The year was 1912. The Lawrence MA. Textile workers strike had worn on for over a month.
More than 20,000 workers had walked off the job.
Most of them were young women.
Nearly half of those on strike had been in the United States for less than 5 years.
Each strike communication had to be translated into as many as twenty-five languages.
As often happened at the turn of the century Violence broke out on the picket lines between the strikers and police. With one protester dying from an errant bullet, and another losing her life from being stabbed by a soldier’s bayonet.
Despite these difficulties, the women stayed true to their call for “Bread and Roses.”
Supported by the Industrial Workers of the World, textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts had walked off the job to protest wage reductions.
But they were not only striking for ‘bread.’ They were also demanding respect and dignity and, a better quality of life.
They wanted bread yes, but they wanted roses too.
As the strike wore on, some of the women decided to send their children out of town and away from the growing danger.
In what came to be known as the “Children’s Exodus” more than 100 children were sent to New York City. Upon arrival in Manhattan the children were met by a cheering crowd of thousands of supporters.
The “Children’s Exodus” won sympathy for the striking women.
In an attempt to stop news of the strike from spreading On February 24, the Lawrence city marshal decided to stop 46 children from leaving for Philadelphia. Police beat mothers trying to help their children board the train. One woman suffered a miscarriage.
Across the nation people were outraged. Congress launched an investigation into the strike.
The bosses had finally gone too far, and on this day in labor history, March 12, the striking women finally won most of their demands.
And their cry of “Bread and Roses” would go on to inspire the labor movement for generations to come.