Via amNY:
On Jan. 13 137 years ago, a historic riot broke out in Tompkins Square Park. Reeling from an economic depression, more than 7,000 unemployed workers rallied in 1874 to force the city to create a public-works program to provide jobs to residents. But unbeknownst to the protesters, the city made a last-minute decision to revoke their demonstration permit. When police began rounding up people, chaos ensued. Eyewitness Samuel Gompers described the scene, saying “mounted police charged the crowd on Eighth Street, riding them down and attacking men, women, and children without discrimination. It was an orgy of brutality.” Schools were placed on lockdown, but in the end, no one was killed in the mayhem.
[Thanks to Red Riotdog for the tip]
5 comments:
past or future?
Looks more like Williamsburg.
An excellent contrast to a present populace divided in their homes, over mortgaged and in fear of the bank; divided in consumer niches, which are ever multiplying; living on credit cards; and driven by the need to preserve one's credit rating. Meanwhile, the political class and culture in general denigrates anything deemed "public."
Back then they rioted for jobs. Now they riot--or threaten to riot--for concerts in the park. How times have changed!
Wow. Thank god nothing like that ever happened again.
Sheesh!
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