The Memorial Day Massacre of 1937

The Memorial Day Massacre of 1937 was one of several violent confrontations between union members and police during the great organizing movement of the 1930's. In today's society, we are shocked by police violence. We insist that they go out of their way to avoid actions that could harm others. That was not always the case and it certainly was not the case on Memorial Day, 1937, in Chicago.

Sunday, May 30, 1937 was a picture perfect day in Chicago. Strikers of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) had gathered at a local tavern to plan their next attempt to march on and establish a picket line at Republic Steel. Speeches were made and a motion was introduced to march to the Republic Steel plant. About a thousand unionists made their way towards the plant, only to be confronted by the Chicago police.

The police had been openly working with the Republic Steel security, goons really, and had even been staying on the plant grounds and arming themselves from plant caches.

Confrontation made the Memorial Day Massacre almost inevitable. Debris was thrown by both sides, then the police used tear gas. According to the hearings later conducted by Senator Robert LaFollette, a police officer fired his pistol into the air, provoking a response by the police in the front ranks. They opened fire on the marchers. It was all over in about fifteen seconds.

The police then advanced, using their billy clubs and clubs obtained from the stocks stored at Republic Steel. Those who could not outrun the police were beaten badly, and many were arrested. Those arrested faced abuse and ill treatment while in custody.

Four marchers were shot dead on the spot in the Memorial Day Massacre. Another six died from their wounds. Dozens of others were shot or injured in other ways. Only four marchers had wounds to their front. The remainder had shooting wounds classified as side or from behind.

While thirty-five police officers reported injuries, none were shot and only three required overnight treatment in the hospital.

This would not be the last time that unionists would die at the hands of local police outside a Republic Steel mill. Six strikers would be killed in Ohio as well, while picketing.

These deaths seriously affected the morale of the strikers. The press was especially harsh, accusing "Communists" of provoking the violence and in general siding with the steel companies. The Federal Government had the Wagner Act and the National Labor Relations Board to enforce union rights, but the mill owners had lawyers.

Time dragged on. It was the Great Depression and people had to work. Gradually, the union found itself with fewer strikers and eventually the strike was ended without a contract having been reached.

As the United States prepared for war in 1941, the steel companies were forced by the Federal Government to sign contracts, and union success in the steel industry was assured. There would be other bumps in the road, but over the next generation steel would build America and unionists would make that steel.

The deaths in the Memorial Day Massacre of 1937 were a blow to unionism at the time. Within half a decade, however, they would not be in vain as the union movement for which they died became the sole representative of the working man in the steel industry.