juarez Loera, who had retired earlier in May, was the third highest ranking general in the Mexican army and a key figure in its war with drug trade. General Juarez Loera was travelling in a private car and got out to investigate an accident when he was shot, officials were unsure if he was being directly targeted.

2013 Venezuela Tries to End Toilet Paper Shortage

2013 : The Venezuelan government has approved creating a seventy-nine million dollar credit for the importation of toilet paper, toothpaste and soap. The socialist country had been facing chronic shortages of toilet paper. Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro says that the country's economic problems are a conspiracy against the country by wealthier nations, while economic analysts believe that the government's price controls and state-controlled industries have made the economy imbalanced.

Today in Labor History May 22

 

Eugene Debs

Eugene Debs was thrown in prison for his role in the Pullman Railway Strike (also known as the “Debs Rebellion”). – 1895

White firemen on the Georgia Railroad struck against the hiring of blacks. A New York Times correspondent reported that there was much violence against the black firemen, coming not from the strikers but from “citizens along the line of the road, who object to the preference given negroes over white men.” -1909

The Civil Service Retirement Act of 1920 gives federal workers a pension. – 1920

The Congress of Industrial Organizations’ (CIOs) Steelworkers Organizing Committee was disbanded at a Cleveland convention and immediately succeeded by the workers’ new union, the United Steelworkers of America. – 1942

The first strike by Chicago teachers began on this day and lasted for three days. – 1969

Monday Morning in the Blogosphere

 Remember how the house would smell as coffee was brewed?

Mesa Tribune publisher buys 21 Colorado papers - Mesa Tribune

How Mill Media and Zetland scaled their membership models - Journalism UK

Local media’s tipping point into oblivion — a 1-on-1 with Gordon Borrell - E&P Reports

Whatcom Community College’s student newspaper a target of budget cuts - Cascadia Daily

Charter Communications and Cox Communications announce definitive agreement - Charter 

Important Events From This day in History May 19th

 

19 May, 1997 Hong Kong Avian Flu

1997 : The first victim of Avian Flu A (H5N1) a three-year-old boy has died in Hong Kong. By the end of the year there were 18 recorded cases with six of the victims dying. Authorities slaughter 1.6 million chickens and other domestic fowl in Hong Kong hoping to prevent further spread of the disease. The World Health Organization and other interested parties are still concerned that the Avian Flu Virus could mutate further causing a similar pandemic to the 1918/1919 Spanish flu pandemic which killed anywhere from 20 to 100 million worldwide, Or between 2.5 to 5% of the worlds human population.

19 May, 1962 Marilyn Monroe Performs Rendition of "Happy Birthday"

1962 : Marilyn Monroe performed a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for President John F. Kennedy for his forty-fifth birthday during a fund-raiser at New York's Madison Square Garden. The dress she wore that night was noted for being sheer and flesh colored with 2500 rhinestones sewn into it and designed by Jean Louis. The dress sold in 1999 at auction in New York for over US$1.26 million.

19 May, 1921 U.S.A. Emergency Quota Act

1921 : The Emergency Quota Act was passed into law which limits the number of immigrants admitted into the US. More about Emergency Quota Act

19 May, 1923 U.S.A. Harry Houdini

1923 : Harry Houdini ex medium, magician, handcuff king, disappearing artist denounced spirit mediums, clairvoyants in a radio interview and has said his good friend Sir A Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes) has been duped by tricksters and fraudsters.

1982 Italy Sophia Loren

1982 : Actress Sophia Loren began serving a 30-day prison sentence in Italy for failing to report five million lire on her income tax return for 1970.

1986 South Africa Zambia

1986 : South African troops launch multiple raids on Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana in an effort to destroy bases purportedly used by the anti-apartheid organisation the African National Congress (ANC). The Nations of Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Tanzania, form the so-called "frontline states" that support the ANC in their struggle against white minority rule. During the Mid to Late 1980s sanctions imposed by the US, most Commonwealth nations and the European Community forced South Africa to end it's anti-apartheid policies and in 1994 the ANC formed South Africa's first democratically elected government with Mr Mandela as the country's first black president.

Born This Day In History 19th May

Celebrating Birthdays Today

Grace Jones

Born: May 19th, 1948 Spanish Town, Jamaica

Known For : Grace Jones is a model, actress, singer, songwriter, and music producer who gained fame in the 1970s and 1980s for her unique style. She began modeling as a teenager and soon transitioned to music, becoming a star of the disco-scene in New York City. During the 1980s her music transitioned to a new wave style and drew influence from reggae. As an actress, she appeared in several films including as a Bond girl in 1985's "A View to Kill." She is also well-known for her distinctive androgynous look and bold cubist-inspired fashion choices.

1991 Croatia Seeks Independence

1991 : Croatian Voters in Civil war torn Yugoslavia have voted to seek independence and sovereignty, the country is being torn apart by nationalists and ethnic Serbs who wish to be part of Serbia.

1992 U.S.A. 27th Amendment

1992 : The 27th Amendment to the US constitution is ratified.

1994 U.S.A. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

1994 : The former First Lady ( President Kennedy's wife ) Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died today of lymphoma at the age of 64.

2005 U.S.A. Revenge of the Sith

2005 : The final chapter of Star Wars "Revenge of the Sith," opens in movie theaters with movie goers queuing all night.

2005 Rwandan Official Apologizes for Genocide

2005 : The Rwandan defense minister, Marcel Gatsini, apologized for being a part of the Hutu government behind the genocide of 1994. This marks the first time a senior official of the government behind the genocide publicly apologized. Gatsini stated he was fired from the government after the genocide began because he was accused of being too moderate.

2006 U.S.A. Guantanamo Bay

2006 : World Leaders urge the Bush administration to close its prison in Guantanamo Bay, saying the indefinite detention of terror suspects there violated the world's ban on torture.