Michael Moore: 75 Years Ago Today, the First Occupy

[cal04]

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/75-years-ago-today-first-occupy

On this day, December 30th, in 1936 -- 75 years ago today -- hundreds of workers at the General Motors factories in Flint, Michigan, took over the facilities and occupied them for 44 days. My uncle was one of them.

The workers couldn't take the abuse from the corporation any longer. Their working conditions, the slave wages, no vacation, no health care, no overtime -- it was do as you're told or get tossed onto the curb.

So on the day before New Year's Eve, emboldened by the recent re-election of Franklin Roosevelt, they sat down on the job and refused to leave.

They began their Occupation in the dead of winter. GM cut off the heat and water to the buildings. The police tried to raid the factories several times, to no avail. Even the National Guard was called in.

But the workers held their ground, and after 44 days, the corporation gave in and recognized the UAW as the representative of the workers. It was a monumental historical moment as no other major company had ever been brought to its knees by their employees. Workers were given a raise to a dollar an hour -- and successful strikes and occupations spread like wildfire across the country. Finally, the working class would be able to do things like own their own homes, send their children to college, have time off and see a doctor without having to worry about paying. In Flint, Michigan, on this day in 1936, the middle class was born.


more at link

[marybourg]

1. Yes!! nt.

[Mosby]

2. The first "Occupy" mvmt was in 1932

Bonus March on Washington, DC: 1932

[Crowman1979]

8. BTW, that's Smedley Butler between 0:40-1:10.

[Mosby]

11. Thanks, I didn't know who that was

He seems like he was quite a character.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. I would consider The Bonus Soldiers after WWI the first American occupation

They moved into Washington DC and eventually built a shanty town that was soon after raided and torn down with malice. There was quite a riot as this was done, but they're probably the first such occupation to date that actually was met with some positive results.

I feel the next occupation was "Hooverville". That didn't end so well.

Since then, I think politicians have come to the realization that such movements turn into tent cities. The tent cities become shanty towns, and those in turn morph into smoldering public land slums that bear the name of the politician in charge, be it the mayor, governor, or president. Expect pols to do anything to prevent that final version of settlement.

[Hotler]

4. k&r n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. ...

(and another nod to the bonus army and the DU Historians from whom I first learned of them)

[tk2kewl]

6. k&r

[Bozita]

7. Some terrific firsthand info on the strike can be found here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100289988

[Little Star]

9. k&r

[jerseyjack]

10. I'd say, the first occupy movement was in 1765.

It was in response to the Stamp Act. Purchasers of paper were to pay a tax to pay for the French and Indian War. The users of paper (among them were lawyers and newspaper broadsheet publishers) were to purchase a stamp to show the tax had been paid.

When the ship carrying the stamps arrived in New York harbor, it tried to land at what is now, Castle Clinton. It was met with several thousand occupiers who threatened the captain of the ship if he tried to land the stamps. He responded by pulling up anchor and leaving the harbor.

I suspect that many of the colonists had to pass through Wall Street to greet the ship.