Bloody Thursday
What it Means
From the Waterfront Worker July 5, 1935

As we approach the first anniversary of July 5, 1934, known all up and down the coast as "Bloody Thursday", it is well to pause for a moment and analyze the importance of this day not only to the maritime workers but all workers.

Although July 5, 1934 was the biggest and most carefully prepared attack by the Waterfront Employers and Industrial Association to drive the strikers back to work by sheer body force, it was only one of such attacks that had been made on the maritime strikers on the coast. 

In San Pedro, Portland and Seattle, attacks by the police had already been made and courageously met by marine strikers, who were determined that nothing would break their solidarity in their fight for better wages and conditions for all striking unions.

All of us now remember that the attacks were always followed by a proposed settlement. In each large port the employers attempted to terrify and demoralize the strikers by these attacks, but the lines held solid, knowing full well that a united front was the only way to successfully carry on the fight for their demands.

In commemoration of these brothers who lost their lives in these attacks, and in order to impress the fact that we do not forget, the July 5th demonstration must  be made a broad a mighty one.

Further, as the strikers had to meet the onslaught of police and thugs armed with guns, tear gas and clubs, so now must the workers in the unions meet the attacks of the employers and the labor fakers, who are armed with weapons no less deadly, that of poisonous propaganda, poured out through the newspapers radio and agents like Pedro Pete and Scharrenberg.

July 5, 1935 must be our answer to these new attacks. As the ranks of last year withstood all attempts to the tactics of sellout, separate agreements and crucial attacks, so now must we withstand the attacks on militant unionists, Rank & File control, and the increased unity not existing among all maritime unions.

The martyrs of the 1934 strike have not given their lives in vain. The better conditions, the strengthening of all maritime and waterfront unions through one consistent militant action on the job, the breakdown of the fink hall and blacklist system, all these are glorious and solid gains that have come to the maritime workers. To this extent have our dead brothers been avenged and July 5th should not only be a day for sorrowing.

In Tacoma as this is being written, the National Guard occupies the city of Tacoma. Tear and vomit gas, clubs and bayonets, are being used to intimidate the striking timber workers.

The longshoremen have struck in protest at the city being placed under martial law by the order of the lumber barons, not by the orders of the people, Weyerhaeuser, the largest of the lumber barons recently paid $200,000 ransom for the return of his son, but the sons of striking workers are gassed, and their demands for higher wages and better conditions refused. Weyerhaeuser's children never had to be fed on 40 cents an hour.

In Eureka, two workers have already been killed and many injured because they struck against miserable wages and conditions. A detachment of the National Guard is already at Eureka and Gov. Morriam has promised more if the employers there need them.

In Seattle, the Committee of 500, an open vigilante Committee, is waiting for the call to action. A similar committee of 1000 is now being formed in San Francisco . In San Pedro, since the police shot their friend Friedl, two gangsters of which Friedl was the head, have been attacking militant rank and filers.

It is to protest against this treatment of Union men that we must have July 5th a huge demonstration, along with the commemoration of these brothers who gave their lives during the last year's struggle. 

We must show the Industrial Associations the vigilante committees, and the waterfront employers that we will not intimidated by force, or fooled by RED SCARE propaganda. 

We must acquaint the public of the true facts by a large July 5th parade and public meeting, and make it known to all that these brothers, in not only maritime unions but all unions who lost their lives through militant struggle, and will be remembered by the workers for all time, nor will their murderers be forgotten.