Today in labor history Sept 21 Militia was sent to Leadville, Colorado, to break a miners’ strike

[Omaha Steve]

September 21

September 21, 1896 - The militia was sent to Leadville, Colorado, to break a miners’ strike. In the latter half of the 19th century, Leadville emerged as a leading mining community because of the rich silver deposits nearby. Though Leadville and other communities owed their existence to the mines, only a minority of citizens actually labored there. Many more were engaged in construction, retailing and service labor. Colorado was the nation’s leading mining region, turning families such as the Guggenheims into wealthy artistocrats.

Mother Jones leads a march of miners’ children through the streets of Charleston, W. Va. - 1913

National Football League Players Assn. members begin a 57-day strike, their first regular-season walkout ever - 1982