Women's Day Massacre 1937,

Youngstown, Ohio
June 19, 1937

Agencies: Youngstown Police Department Ohio

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

On June19 in 1937, exactly 80 years ago, police massacred 16 people and injured nearly 300 when striking steelworkers' wives and children demonstrated in their support in Youngstown, Ohio. Workers at Republic Steel had gone on strike when 1000 union supporters were sacked. Seeing women join the strikers angered the police captain, who ordered the women to leave. When they refused, instead spitting and cursing at the officers, police fired tear gas at the women, children and even babies. This outraged the workers who rushed to the scene to fight the police who began shooting, killing and wounding scores. Many of those were shot in the back as they ran from the police.