Hide Article Text (OCR)
OAKLAND THUGSACTIVEOAKLAND POLICE INVADE INDOOR MEETING — CROWD SLUGGED IN AUDITORIUM AND LAWRENCE TACTICS USEIV—SEVERAL IN HOSPITAL.The I. W. W. has been speaking at Eleventh and Broadway for years and when the police ordered them to cease their use of the corner without giving reasons for the action the workers held a conference. They continued the use of the corner for several nights without molestation, but were finally ordered to keep off. Ninth and Broadway was assigned to them and on Sunday, February 3, they marched to the corner set for; them by the police only to he met by 100 patrolmen armed with night sticks. When the speaking commenced the police thugs charged the crowd using their clubs viciously updn speakers and bystanders alike. Despite the fact that signed permission to use the corner was given and the permit present at the attempted meeting the attack took place, and B. E. Hayes, secretary of local 174, I. W. W., together with John Dyke and C. E. Foster, was arrested.Aided by recruits from San Francisco, and othci; radicals from Oakland, a parade was attempted. The marchers formed at I. W. W. headquarters proceeded up Washington street with the red flag at their head. The police automobile filled with patrolmen in charge of Captain of Police Lynch swung full speed into the procession, and returning quickly proceeded to bludgeon all in the street, even the usual Sunday night throng who had taken no part in the affair.The regular Sunday night meeting of the Socialists was in session at the Hamilton Auditorium and the members of the crowd made that their objective point. The meeting was about to adjourn when the marchers arrived and announced another meeting to he held in the hall. The police auto approached the spot in front of the hall and the rebels united in three cheers for free speech.The meeting in the hall had not gotten under way when another police auto appeared and the reserve police jumped front it clubbing those (who had not yet entered the hall, driving them inside. Here the police followed them and those who were quietly seated in the hall received a taste of “Lawrence tactics.*’The Oakland World in a special issue gives the following account of what then occurred..’For the third time indiscriminate clubbing was resorted to. Many of the audience inside the hall were quietly seated and were thunder struck when they found the hall filled *rith striking and cursing blue coats.The police seemed beside themselves. Women were roughly pushed and prodded to the doorway; men were beaten to the floor and flung bruised a/id bleeding down the stairs, where they lay on the pavement unconscious. County Organizer Frank Strawn-Hamilton, . who was in the rear of the hall, was beaten over the head by two policemen and, dazed and streaming with blood, hurled to the pavement below. Inside the hall the policemen were striking with an abandoned brutality. They ran men down the aisle; they climbed over the backs of seats after them. When men fell under their blows, they beat and clubbed them as they lay.SA ed ■ havi stril of ! its S; wherest min ton] to I T uselt; rem call rett
Newspaper Details
Spokane Industrial Worker
Spokane, Washington, US
Thu, Mar 14, 1912
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
San F.
CA, USA 18 May 2024
Other Publications Near Spokane, Washington
Spokane Press
Spokane Falls Review
Spokane Industrial Worker
Spokane Times
Spokane Washington Farmer
