Today in Labor History November 28, 1990: Margaret Thatcher resigned in tears after a mass non-payment of her hated poll tax forced her out of office. The tax was a flat tax, hugely unfair, charging all adults, regardless of their wealth or income, the same amount. At the height of the campaign, nearly half of all British adults, 17 million people, had refused to pay the tax. The Labour Party refused to back any protest of the tax. But Anti-Poll Tax Unions formed across the country, and there were thousands of demonstrations, many of which became riots after mounted police charged the protesters. Over 100 were injured and more than 330 were arrested in the protests.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #polltax #margaretthatcher #protests #demonstrations #directaction #anarchism #socialism #tax

Today in Labor History November 28, 1990: Margaret Thatcher resigned in tears after a mass non-payment of her hated poll tax forced her out of office. The tax was a flat tax, hugely unfair, charging all adults, regardless of their wealth or income, the same amount. At the height of the campaign, nearly half of all British adults, 17 million people, had refused to pay the tax. The Labour Party refused to back any protest of the tax. But Anti-Poll Tax Unions formed across the country, and there were thousands of demonstrations, many of which became riots after mounted police charged the protesters. Over 100 were injured and more than 330 were arrested in the protests.

#workingclass #LaborHistory #polltax #margaretthatcher #protests #demonstrations #directaction #anarchism #socialism #tax

Today in Labor History September 8, 1901: Francisco Ferrer, Spanish anarchist educator, opened the libertarian Escuela Moderna in Barcelona, Spain. It was one of the first schools in Spain to coeducate boys and girls. During Ferrer’s days, the Spanish literacy rate was only 50% and all schools were church-regulated. The teachers at the Church-run schools emphasized rote memorization of Catholic dogma, were hostile to any scientific and political thinking that displeased the Church and often physically brutalized students. In contrast, Modern Schools purged their books of all religion and their curriculum was fully secular. These ideas were so popular that 40 more Modern Schools opened in Barcelona in just a few years, while 80 other schools adopted his textbooks.

In 1909, mass protests against Spanish intervention in Morocco grew into a General Strike. The state responded with a week of terror and repression known as “The Tragic Week,” during which they slaughtered over 600 workers. The authorities blamed Ferrer, even though he was nowhere near Barcelona at the time. And they executed him later that year. Ferrer’s execution led to worldwide protests and organizing. Modern Schools started to pop up outside of Spain, inspired by his original Escuela Moderna. After his death, activists created more than 200 Modern Schools in Spain and 20 more in the U.S., one of which continued operating until 1958.

By the time of the First World War, Modern Schools were operating in Philadelphia, Detroit, New York, Seattle, Portland, Chicago and Salt Lake City, with more soon to follow in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Paterson. They taught classes in English, Yiddish, Czech, Italian and Spanish. While most of the Modern Schools lasted only a few years, the school in Stelton, New Jersey. lasted four decades. Some of the students at the original New York Modern School were photographer Man Ray and Margaret Sanger’s son. The last Modern School in America was in Lakewood, New Jersey. It operated from 1933 to 1958. Two of its last students were the Rosenberg’s sons, who attended the Modern School summer camp after their parents were executed.

Read my complete article on Francisco Ferrer and the Modern School movement here: https://michaeldunnauthor.com/2022/04/30/the-modern-school-movement/

#workingclass #LaborHistory #franciscoferrer #modernschool #spain #barcelona #anarchism #education #students #children #generalstrike #repression #protest#demonstrations

Today in Labor History September 8, 1901: Francisco Ferrer, Spanish anarchist educator, opened the libertarian Escuela Moderna in Barcelona, Spain. It was one of the first schools in Spain to coeducate boys and girls. During Ferrer’s days, the Spanish literacy rate was only 50% and all schools were church-regulated. The teachers at the Church-run schools emphasized rote memorization of Catholic dogma, were hostile to any scientific and political thinking that displeased the Church and often physically brutalized students. In contrast, Modern Schools purged their books of all religion and their curriculum was fully secular. These ideas were so popular that 40 more Modern Schools opened in Barcelona in just a few years, while 80 other schools adopted his textbooks.

In 1909, mass protests against Spanish intervention in Morocco grew into a General Strike. The state responded with a week of terror and repression known as “The Tragic Week,” during which they slaughtered over 600 workers. The authorities blamed Ferrer, even though he was nowhere near Barcelona at the time. And they executed him later that year. Ferrer’s execution led to worldwide protests and organizing. Modern Schools started to pop up outside of Spain, inspired by his original Escuela Moderna. After his death, activists created more than 200 Modern Schools in Spain and 20 more in the U.S., one of which continued operating until 1958.

By the time of the First World War, Modern Schools were operating in Philadelphia, Detroit, New York, Seattle, Portland, Chicago and Salt Lake City, with more soon to follow in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Paterson. They taught classes in English, Yiddish, Czech, Italian and Spanish. While most of the Modern Schools lasted only a few years, the school in Stelton, New Jersey. lasted four decades. Some of the students at the original New York Modern School were photographer Man Ray and Margaret Sanger’s son. The last Modern School in America was in Lakewood, New Jersey. It operated from 1933 to 1958. Two of its last students were the Rosenberg’s sons, who attended the Modern School summer camp after their parents were executed.

Read my complete article on Francisco Ferrer and the Modern School movement here: https://michaeldunnauthor.com/2022/04/30/the-modern-school-movement/

#workingclass #LaborHistory #franciscoferrer #modernschool #spain #barcelona #anarchism #education #students #children #generalstrike #repression #protest#demonstrations

WTF!!! #DHS Tells #Police That Common #Protest Activities Are ‘Violent Tactics’

DHS is urging law enforcement to treat even #skateboarding and #livestreaming as signs of violent intent during a protest, turning everyday behavior into a pretext for police action.

By Dell Cameron, Jul 10, 202

"The #DepartmentOfHomelandSecurity is urging local police to consider a wide range of protest activity as violent tactics, including mundane acts like riding a #bike or livestreaming a police encounter, WIRED has learned.

"WIRED has made this article free for all to read because it is primarily based on reporting from Freedom of Information Act requests [#FOIA]. Please consider subscribing to support our journalism.

"Threat bulletins issued during last month’s '#NoKings' #protests warn that the US government’s aggressive immigration raids are almost certain to accelerate domestic unrest, with DHS saying there’s a 'high likeliness' more Americans will soon turn against the agency, which could trigger #confrontations near federal sites.

"Blaming intense media coverage and backlash to the US military deployment in #LosAngeles, DHS expects the #demonstrations to 'continue and grow across the nation' as #protesters focused on other issues shift to #immigration, following a broad 'embracement of #AntiICE messaging.'

"The bulletins—first obtained by the national security nonprofit #PropertyOfThePeople through public records requests—warn that officers could face assaults with fireworks and improvised weapons: #paint-filled fire extinguishers, smoke grenades, and projectiles like #bottles and #rocks.

"At the same time, the guidance urges officers to consider a range of #nonviolent behavior and common #ProtestGear—like #masks, #flashlights, and #cameras—as potential precursors to violence, telling officers to prepare 'from the point of view of an adversary.'

"Protesters on #bicycles, #skateboards, or even 'on foot' are framed as potential 'scouts' conducting reconnaissance or searching for 'items to be used as weapons.' #Livestreaming is listed alongside ' #doxxing' as a 'tactic' for 'threatening' police. Online posters are cast as ideological #recruiters—or as participants in 'surveillance sharing.'

"One list of 'violent tactics' shared by the Los Angeles–based Joint Regional Intelligence Center—part of a post-9/11 fusion network—includes both protesters’ attempts to avoid identification and efforts to identify police. The memo also alleges that face recognition, normally a tool of law enforcement, was used against officers.

"Vera Eidelman, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union [#ACLU], says the government has no business treating #constitutionally protected activities—like #observing or #documenting police—as threats.

"#DHS did not respond to a request for comment."

Read more:
https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-tells-police-that-common-protest-activities-are-violent-tactics/

#ACAB #FusionCenters#Fascism#Authoritarianism#Resistance#Journalism#PoliceState#CriminalizingDissent#Protestors#Protest#USPol#CriminalizingProtest#Orwell#BigBrother#DoublePlusUngood#SurveillanceState#NaziPatrol#NineteenEightyFour

WTF!!! #DHS Tells #Police That Common #Protest Activities Are ‘Violent Tactics’

DHS is urging law enforcement to treat even #skateboarding and #livestreaming as signs of violent intent during a protest, turning everyday behavior into a pretext for police action.

By Dell Cameron, Jul 10, 202

"The #DepartmentOfHomelandSecurity is urging local police to consider a wide range of protest activity as violent tactics, including mundane acts like riding a #bike or livestreaming a police encounter, WIRED has learned.

"WIRED has made this article free for all to read because it is primarily based on reporting from Freedom of Information Act requests [#FOIA]. Please consider subscribing to support our journalism.

"Threat bulletins issued during last month’s '#NoKings' #protests warn that the US government’s aggressive immigration raids are almost certain to accelerate domestic unrest, with DHS saying there’s a 'high likeliness' more Americans will soon turn against the agency, which could trigger #confrontations near federal sites.

"Blaming intense media coverage and backlash to the US military deployment in #LosAngeles, DHS expects the #demonstrations to 'continue and grow across the nation' as #protesters focused on other issues shift to #immigration, following a broad 'embracement of #AntiICE messaging.'

"The bulletins—first obtained by the national security nonprofit #PropertyOfThePeople through public records requests—warn that officers could face assaults with fireworks and improvised weapons: #paint-filled fire extinguishers, smoke grenades, and projectiles like #bottles and #rocks.

"At the same time, the guidance urges officers to consider a range of #nonviolent behavior and common #ProtestGear—like #masks, #flashlights, and #cameras—as potential precursors to violence, telling officers to prepare 'from the point of view of an adversary.'

"Protesters on #bicycles, #skateboards, or even 'on foot' are framed as potential 'scouts' conducting reconnaissance or searching for 'items to be used as weapons.' #Livestreaming is listed alongside ' #doxxing' as a 'tactic' for 'threatening' police. Online posters are cast as ideological #recruiters—or as participants in 'surveillance sharing.'

"One list of 'violent tactics' shared by the Los Angeles–based Joint Regional Intelligence Center—part of a post-9/11 fusion network—includes both protesters’ attempts to avoid identification and efforts to identify police. The memo also alleges that face recognition, normally a tool of law enforcement, was used against officers.

"Vera Eidelman, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union [#ACLU], says the government has no business treating #constitutionally protected activities—like #observing or #documenting police—as threats.

"#DHS did not respond to a request for comment."

Read more:
https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-tells-police-that-common-protest-activities-are-violent-tactics/

#ACAB #FusionCenters#Fascism#Authoritarianism#Resistance#Journalism#PoliceState#CriminalizingDissent#Protestors#Protest#USPol#CriminalizingProtest#Orwell#BigBrother#DoublePlusUngood#SurveillanceState#NaziPatrol#NineteenEightyFour