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

Thursday, May 22, 2025

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.


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, May 19, 2025

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.


Today in Labor History May 19, 2025

 


South Amboy, New Jersey docks


An explosion in Coal Creek, Tennessee killed 184 miners. – 1902

Ten people were killed when coal company officials in Matewan, West Virginia, tried to remove striking union workers from coal company housing. They sent in agents from the Baldwin-Felts detective agency who evicted several families before trying to hop on a train out of town. Sheriff Hatfield, who supported the miners’ right to organize, tried to arrest the detectives who, in turn, tried to arrest Hatfield. Unbeknownst to the detectives, they had been surrounded by miners. No one knows who shot first, but when the smoke had cleared, there were 7 dead detectives (including Albert and Lee Felts) and 4 dead townspeople. The episode became known as the “Matewan Battle” or “Matewan Massacre,” and is depicted in John Sayles’ film Matewan. It should be pointed out that mining was one of the most dangerous and corrupt industries around. Miners were typically forced to live in a company town and purchase living necessities from company stores at inflated prices. They were paid in scrip, which was useless outside of the company towns. In the time leading up to the Battle of Matewan, numerous miners had been assassinated by vigilantes, goons or detectives. In the aftermath of the massacre, the miners went on strike and were treated to even more violence. Striking miners were beaten and left to die in the streets. The remaining Felts brother, Tom, instigated a vendetta against Sheriff Hatfield, eventually having him killed by his agency in 1921. – 1920
A gas explosion in a Mather, Pennsylvania coal mine killed 195. – 1928
The Steel Workers Organizing Committee, formed by the Congress of Industrial Organizations, formally became the United Steelworkers of America. – 1942
31 dockworkers were killed, 350 workers and others were injured when four barges carrying 467 tons of ammunition blew up at South Amboy, New Jersey. They were loading mines that had been deemed unsafe by the Army and were being shipped to the Asian market for sale. – 1950

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Important Events From This day in History May 17

 

17 May, 1936 U.S.A. New Deal

1936 : A number of proposals are being looked at to finance " The New Deal " program including a flat tax on all corporate income, and also an increase in the normal income tax rate from 4% to 5%.

17 May, 1946 U.S.A. Railroads Seized By Truman

1946 : President Harry S. Truman uses U.S. troops to seize control of US railroads, delaying a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen.

17 May, 1943 Germany Dam Busters Raid

1943 : Lancaster bombers use the revolutionary bomb designed to bounce on the water to bypass dam defenses ( immortalized in a 1954 war film Dambusters ) . The bombs were invented for the task by aircraft engineer Dr Barnes Wallis with pilots flying the Lancaster bombers just 100 ft above the water. The destruction of the dams two on the rivers Möhne and Sorpe, and a third on the River Eder caused flood waters to sweep through the Ruhr valley, damaging factories, houses and power stations.

17 May, 1875 U.S.A. First Kentucky Derby

1875 : In front of an estimated crowd of 10,000 people, a field of 15 three-year-old horses contested the First Kentucky Derby in 1875 at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky.

17 May, 1955 U.S.A. End Segregation

1955 : The Chief Justice Earl Warren has indicated that a ruling will be made by the Supreme Court before summer recess on how and when to end segregation of white and black children in the public school system.

17 May, 1954 U.S.A. Brown v. Board of Education

1954 : The United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Brown v. Board of Education , ruling that racial segregation in public educational facilities is unconstitutional. The case centered on Linda Brown an African American girl who had been denied admission to her local elementary school in Topeka, Kansas, because of the color of her skin.

1925 Germany Mining Disaster Dortsfeld

1925 : A major mine disaster in Dortsfeld in Germany has now claimed the lives of 43 men, rescue attempts are still continuing but are hampered by the deadly gasses in the mines with rescue workers collapsing from the fumes in the narrow passageways.

1948 Israel Statehood

1948 : Following the formation of the Jewish State of Israel , Russia has now extended recognition of the Hebrew state and 4000 Arab fighters have surrendered in the old walled city of Acre weakened by a major outbreak of Typhoid.

1960 France East - West Summit

1960 : The East-West summit in Paris has failed before it even started following three days of bitter arguments over the American U2 spy plane shot down two weeks ago over Sverdlovsk in the Soviet Union by a Russian Missile.

1969 U.S.A. Apollo 10

1969 : The Apollo 10 is all go for the final test before America lands a man on the moon later this year. Apollo 10 is scheduled to go over the landing site where Apollo 11 hopes to land later this year, this flight is a complete dress rehearsal as everything will be done except the final phase of landing man on the moon.

1973 U.S.A. Watergate

1973 : The investigation of Watergate by the Senate begins televised hearings on the Watergate scandal.

1974 Car Bombs In Dublin

1974 : Three car bombs are exploded in Dublin, killing 23 and injuring 100 more during rush hour. No one has ever been charged with these bombings but a number of conspiracy theories exist.

1974 U.S.A. Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)

1974 : In Los Angeles, California, LAPD place a siege on the home in Compton where the leaders of the terrorist group known as the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) are hiding out.When SLA members shoot at the police surrounding the home the LAPD shot an estimated 1,200 rounds of ammunition and throw teargas containers into the Compton home leaving six SLA members dead, including the leader Donald DeFreeze.


Today in Labor History May 17, 2025

 


The first women’s anti-slavery conference was held on this date in Philadelphia. – 1838
Tom Mooney‘s scheduled date of execution was stayed while the case was appealed. Mooney ultimately spent 22 years in prison for the San Francisco Preparedness Day Parade bombing in 1916, a crime he did not commit. Mooney, along with codefendant Warren Billings, were members of the IWW and were railroaded because of their union affiliation. – 1917
President Truman ended a nation-wide railroad strike by threatening to take over the railroads and send in the army. -1947
The Supreme Court outlawed segregation in public schools. – 1954
Twelve Starbucks baristas in a midtown Manhattan store signed cards demanding representation by the Industrial Workers of the World, or Wobblies, declaring they couldn’t live on $7.75 an hour. – 2004
Fast food workers took to the streets of Milwaukee in a one-day work stoppage to demand a $15.00 an hour wage. – 2013

Friday, May 16, 2025

Important Events From This day in History May 16

 

16 May, 1969 U.S.A. Protest and Rioting

1969 : Rioting and protests against the war in Vietnam continue on campuses throughout California with local National Guardsman patrolling Berkeley campus of the University of California area with fixed bayonets to keep peace and order.

16 May, 1929 U.S.A. First Academy Awards

1929 : The First ever Academy Awards of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards were handed out at a banquet held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

16 May, 1918 U.S.A. Sedition Act

1918 : The Sedition Act is passed by the U.S. Congress, creating more harsh penalties aimed at people who were against American participation in World War I. The law punished dissenters including anyone who was found to be insulting the government. The Sedition Act is considered by many law scholars to be in direct conflict with the First Amendment right to free speech. Palmer Raids Timeline

16 May, 1943 Poland Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

1943 : Resistance in the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw has ended as SS Police and Wehrmacht units using tanks and other armored vehicles take back control of the ghetto crushing resistance after 1 month of fighting.

16 May, 1927 U.S.A. Floods in Louisiana

1927 : Following the floods in Louisiana rescue workers have so far found over 20 people dead with more coming as they continue to check homes flooded due to the flooding.

16 May, 1944 Italy World War II

1944 : Many believe the end of the World War is getting closer as allied forces push the Nazis back an all fronts including Italy and from the Eastern Front by Russia, at the same time significant gains are being made in the Pacific.

1946 U.S.A. "Annie Get Your Gun"

1946 : The Irving Berlin musical, "Annie Get Your Gun," opened at New York’s Imperial Theatre for its debut performance. It went on to do 1,146 more performances to become one of the most popular musicals in theater history.

1960 France U2 Spy Plane

1960 : The leaders of the most powerful nations on earth came to verbal blows in Paris over the U2 Spy Plane which flew over the Soviet Union. President Nikita Khrushchev and US President Dwight D. Eisenhower are at odds over the issue.

1968 England Block Of Flats in Newham Collapses

1968 : A block of Flats in Newham in the heart of docklands area in London's East End collapses following a gas explosion on the 18th floor leaving at least 3 dead and 80 families fleeing the tower block.

1974 Lebanon Israeli Bombing

1974 : Israeli planes bomb 7 Palestinian refugee camps in southern Lebanon killing at least 27 people and leaving 138 injured.

1976 Lebanon Muslims and Christians Fighting

1976 : Muslims and Christians in Lebanon are fighting a fierce battle using rocket artillery and the death toll has reached over 220 with fighting still continuing , food shortages are now affecting most of the population and nether side wish to attend peace talks.

Born This Day In History 16th May

Celebrating Birthday Today

Pierce Brosnan

Born: May 16th 1953 , Drogheda, Ireland

Known For : He is best known as the fifth actor to play secret agent James Bond in the Bond film series, starring in four films (GoldenEye 1995, Tomorrow Never Dies 1997, The World Is Not Enough 1999, and Die Another Day 2002). His early breakthrough came with the television series Remington Steele (1982–1987). Other movies include The Fourth Protocol (1987) and the comedy Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and the remake of the heist film The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).


Today in Labor History May 16, 2025

 



1,600 woodworkers in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, went on strike at seven sash and door manufacturers for better pay and union recognition. – 1898
Congress passed the Sedition Act against radicals, leading to the arrest, imprisonment, execution and deportation of dozens of unionists, anarchists and communists. – 1918
The Teamsters initiated a General Strike for union recognition in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. – 1934
The U.S. Supreme Court issued the Mackay decision permitting employers to permanently replace striking workers. In a classic case of doublespeak, the court said that management could not fire strikers, but could “permanently replace” them. One of the most recent and well-known examples of this occurred when Reagan crushed the air traffic controllers’ strike. The U.S. is one of the only countries in the world that allows bosses to fire (er, replace) striking workers. – 1938
Black labor leader and peace activist A. Philip Randolph died. He was president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first black on the AFL-CIO executive board, and a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. – 1979
Baristas at the Starbucks in East Grand Rapids announced their membership in the IWW Starbucks Workers Union. Starbucks, notorious for poor treatment of workers, followed with numerous anti-labor violations and was forced by the NLRB to settle Grand Rapids union worker complaints in October. – 2007

Important Events From This day in History May 15

 

15 May, 1941 UK Gloster-Whittle E 28/39 Jet aircraft

1941 : The Gloster-Whittle E 28/39 Jet aircraft flies successfully over Cranwell, England, The aircraft's jet engine, was devised by Frank Whittle, an Britiah aviation engineer and pilot generally regarded as the inventor of the jet engine. Although Frank Whittle is considered the inventor of the Jet Engine Concept which he patented in 1930 the Gloster-Whittle E 28/39 Jet aircraft was not the first Jet aircraft to fly successfully. The first was the German Heinkel He 178, designed by Hans Joachim Pabst von Ohain, on August 27th, 1939.

15 May, 1918 U.S.A. Airmail Service

1918 : The first flights for the new U.S. airmail service begins between Washington, Philadelphia and New York.

15 May, 1939 U.S.A. Food Aid

1939 : A new plan is to be tested in Rochester New York for providing food aid to the 14,000 families on relief , A number of foods are designated in surplus will be provided with the blue food stamps issued by the government these include Butter, White Flour, Fresh Oranges and Eggs. They are hoping that this will help to distribute surplus foods to the needy if this works it will be integrated into the New Deal Program.

15 May, 1940 U.S.A. Nylon Stockings

1940 : Nylon stockings from DuPont (Nylon invented in 1935 by Wallace Carothers) went on general sale for the first time in the United States.

15 May, 1948 Israel Independence

1948 : Israel declares independence on May 14, 1948 and one day later the new state of Israel is attacked by Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq which lasted almost a year, a cease fire was declared and temporary borders, known as the Green Line, were instituted. The creation of Israel as an independent state had been rejected by The Arab League from the very beginning.

15 May, 1949 U.S.A. Tornado Amarillo

1949 : A major Tornado strikes Amarillo Texas causing 6 deaths and many injuries and over 50 homes completely destroyed.

1954 U.S.A. Marilyn Monroe

1954 : After several weeks Marilyn Monroe is back at work on dance rehearsals for the new film "There's No Business Like Show Business."

1957 Britain H Bomb Testing

1957 : Britain tests first hydrogen bomb on the Christmas Island area in the Pacific Ocean, the arms race between countries continues to escalate as each country tests bigger and more destructive nuclear devices.

1970 U.S.A. Jackson State University

1970 : During a student protest at Jackson State University in Mississippi police opened fire, killing two students and injuring twelve others.



Today in Labor History May 15

 


Pope Leo XIII issued the revolutionary encyclical Rerum novarum in defense of workers and the right to organize. Forty years later to the day, Pope Pius XI issued Quadragesimo anno, believed by many to be even more radical than Leo XIII’s. – 1891
The Western Federation of Miners formed in Butte, Montana by Big Bill Haywood.  They organized the hard rock miners of the Rocky Mountain states into a labor union deemed radical by most mine owners and investors. -1893
New Jersey became the first state to prohibit employment discrimination against union members. – 1894
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Samuel Gompers and other union leaders for supporting a boycott at the Buck Stove and Range Company in St. Louis, where workers were striking for a nine-hour day. A lower court had forbidden the boycott and sentenced the unionists to prison for refusing to obey the judge’s anti-boycott injunction. – 1906
Factory owner Harry Widdicomb attempted to personally drive scabs through a crowd of 1,200 striking furniture workers and supporters gathered outside his factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A battle broke out and the fighting drew more people to help the strikers, swelling the crowd to 2,000. When it ended at midnight, every window in the factory had been smashed. – 1911
The Library Employees’ Union was founded in New York City, the first union of public library workers in the United States. A major focus of the union was the inferior status of women library workers and their low salaries. – 1917
Launched by officers of the Machinists, the first labor bank opened in Washington, D.C.The Locomotive Engineers opened a bank in Cleveland later that year – 1920
Bruce Duncan “Utah” Phillips, an American labor organizer, folk singer, storyteller, poet and the “Golden Voice of the Great Southwest”. He described the struggles of labor unions and the power of direct action, self-identifying as an anarchist. An IWW member, he often promoted the Industrial Workers of the World in his music, actions, and words. – 1935
IWW songwriter T-Bone Slim, died in New York City. T-Bone wrote such Wobbly classics as The Mysteries of a Hobo’s LifeThe Popular Wobbly, and The Lumberjack’s Prayer. (From The Unionist and Rebel Voices, edited by Joyce L. Kornbluh). – 1942
Wall Street Journal reporter Jonathan Kwitny uncovered the true face of American labor bosses: AFL-CIO President George Meany, Secretary-Treasurer Lane Kirkland, and other union officials were among the 60 leading stockholders in the 15,000 acre Punta Cana resort in the Dominican Republic, benefiting handsomely when the Dominican president sent troops to forcibly evict impoverished tobacco farmers and fishermen who had lived there for generations. – 1973

Important Events From This day in History May 14

 

14 May, 1991 South Africa Winnie Mandela

1991 : Winnie Mandela, the wife of Nelson Mandela, is given a six-year prison sentence for her part in the kidnap of four youths suspected of being police informers, one of the kidnapped boys later died of his injuries. Mrs Mandela's is believed to be behind the activities of her bodyguards - known as the "Mandela Football Club" who are involved in violence in the Soweto township including the notorious "necklace killings" which involved putting a tyre around a victim's neck and setting fire to it.

14 May, 1804 U.S.A. The Lewis and Clark Expedition

1804 : The Lewis and Clark expedition started from Camp Dubois, near present day Hartford, Illinois on this day in 1804. They reached the Pacific Ocean on November 20th, 1805. They arrived back to St. Louis, Missouri on September 23rd 1806.

14 May, 1920 U.S.A. Airmail Service

1920 : The airmail service continues to grow with a new service from Chicago to Omaha carrying 500 lbs of mail daily except Sundays and Holidays , the service will take about 5 1/2 hrs. The 1920s was a major growth period for Mail Delivery both domestic and later world wide.

14 May, 1948 Israel Independent State

1948 : The independent state of Israel is proclaimed as British rule in Palestine came to an end. It has taken Israel 2000 years to gain nationhood status.

14 May, 1931 India Mahatma Gandhi

1931 : Mahatma Gandhi the leader of the Indian Nationalist movement has agreed to talks with Britain in London to discuss more independence from Britain in return for stopping the current boycott on foreign goods in India.

14 May, 1940 England The Home Guard

1940 : The British Secretary of State for War Anthony Eden announced the creation of the Local Defense Volunteers (LDV) name changed in July of 1940 to "The Home Guard". The creation of the LDV was a direct result of Germany's conquest of Norway so quickly and the beginning of the invasion of France by German forces. Anthony Eden announced during the radio broadcast .

Radio Broadcast Requesting Volunteers for The Home Guard:

Radio Broadcast Requesting Volunteers for The Home Guard

The government had expected 150,000 men to volunteer in total, but by the end of the first month 750,000 men had volunteered. By the end of June 1940, there were nearly 1.5 million volunteers.

1942 U.S.A. Air Travel

1942 : FDR has stated that all domestic air travel will be placed on a full wartime basis with the army operating or controlling the nations fleet of over 500 transport planes to help in the war effort.

1955 Poland Warsaw Pact Signed

1955 : The Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies including USSR, Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania sign a security pact in the Polish capital, Warsaw, after a three-day conference. The Warsaw Pact will provide close integration of military, economic and cultural policy between the eight Communist nations.


Today in Labor History May 14

 



On this day in labor history, May 14, the 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike in eastern Pennsylvania began. Over 100,000 workers struck for a shorter workday, better pay, and union recognition. According to the AFL-CIO, the strike was notable for President Theodore Roosevelt's involvement in mediating the dispute, marking the first time the government acted as a neutral arbitrator, rather than siding with companies. The strike eventually resulted in increased wages, a shorter workday, and a better price for coal, but without union recognition - 1902

We Want Beer” marches were held throughout the United States. 15,000 unionized workers demonstrated in Detroit. Prohibition was repealed within a year. – 1932

Milwaukee brewery workers began a 10-week strike, demanding contracts comparable to East and West coast workers. The strike was won because Blatz Brewery accepted their demands, but Blatz was ousted from the Brewers Association for “unethical” business methods. – 1953

Important Events From This day in History May 12

 

12 May,1937 England King George VI

1937 : King George VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey. King George was second in line to the throne but following his younger brother Edward who abdicated so he could marry American socialite Wallis Simpson he became King. King George's wife was the much loved Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon much better known as "Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother", who died at the grand old age of 102 on March 30th 2002. Their oldest daughter Queen Elizabeth is current Queen of England.

12 May,1932 U.S.A. Lindbergh Baby Found Dead

1932 : The Baby son kidnapped from Charles Lindbergh was found dead just miles away from the Lindbergh home today.

12 May,1966 U.S.A. Draft Deferment Test

1966 : Hundreds of thousands of College and University Students are preparing to sit the Draft Deferment Test , The test is a way for them to convince the Draft Board that they would serve the nation better in the quiet of the Classrooms than in the Jungles of Vietnam.

2008 China Earthquake Magnitude 7.8

2008 : An Earthquake measuring 7.8 strikes near Chengdu, Sichuan's provincial capital in south western China. Early reports indicate primary school buildings collapsed in the Chongqing area leaving hundreds of children buried in the rubble. As the full scale of the destruction caused by the largest earthquake in China for many years become known, the death toll is expected to reach 60,000 and up to five million Chinese are now homeless. Video shot by students during the earthquake.

12 May,1926 England General Strike Ends

1926 : The British general strike ends with no changes for working conditions or wages for the miners.

12 May,1935 Poland Joseph Pilsudski

1935 : The Polish dictator Joseph Pilsudski has died and thousands mourn in Poland meanwhile the rest of Europe are wondering how the passing of this strong man will effect alliances in Europe.

1943 Tunisia World War II

1943 : Allied Armies completed the conquest of Tunisia in North Africa as a base for invasion of Southern Europe capturing some 150,000 prisoners, 1000 guns and 250 tanks. The two generals commanding this part of the war in North Africa General Eisenhower and General Alexander said the conquest of North Africa is now complete.

12 May,1949 Germany West Berlin Blockade

1949 : After blocking all road traffic into West Berlin for 11 months after diplomatic meetings around the world the Soviet Union has lifted the blockade of road and rail links. The Blockade of West Berlin had been broken by a U.S. / British airlift of vital supplies to West Berlin's two million citizens.

12 May,1967 England Stansted Airport

1967 : British Government has agreed to allow development of Stansted Airfield to become London's third airport, currently the airfield is used mostly for pilot training.

1971 France Mick Jagger

1971 : The Rolling Stones singer, Mick Jagger, marries Bianca Perez Morena de Macias at a civil ceremony in the local town hall in the French Mediterranean town of St Tropez.

1973 U.S.A. Pentagon Papers Trial

1973 : The Pentagon Papers trial which was focused on THE FIRST AMENDMENT and The Governments Authority to control information and the Public's access to that information has now ended and with a verdict of NOT GUILTY for the defendants Daniel Ellsburg and Anthony J Russo Jr , but many of the answers given by defendants and testimony by witnesses raise many more questions concerning the Watergate Affair. ( This eventually led to Impeachment proceedings against President Nixon ) Daniel Ellsberg was a contributor but gave most of the Pentagon Papers to New York Times reporter Neil Sheehan, with Ellsberg's friend Anthony Russo assisting in their copying.

1981 Northern Ireland IRA Hunger Striker

1981 : Following the death of Bobby Sands on May 5th a second IRA hunger striker, 25-year-old Francis Hughes, starves to death in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland.